THE EFFECT OF GENETIC VARIANTS ON FORMING PHYSICAL QUALITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

Abstract

Aim: this study aims to provide a review of scientific literature on the effect of heredity on forming physical qualities that contribute to successful athletic performance, as well as to identify and describe the most promising prognostic markers. Materials and methods. The search for scientific literature was conducted between 2020 and 2025 in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Mendeley, and eLibrary. The search strategy was formed by combining the keywords ‘sport genetics’ and ‘polymorphisms’. The ana­lysis included original studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Results. The study demonstrates that hereditary factors determine up to 66% of differences in athletic status. The most significant genetic
variants are associated with key physical qualities. Endurance is associated with allelles of the ACE (I), PPARA (G), PPARGC1A (Gly), and CDKN1A (A) genes; strength is linked to АСЕТ3 (С/R), MCT1 (A), CDKN1A (C), and LRPPRC (A) gene variants, and flexibility correlates with polymorphisms in the ACTN3 (T), COL1A1 (C), and ESR1 (C) genes. The most convincing data on the association with athletic success were obtained for the ACTN3, ACE, PPARGC1A, PPARA, and NOS3 genes. Contradictions in interpreting polymorphisms (ACTN3 XX) and population-specific allele distribution patterns were identified. A potential link between individual variants (MCT1, NOS3, ACTN3) and the risk of sports injuries was revealed. Conclusions. Genetic factors significantly contribute to shaping an athlete’s phenotype. The analysis of polymorphism combinations (the total genetic score) is a promising tool for predicting athletic performance. Further large-scale multinational studies are essential for the implementation of genetic testing in training and sports selection.