From the moment the ancient Greeks held the first Olympics 2,700 years ago, our picture perfect image of elite sportsmen has revolved around the oiled, ripped, macho body.
But not all our leading sports stars fit the stereotypical bill of chest-thumping demigods.
Some, such as jockeys, instead go to extreme lengths to stunt their growth - sometimes down to the size of a pre-pubescent child.
In an industry where just a few extra pounds can rule you out of a multi-million dollar race, jockeys are put under enormous pressure to meet miniature weight requirements.
In the U.S the minimum riding weight is 53kg - around the average size of a 14 to 15-year-old boy.
And for the rider desperate to shed a crucial pound before a competition, one seemingly drastic option may be to purge themselves in a specially designed "heaving bowl".
Read - A weighty issue: Hidden world of jockey heaving bowls
