However, there are individuals who have a preponderance of FT fibers. These individuals will gravitate toward strength and power activities like weightlifting, sprinting and bodybuilding. Individuals who have predominantly ST fibers will favor endurance activities like running, swimming and cycling. Your friend may simply have a greater amount of FT fibers and, as such, responds more efficiently to a strength training program. The length of our muscles and limbs also plays a factor in our strength levels.
Muscles attach to our bones via tendons.
Some people have long muscles and short tendon attachments while others have shorter muscles and longer tendons. The former will be stronger. As will those individuals who have shorter limb lengths. The design of the human body places our muscles at a mechanical disadvantage. Without getting into too much detail, our muscles produce movement by pulling on our bones.