The Conor McGregor leg injury at UFC 329 raises a fascinating question: how can gymnasts and older basketball players such as 41-year-old LeBron James repeatedly jump, twist and land under enormous force, while another elite athlete’s leg can suddenly buckle?
The honest answer is that elite athletic durability does not depend on one food, supplement, hormone or training method. It reflects years of progressive adaptation, strength, landing mechanics, sport-specific conditioning, recovery, previous injuries and a degree of biological luck. Even the best-prepared athlete can suffer a serious injury during one poorly aligned or unusually loaded movement.
