Sports can be enjoyed by many different types of people. However, the achievement of success in sports can only be done so by a select few. Some might say that these select few of successful sportsmen have superior physical strength, whereas others might argue that their mental strength is the key to their success. I think that both physical strength and mental strength play an important role in becoming successful in sports.
Physical strength is without a doubt a key factor in certain sports. For example, a sport that is highly dependent on the physical strength of the participant is weightlifting. In order to lift heavy dumbbells and various gym equipment, the participant has to develop large muscle groups to improve their physical strength. Furthermore, sports such as gymnastics and martial arts also require their athletes to train for strength improvement in order to perform specific moves. A regular person without intensive training of their physicality would no doubt be unable to imitate these gymnasts or martial artists.
On the other hand, there exists other sports that require a greater mental strength for their success. Long-distance running is such a sport. Physical strength takes a backburner to mental strength in this sport as the participant usually finds that their mind gives up on them faster than their body does. Anecdotes from long-distance runners often report that when they are able to resist the temptation of their minds to stop running in order to ease the pain, their bodies can go on for much longer than they thought were possible. This phenomenon is akeen to what a ballerina experiences. Ballet is also a sport whereby mental toughness is expected. They have to be mentally strong to finish up a difficult dance sequence and endure hours and hours of training at the studio.
In conclusion, physical strength and mental strength play important roles to varying degrees in different types of sports. Sports that require brute force place physical strength at a higher level of importance. Conversely, sports that take place over a longer period of time often places emphasis on mental strength. Without a doubt, both physical and mental capacities have to be strengthened in unison.