Is talent development a matter of design or desire Sports Monograph 151-160

Abstract

A definition of talent: There is a view that talent is something you are born with and it is in your genes; Lykken (1982, 1998) and Lykken et al. (1992) call this idea Emergenic and Simonton (1999) adds that this genetic inheritance of talent allows an individual to perform to a remarkably high level. To some extent this may be true, as talent does seem to have an innate element to it. However, to get ahead in competitive sports requires an athlete to have avid faith in themselves; self-belief. This could be why athletes with mediocre physical talent but with immense inner-drive can sometimes go much further than an athlete with superior talent; they may be naturally gifted but lack determination. Some researchers, such as Gagné (1985) believe that talent is combination of factors including genes, the environment and sheer hard work. Consequently, Gagné, (1985:103) provided a more encompassing definition for talent.