Citius Altius Fortius: A Case for Superspecialization

Citius Altius Fortius: A Case for Superspecialization

Paul Sergeant, MD, PhD,* and Gregory Sergeant, MD, PhD†

Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger). It was carved in stone at the main entrance of the Lycée Albert Legrand and later cited by Father Dideon and Baron de Coubertin to eulogize the human ambition to excel. Finally it became the official motto of the Olympic Games. Citius, Altius, Fortius could be impersonated by Mark Cavendish, Samuel Sanchez, and Thor Hushovd, winners of different jerseys or stages at the Tour de France 2011. All three are brilliant cyclists; all three ride on similar bikes, but they differ in anatomy, attitude, and mental and physical skills. Their career-long training and race-specific preparation were also totally different. Their superspecialization allowed them to achieve top performances, but nevertheless, the Tour de France was won by the Australian Cadel Evans, who was up with the best in flat and mountain stages as well as time trials. These 4 riders are perfect metaphors in favor and against superspecialization.

Address reprint requests to Paul Sergeant, MD, PhD, Cardiac Surgery Department, Gasthuisberg University Hospital, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium. E-mail: paul. sergeant@uz.kuleuven.ac.be

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doi:10.1053/j.semtcvs.2011.10.003