What is Talent in Sports?

The post by Allistair McCaw

My reason why calling someone ‘talented’ or ‘gifted’ is a total insult.

I try avoid using the word ‘talent’. I don’t believe in it. When some one says that an athlete or player is ‘talented’ it’s almost an insult to the work, time, sacrifice and effort they’ve put in.

No one is just born with talent. No one is just ‘lucky’.

In fact just this week a young athlete was watching the player I was working with (Kevin Anderson ATP top 20) saying how talented he was.

Let me tell you, out of all the athletes I’ve worked with, Kevin is probably the most hard-working and dedicated athlete to his craft. Now if you still want to use the word ‘talent’ then that’s my definition of it. That is where my respect lies in another person – Doing what you can with what you have got.

This guy lives for his sport, he eats, sleeps and breathes the game. That’s the reason why he’s a top world class athlete, not because he’s ‘just talented’.

Note to athletes out there: Stop looking at the grass on the other side if the fence and saying how lucky and talented he or she is. Get your a** outta bed and go live for it- that’s the difference.

Stop the blame game and saying who’s luckier. Personally, in place of the word ‘talent’ I prefer to use ‘work-ability’ – the work you put into your ability.