Much is made of talent in sport but athletes who find it easy don't last.
It takes struggle to condition an athlete to persist.
It's not so much talent that you find at the top of sport, rather grit & unwavering passion.
"Don't quit" will take you far.
It takes struggle to condition an athlete to persist.
It's not so much talent that you find at the top of sport, rather grit & unwavering passion.
"Don't quit" will take you far.
https://twitter.com/Lydiardsboys/status/1469270871227392001
A little more on "talent", a short thread...
There were 2 kids who "made it" from the squad that I swam for back in Australia. Both made the Australian National Team.
I had the good fortune to swim with them and see their struggles first hand from pre-puberty all the way...
There were 2 kids who "made it" from the squad that I swam for back in Australia. Both made the Australian National Team.
I had the good fortune to swim with them and see their struggles first hand from pre-puberty all the way...
...through to the top of the sport. One became the Australian Record Holder.
When I joined the squad, one had a modicum of "talent" - faster than me at one stroke, slower at all the others. The other was the slowest kid on the squad by a good margin...
3/x
When I joined the squad, one had a modicum of "talent" - faster than me at one stroke, slower at all the others. The other was the slowest kid on the squad by a good margin...
3/x
I swam with both of these kids for about 8 years. Pre puberty->through puberty->post puberty.
During those middle years, 'early developer" kids would show up that were incredibly physically talented that would crush us all for a period & then slowly fade away from the sport 4/x
During those middle years, 'early developer" kids would show up that were incredibly physically talented that would crush us all for a period & then slowly fade away from the sport 4/x
For the first 5 years or so, those 2 World Class swimmers didn't look very talented at all & were getting routinely beaten by the "talents", but they kept swimming...
As the "talented kids" lost interest & plateaued out, the 'non-talented' work horses started to shine.
5/x
As the "talented kids" lost interest & plateaued out, the 'non-talented' work horses started to shine.
5/x
I started to notice this as I reached the limits of my own "talent" & they started to slowly pull away from me.
By that point, their fitness base was so deep that there was no catching them.
6/x
By that point, their fitness base was so deep that there was no catching them.
6/x
The lesson I learned (a little too late)
Those that we now look to as "talents" likely had periods during their development where they weren't, periods where some of them were average at best. The key differentiator: They persisted during these periods in spite of that!
7/x
Those that we now look to as "talents" likely had periods during their development where they weren't, periods where some of them were average at best. The key differentiator: They persisted during these periods in spite of that!
7/x
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