Many trainers proudly highlight their work with professional and elite athletes, wearing it like a badge of honor. While this makes for great marketing, the real question is: how much does training truly contribute to an athlete’s success?
A 2010 study by Andersen & Aagaard (full article here) puts things into perspective:
When watching athletes in action, it is obvious even for the untrained eye that some athletes are “faster” or more “explosive” than others. Likewise, it is evident that some athletes manage to perform certain movements quicker than others. No doubt much of this can be attributed to superior technical skills achieved through many hours of practice, but any coach will tell you that “fast” and “explosive” are qualities the athlete had already before he or she was molded through endless training sessions; he/she had “talent.” Thus, both coaches and scientists know that it is not possible to turn a donkey into a racehorse by means of exercise and training. Hard work will, at the most, turn the donkey into a fast and explosive donkey!
Legendary strength and conditioning coach Al Vermeil shared similar insights in an interview with the NSCA:
- Great athletes are naturally gifted. If they lack talent, no amount of training will turn them into elite performers.
- No strength coach “creates” an athlete—genetics play the biggest role. In fact, elite athletes often succeed despite poor training programs.
- Strength coaches should do their job without letting ego get in the way.
- Winning in sports isn’t just about physical training—it requires good coaching, scouting, team management, and, most importantly, talented players.
- A strength and conditioning coach is just one piece of the puzzle.
The Bottom Line
While proper training can help athletes reach their potential, raw talent is something they must already possess. You can refine ability, but you can’t manufacture it.
