NuLL L

Not true all at.

While at my internship, all the traders on my desk were fat and chubby, except for one who was extremely skinny and a chain smoker.

I've noticed it on trading floors and also in my office (consulting) - every man but 2 in the office played a sport in college.

General rule is the more complicated the product the healthier the traders. Most of the cash guys on the floor are fat chain smokers who drink like fishes and probably have some other worse habits as well.

Sometimes. Many of the prop traders I know are computer nerds. They come in all shapes and sizes, though there is definitely a category for sports.

its much more desk specific. If you have an MD that has a sports background, most likely the hiring on that desk might be geared towards similar types of people. Same with the nerdy computer geek types. And Jan Sramek lists himself as an "Olympic hopeful", so I wouldnt put much clout into a statement like that, altho he is apparently very good.

Totally useless and anecdotal here but the coolest traders I have ever hung out with were options guys. Best combo of athletic, drinkers, etc.

All of my trader buddies have athletic backgrounds....and the comment above on if the MD is an athlete, most of the group will be, is completly true

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There's as many categories as there are people. Learn to be decisive and aggressive, and everything else falls into place.

I know a lot athletic types in trading, it does seem to be a strong correlation. But I think the underpinning idea here is a competitive nature.

An options trader from Chicago was a national SCRABBLE champion. I know another one that kicked ass on Jeopardy quite a few years ago. There are a few traders that are also champion poker players.

And I have met a lot of people that won or placed very high in math olympiads, physics olympiads, programming contests, you name it.

So what do you think would happen if your MD was a National Ice Dance Champion? huh?