Originally Posted by
wktmeow
This book makes a good argument against that:
https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Overra.../dp/1591842948
I would say that this applies more to skill based pursuits than to purely athletic pursuits, so more so to the soccer and singing examples than to a marathon runner for example.
B.S.
Talent is almost all that matters.
Hell, see Remco Evenepoel. After one year of riding, he won two world championships. After two years of riding, won a damn monument (at 19!). After three years of riding, is winning nearly every protour race he enters.
The less talent you have, the more hard work and "luck" you need. But all the guys at the top have more physiological "talent" than everyone else. It's not even an argument. Same goes for any field: music, science, engineering, politics, etc.