Is 'talent' God-Given Or Something Else?

[agchristie]

Lord Coe stated tonight that an athlete had been given a God-given talent.Is he right to say this or do some people just have a natural aptitude? Or is it something that is achieved through hard work?

[Cloverjo]

I've read a couple of books on this subject. One argued that there is no such thing as god-given talent, and that it's all about hard work and practice from a young age. It's arguments are quite compelling. However, we have all seen people for whom some things seem to come very easily. Maybe it's because they put in the hard work and practice. I'm inclined to believe that both aspects are necessary for achievement at the highest level.

[Slapshot]

I've coached kids one or two from a very early age to adult who clearly had a "natural ability" and intuivity on the ice that their peers sadly lacked. Now whether this was a god given talent or not is not something I could rightly comment on as a non believer but they certainly had something a bit special. Thing is that athletes especially who have that talent are the ones who will work much much harder to achieve their fullest potential

[saintpeter48]

I do believe it is born in you, where from I don't know! Take for example, Ronnie OSullivan, you cannot teach, coach or whatever, the sort of things he can do at snooker, that is pure talent, an eye for it, natural, call it what you like, where did it come from? Once you find you have a natural ability at something, then if you work at it, practice etc you set the bar higher. Its the same as anything, George Best, Pavarotti, Usain Bolt, Mozart etc etc etc.

[shoota]

There's some talent in the English ladies netball team.....

[Svejk]

I think they bat for the other side, shoota.

[shoota]

I'd quite like to watch them Svejk.


Shall I get you a ticket?

[shoota]

http://verybadfrog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bristol-Netball-Girls-Team-Calendar.jpg

[Svejk]

no thanks, can you get me a mustard grain, though. ;-)

[shoota]

Well it had the right number of letters.....

[Svejk]

I had bellend instead of isolate on the private eye thread, lol. it happens.

[Mamyalynne]

It must make buying undies difficult.

[shoota]

Oh eyup matrons here.

[Svejk]

shh, pretend we're asleep, ;o)

[Lie-in King]

I've always assumed from his tone that sweaty went commando?..

[Mamyalynne]

Think night rounds are due - sorry agchristie, the ward has become restless, I blame the heat.

[Lie-in King]

Apologies to ag for frivolity in the wrong topic :-)

[Svejk]

he's not my tony and he's a liar.

[Lie-in King]

I blame the elbows...

[Sqad]

I feel that talent and achievements at the highest level are quite different.

Talent,as indicated by saintpetre and slapshot is almost certainly God given....genetic maybe a better term.

However achievements at the highest level cannot be attained by talent alone, hard work, endevour and perseverance are necessary ingredients.

Of course, achievements in life may well be low in one's priority and in that case "talent" is not only unimportant,but wasted.

Hard work, is the essential component in every aspect of life if success in life is going to be judged by achievements.

If you don't see the value of achievement, then both talent and hard work are immaterial.

[murraymints]

^^amen ^^