And Mo had about 7% bf, sometimes higher, and was way, way faster than any of them.
There have been many world class sprinters who have had there bodyfat % measured and I have never heard of one that was higher than 6%. More often, they are below 5%.
Inaccurate testing methods is why there would be more than a couple below 5%. Realize that pro bodybuilders in contest shape are not much below 5%.
Look at all the best sprinters, and they are all as lean as the above mentioned sprinters. It is a simple way of coming to the conclusion that 6% bodyfat or below is one of the requirements for world class sprinting.
I know a guy that ran 6.5x at >10% bf. He dropped his bodyfat significantly over the course of a few years and only ran a few hundredths faster. I think it is a bit more complex than just a number, which you do not indicate at all.
In my book, a sub 6.6 second 60 meters - on an indoor track (say 6.67 secs) is 0.12 - 0.15 secs slower than being able to win a national final at British championships. A 6.67 would get you middle place finish in the final. It is ‘nearly’ world class. And so, you got to take the bodyfat down to a comparable level with the best sprinters to compete against them. Bodyfat is not the most important thing, but it is deffinately one of the factors. Look how lean Usain Bolt is. I simple used my observation to come to the above conclusion.
You realize that there are multiple sprinters for GB that are well over 8% bf? Let me guess… you think Simeon is pretty lean lol.
Remember also, that low bodyfat, often means less work for the heart. Do you know that it takes a lot of blood and capilaries to maintain one pound of fat? I wish I could remember the numbers and referance, but it was quite startling. Those with lowerbodyfat, have less work to do (for the same tasks to be completed) over each 24 hour period, and so they absoluteley recover quicker between training sessions. They are less likely to get lethargic, and are more likely to be energetic. (feeling ‘up’ for a training session.)
That’s just bad science.
Also, I have seen papers that show a correlation between slightly faster track times at end of a soccer season (than at beginning of season). For practically all memebers of the team. They all had slightly less bodyfat % at the end of the season than pre-season. That was the correlation mentioned, in the study.
Also, there was a paper on school children and 40 yard dash times. The ones that had lower bodyfat were the fastest kids in the study.
The fastest dog is also the breed with the lowest bodyfat. The Greyhound. (Even ones that were not trained to participate in the sport, had lower bodyfat than other breeds of dog.)
That is because they were bred to have low bodyfat levels and of course they will be faster than all other breads, they are bred to have terrific structures. That, along with the school statements, are just stupid.