The Hercules Gene: Why Harry Aikines-Aryeetey’s Greatest Gift Came With a Heavy Price
There’s a phrase Harry Aikines-Aryeetey keeps coming back to when he talks about his body: “a blessing and a curse.” On the surface, it sounds dramatic, but once you hear his story, it fits perfectly. The former Great Britain sprinter discovered in his mid-20s that he carries a rare genetic trait linked to unusually high muscle mass, something often referred to as the “Hercules gene.” And suddenly, a lifetime of clues began to make sense.
Back when he was competing at the elite level in the 100 metres, a Team GB doctor became intrigued by how quickly Harry recovered from injuries and how little muscle he lost during layoffs. Blood tests were done, and a quiet meeting followed. That’s when Harry first heard the words “myostatin deficiency.” At the time, it meant nothing to him, but as it was explained, everything clicked. Childhood photos showing bulging arms at just four years old, his natural speed and power, and his ability to stay muscular no matter what — all of it lined up.
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Myostatin is a protein that normally limits muscle growth. In people with low levels, or defects in the gene that produces it, muscle can grow far beyond the norm. Scientists first noticed this in the late 1990s while studying mice that ended up with double the usual muscle mass. Later, similar mutations were found in Belgian Blue cattle and, eventually, in a handful of humans. Harry may not be officially recorded in medical journals, but his physical traits tell a convincing story.
From a young age, he wasn’t just strong — he was fast. By 14, he had set a European age-group best in the 100 metres. By 16, he was a world youth champion. Everything pointed toward Olympic greatness. Then reality hit. As a teenager, his muscles grew faster than his skeleton could handle, leading to stress fractures in his back that sidelined him for months. Later, his explosive power began to take its toll on tendons instead. Hamstrings, patellar tendons, biceps — injuries piled up, not from weakness, but from too much force.
Even training had to be tightly controlled. Upper-body workouts were almost completely banned by coaches who feared adding more mass would slow him down. Ironically, that caution later affected his mobility. And yet, despite stepping away from sprint training for months due to television commitments like Strictly Come Dancing and Gladiators, his body barely changed. Muscle stayed. Calves even grew.
The gene may have given him power, but it didn’t give him success for free. As Harry makes clear, every achievement still came from planning, discipline, and relentless work. His body, he says, is like playdough — shaped carefully by the demands of his sport. The Hercules gene opened the door, but it was effort that kept him running through it.
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