No doubt -- but I think people are blurring that statement when they interpret it to mean that abs hold you up. They can't -- it's physically impossible, unless there is something unusual to their structure that I am not considering. They are positioned in front of the upper body.

I'm sure your abs are useful in many ways -- e.g. when sprinting or climbing, you pull back on your bars, and abs balance that out. Abs also balance the back muscles (that I assert are really holding you up), and balanced muscles are good too. I just think people misinterpret general statements like yours about core muscles, to incorrectly conclude that abs hold you up.

Am I wrong? Physicians on board?