Can Hard Work Beat Talent?

I will let you decide. This is a question that is often discussed in the world of sports, and largely arguable. There is no doubt gifted individuals have a clear advantage, but talent alone cannot progress without hard work, for the two work hand in hand. Just like exercise is pointless with an unhealthy diet, so is the ability to be at your best without putting the work in.

Let’s use the gifted Usain Bolt as an example. A decorated athlete and undoubtedly the fastest man in the world. Although he has long hung up his sprinting shoes and now enjoying a well deserved retirement, his world record of 9.58 in the men’s 100m set in Berlin at the 2009 World Championships, is yet to be beaten. As a matter of fact, there is no other male sprinter that has even come close. A hard number to beat I know, but talent like this is rare, and with this margin, without extremely hard work, consistency and dedication to the sport, it may never be beaten.

But does this mean we cannot attempt to challenge the most gifted if we are considered average or good but not great? Not at all! How do we determine who is the most talented and the best? By the many competitions we win on a consistent basis? the many accolades we receive? awards we continue to win labelling us the best? Yes! where this may seem obvious, talent is so much more than this. It is passion, drive, determination, commitment, consistency, resilience and perseverance to never give up and to continue to be the best that you can be. Without the two, there is no progression.

Having been competing in the world of bodybuilding for the last 18 months, I have had lots of success as well as failures. I have also been told many times that my success can be attributed to genetics, as it is perceived that black people have better genetics for building muscle. Through my research and own experience, I can simply tell you that strength training does not alter subcutaneous or intermuscular fat, regardless of sex or racial differences. Although men exhibit a greater muscle hypertrophic response to strength training than do women, the difference is small. Race does not influence this response.

So there you have it. Don’t let the talented alter your response to achieving your goals. Simply work hard, train right, follow a plan and hit your targets. The rest is up to you.