Thibaut Courtois’ unusual secret to his goalkeeping success actually makes a lot sense

Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois has credited his involvement in another sport as one of the reasons behind his success as a footballer.

The Blues number one has had a phenomenal season between the posts for Chelsea. With eight matches still left to be played, Chelsea are all but guaranteed to claim the Premier League trophy this year, and a lot of credit has to go to their 22-year-old goalkeeper. The young Belgian has not only staked his claim as the definitive first choice goalkeeper at the club ahead of the legendary Petr Cech, but he is widely considered to be among the best in his position in world football. What does Courtois put his meteoric rise in world football down to? In a recent interview with Chelsea magazine, he cited a completely different sport as the reason behind his natural ability as a keeper.

"I’m raised in a volleyball family, where tall players also have to dive quickly, so I think there is something genetic." "I have good reflexes and I am still quick for my height, so that’s why I can reach those balls which maybe look impossible for a tall guy to get on the floor. I can save them because I’m quick and tall, so I have both things. I’m sure that playing volleyball when I was younger helped me."

He added that it wasn't just the family DNA that helped him become a supremely talented athlete. He explained that he never would have achieved sporting success, if his parents hadn't thought him to keep his ego in check.

"My parents influenced me a lot in the beginning because they are both sporting people. They always told me I have to keep my feet on the ground and be humble because when you are young and talented sometimes you can already act like a big star and people don’t like that,"

So in the nature vs nurture debate, Courtois is a member of the "bit of both" brigade. Hat-tip to Bleacher Report