Genetics is part of merit in sports.  Merit is how well you can perform.  Genetics influences that.<p>As for &quot;where you come from&quot;:  Can you supply some evidence for that assertion?  I&#x27;ll give you argument (not evidence, I admit) that your claim is false.  If it were true, then someone could create a high-performing team simply by selecting people who came from the places that other teams ignore.  (Or are you claiming that, for example, there aren&#x27;t many hockey players coming from Hawaii, even though one would expect that the population would include some with the genetics and talent to be excellent?  Well, raw talent means little.  Merit means talent and preparation and discipline and coaching and genetics and drive and mental toughness and probably a few things I&#x27;ve forgotten.  If you&#x27;re not going to chase that sport because it&#x27;s not culturally a thing where you are, then you aren&#x27;t going to be very good at that sport.)