speaking as an elite sportsperson (in a team sport)
Being way more talented than the others is good for now. The problem with these people is that they will eventually start playing against older people (or get moved up a classification). Eventually they will start playing against people just as talented as them. And believe me there is ALMOST noone on earth who is head and shoulders above everyone else in their sport, who havent completely mastered EVERY aspect of the sport.
This boy will eventually be put into these games. He will then find that his solo skills are not enough. Never having practiced the other aspect of his sport, he will suffer some big setbacks, and quickly. His bulletproof confidence from never having been challenged will suddenly shatter like a pane of glass. He will then be discarded by his teammates because he is not producing results.
I think we all know how being discarded by society feels...
He then (if he is strong willed), will transform himself by working 10x harder than everyone else to master his team skills. Or (and this is the more common option unfortunately) he will get frustrated, learn to resent the sport and "burn out" leaving everyone to wonder what might have been.
Sporting history is littered with stories like this.
Talent is not uncommon.
But much more is needed for success.
02 Apr 2011, 11:13 am
