Is talent irrelevant for great success?

I agree that physiology is perhaps a better way to look at this than talent since it is not easy to define talent. I think for swimmers most would agree it helps to be tall with long arms, big feet, and have a metabolism that avoids gaining weight. Look at the NCAA Division 1 rosters and you will see this. I too have seen many cases where the best practice swimmers were not good meet swimmers. I think these people spend all their energy (including mental) in training and have nothing left for competition. I tend to think these swimmers could be coached to perform differently - so they focus less on winning warmup and more on beating someone in a race. I train with a guy close to my age - who regularly kicks my ass in practice. He can repeat 100s on 1:10 while I need 1:20. He is a great kicker. He beats me in meets too - but not by as much as he beats me in practice. I have seen some age groupers who seem to have extraordinary balance and control over their bodies at an early age. I think that is a gift. I don't believe they learned it in the crib. The Natalie Coughlin book implies that Natalie has a special ability and feel for water that allows her to move extra fast compared to others. I don't doubt this - and see no reason to doubt it is inherited as much as math problem solving is.

I agree that physiology is perhaps a better way to look at this than talent since it is not easy to define talent. I think for swimmers most would agree it helps to be tall with long arms, big feet, and have a metabolism that avoids gaining weight. Look at the NCAA Division 1 rosters and you will see this. I too have seen many cases where the best practice swimmers were not good meet swimmers. I think these people spend all their energy (including mental) in training and have nothing left for competition. I tend to think these swimmers could be coached to perform differently - so they focus less on winning warmup and more on beating someone in a race. I train with a guy close to my age - who regularly kicks my ass in practice. He can repeat 100s on 1:10 while I need 1:20. He is a great kicker. He beats me in meets too - but not by as much as he beats me in practice. I have seen some age groupers who seem to have extraordinary balance and control over their bodies at an early age. I think that is a gift. I don't believe they learned it in the crib. The Natalie Coughlin book implies that Natalie has a special ability and feel for water that allows her to move extra fast compared to others. I don't doubt this - and see no reason to doubt it is inherited as much as math problem solving is.