Athletic Giftedness

Athletes who are exceptionally talented evoke discussion about factors that contribute to athletic success. Athletes such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Mia Hamm go down in history books as extraordinary talents. Understanding what helps world-class athletes succeed is the first step in knowing how to identify gifted athletes and promote the development of athletic talent. Athletic giftedness results in success at the highest level of competition through a combination of natural physical attributes, a serious dedication to training, [Page 71]psychological skills, a propensity to overcoming adversity, and a strong social support system.

Natural athletic ability is due in part to physical characteristics such as height, size, speed, coordination, dexterity, and flexibility. Adolescents experiencing growth spurts may find that their athletic performance improves in conjunction with their physical transformation. Genetic contributions to athletic giftedness can be witnessed in family success stories such as Peyton and Eli Manning in football and Venus and Serena Williams in tennis. However, physical traits that help an athlete succeed are not sufficient for an individual to reach success at the highest level. Anecdotal evidence and research findings demonstrate that social support is also an influential factor in the development of athletic giftedness. The support of family, coaches, and teammates is critical, particularly during times of adversity. Furthermore, these characteristics only begin to explain how individuals come to excel in a particular sport.

Athletic giftedness can be attributed in part to kinesthetic intelligence, one of many types of intelligence proposed by Howard Gardner. The kinesthetic sense involves awareness of bodily position and movement through time and space. Talented athletes seem to have a keen awareness of the objects and events around them. They can time their movements with precision, power, and gracefulness. They have a feel for the game, are able to understand and create complex patterns, can anticipate the next move during a performance, and demonstrate swift reaction time. Multiple areas of the brain are responsible for various aspects of kinesthetic intelligence. Strengthening the synaptic connections between these brain areas (through physical practice, repetition, and mental imagery) will enhance kinesthetic intelligence. Research indicates a role for both genetic and environmental factors for both kinesthetic intelligence and athletic giftedness. Genetic predisposition alone does not guarantee athletic success. There are many other factors that contribute to the likelihood that an individual will excel in athletics.

The environmental contribution to athletic giftedness is evident in part through the impact that practice has on muscular and cortical development. Physical and mental training builds and strengthens neural connections used to recognize patterns, make decisions, and inform muscle movements. World-class athletes devote incredible amounts of time and energy to training. Typically they spend 10 years or more training intensely before peaking at an international level. Though natural talent may lead to initial success, a strong commitment to regular practice is what propels individuals into the higher tiers of competition. Furthermore, athletic success is much more probable when an athlete derives enjoyment from participating in the sport. Many top athletes participated in multiple sports as youngsters and made their own decision to specialize in a particular sport as they reached mid to late adolescence, a pattern that may prevent burnout and increase sport commitment.

...