Matthew Syed was a sensational table tennis player (if you don't believe me watch this). Still is by any of our standards no doubt. He was British number one, and took gold three times in the men's singles at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. (He was also a defender, an amazing but sadly now dying art more alive in the tennis of Andy Murray than in 21st century table tennis.)
Now Matthew Syed is a sports journalist for The Times, and has recently written a book called Bounce: How Champions Are Made, which explores what leads people to being the absolute best in their chosen field. And he's our guest on Thursday.
That''s all for our show looking at whether talent exists. What will we talk about tomorrow? Well, that''s up to you. Let us know - email worldhaveyoursay@bbc.com.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
19:00
113631290
Endfeld emailed: There are people, horses, dogs, etc., who have and were born with better athletic abilities than others. It does not matter how much training the lesser individual gets, it will not be able to overcome the abilities of such talented individuals.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:53
113631290
Homer Smith in St Louis - Regardless of the significance of hard work (I happen to think it's critical), more important than any inborn talent (i.e. genetics) is the environment you develop in. I think upbringing and environment are where the crucial difference is.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:52
113631290
Srijana - There is something called "natural talent", but this particular factor has a very small role when it comes to being successful, while the bigger roles are played by numerous other factors like hard work, perseverence, passion, smart work and dedication.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:50
113631290
Clifford on the blog - if Lebron James was born anywhere other than US where the popular sport is soccer, he would probably be playing soccer. Just like Peter Crouch would be playing basketball instead of soccer if he grew up in the USA.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:47
113631290
Donald McCalla in Greensboro, North Carolina - Baron Manfred Von Richthofen, "The Red Baron" of World War 1 fame, was a pheonominal success as a fighter ace, primarily because he had better than 20/20 vision. He was able to see his opponent before they could see him, and position himself in a dominant attack position. Most of his victims never even saw him untill their aircraft was on fire.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:46
113631290
Josh in Salt Lake City - Isn't it in the interest of our species to naturally select for talent? The small differences that set us apart from one another, when looked through a very long lens of hundreds, even thousands of years, seems like it would select for more talent and more intelligence
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:45
113631290
Linda emailed - Hard work is essential but natural ability makes it easier!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:44
113631290
Michael in the USA - The human mind is forever a malleable tool, but it takes some indelible shape in its formative years, which often masquerades as talent.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:44
113631290
Vyvyan in Holland - What about Star Quality? Some poeple are fasinating to watch, others not.
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18:42
113631290
Jim in Alabama - How does an idiot savant fit in to the talent training discussion?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:41
113631290
Tholomusa in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe - The whole concept of talent implies inborn ability that gets to the surface when subjected to the environment that would allow them to surface. Taught skills build upon preexisting conditions that are associated with talent.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:41
113631290
Sean emailed - Surprised you have not brought up the talented young artist Kieron Williamson. He has only been painting a very short time and demonstrates a true gift.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:38
113631290
Evan from Cleveland - I grew up with a step brother who was only 6 months older than I. His father was a professional musician. My step-brother had amazing ability to pick up any instrument and make music with it, while I was never able to come close to playing an instrument. We would try to play music together but I just was not able to do it.
Comment sent via SMS
18:38
114655137
Is There is an obvious way to measure our motivations? certainly we differ in our ability to be coached. Talent is sometimes the willingness to sweat!Call me. Paul belgium
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18:36
113631290
Jeff in Indianapolis emailed - I agree that nobody reaches a level of excellence without hard work, however it is ludicrous to suggest that there are not genetic factors at play. We know for a fact that the percentage of fast twitch muscle fibers is higher in world class sprinters than the average person.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:35
113631290
Branton Shearer emailed - This is an over simplistic formulation of what accounts for success. You have to focus your training on the areas of strength that are unique to your own brain. We are born with specific types of strengths that experience the world then can either enhance or thwart the development of.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:34
113631290
Ramesh emailed - I have had some experience - some of my friends seem t have talent for solving maths / calculus, physics problems and don't work hard at all - i have several friends who wen for all sorts of tutorials and classes and struggle to get it right and fail miserably
Comment sent via SMS
18:32
114577188
Sounds like a game of semantics; passion, brain wiring, desire all sound like innate God given talent or inclination at the least-Masiko in california
Comment sent via SMS
18:32
108513545
My daughter, for instance, has perfect pitch. She’s 7, and she can sing anything, without practice. That is a natural-born gift, and if you manage to discover yours in your lifetime, you’re lucky. But everyone is born with some natural aptitude over another to develop. Good luck! Banks.amsterdam
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:29
113631290
Jared in Montana - There is one thing to say about natural talents, but on the other end of the spectrum is natural weaknesses. Are those also inherent? I tend to pick most things up rather easily, but I have always been horrible at dancing. My 3-year-old daughter dances for fun and is already immeasurably better than I am. Instances like this make me think twice about inherent natural talent.
Comment sent via SMS
18:29
108683853
Hello. I’m afraid your speakers thesis is wrong: if you substitute the phrase ’natural talent’ with ’natural propensity for dedication’, and then add physical capability and environmental support to encourage and nurture that dedication, you will make a winner. Lloyd from prague.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:27
113631290
Laurie emailed: I have two boys that I consider natural atheletes. They are 9 and 6. They play well at most sports they have tried. I find it interesting that the younger son is more talented than the older one because he has a better focus and enjoys practicing than the the older son.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:25
113631290
Lincoln Muri on the blog - If we define talent as a genetic pre-disposition to do some things better than others, then talent is definitely real. Come to think of it, that is the definition of talent. You are not born with talent to play tennis, you are born with good hand-eye coordination which enables you to become a great tennis player if you work at it. To me, it's elementary.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:19
113631290
Barbara in Ft Myers, Florida emailed: Have you read Malcom Gladstone’s Book, The Outliers? Makes a strong case for a perfect storm of hard work meeting opportunity equaling tremendous success. We all have personality traits and learning styles that impact our talents and success in the workplace. Then what is success and is it better to have success in one’s personal life versus in the world of sports and business.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:17
113631290
Shane in Salt Lake City emailed: When I think of Usane Bolt, he has "natural talent" or genetics that make him an incredibly fast runner. Sprinters can't be taught they are born.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:17
113631290
Dave in Lawrence, Kansas: Question for Susan Polger. Do you believe that with sufficient practice anyone can become a chess champion? I am 58. I love chess, but I'm terrible at it. If I practice, can I become a chamption? And how much practice would it take?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:14
113631290
Abubakar in Freetown - Talent without opportunity is a waste.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:12
113631290
Emeka in Nigeria - Talents are natural endowments on mankind by the Supreme Being. It can't be sourced by humans or within human capacity. They exist because the Almighty has made it so and are handed to those precious and dear to Him.
Does natural talent exist?
| Thursday, 8 Aug. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
Matthew Syed was a sensational table tennis player (if you don't believe me watch this). Still is by any of our standards no doubt. He was British number one, and took gold three times in the men's singles at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. (He was also a defender, an amazing but sadly now dying art more alive in the tennis of Andy Murray than in 21st century table tennis.)
Now Matthew Syed is a sports journalist for The Times, and has recently written a book called Bounce: How Champions Are Made, which explores what leads people to being the absolute best in their chosen field. And he's our guest on Thursday.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
That''s all for our show looking at whether talent exists. What will we talk about tomorrow? Well, that''s up to you. Let us know - email worldhaveyoursay@bbc.com.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Endfeld emailed: There are people, horses, dogs, etc., who have and were born with better athletic abilities than others. It does not matter how much training the lesser individual gets, it will not be able to overcome the abilities of such talented individuals.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Homer Smith in St Louis - Regardless of the significance of hard work (I happen to think it's critical), more important than any inborn talent (i.e. genetics) is the environment you develop in. I think upbringing and environment are where the crucial difference is.
Comment sent via Facebook
Srijana - There is something called "natural talent", but this particular factor has a very small role when it comes to being successful, while the bigger roles are played by numerous other factors like hard work, perseverence, passion, smart work and dedication.
Comment sent via BLOG
Clifford on the blog - if Lebron James was born anywhere other than US where the popular sport is soccer, he would probably be playing soccer. Just like Peter Crouch would be playing basketball instead of soccer if he grew up in the USA.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Donald McCalla in Greensboro, North Carolina - Baron Manfred Von Richthofen, "The Red Baron" of World War 1 fame, was a pheonominal success as a fighter ace, primarily because he had better than 20/20 vision. He was able to see his opponent before they could see him, and position himself in a dominant attack position. Most of his victims never even saw him untill their aircraft was on fire.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Josh in Salt Lake City - Isn't it in the interest of our species to naturally select for talent? The small differences that set us apart from one another, when looked through a very long lens of hundreds, even thousands of years, seems like it would select for more talent and more intelligence
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Linda emailed - Hard work is essential but natural ability makes it easier!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Michael in the USA - The human mind is forever a malleable tool, but it takes some indelible shape in its formative years, which often masquerades as talent.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Vyvyan in Holland - What about Star Quality? Some poeple are fasinating to watch, others not.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jim in Alabama - How does an idiot savant fit in to the talent training discussion?
Comment sent via Facebook
Tholomusa in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe - The whole concept of talent implies inborn ability that gets to the surface when subjected to the environment that would allow them to surface. Taught skills build upon preexisting conditions that are associated with talent.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Sean emailed - Surprised you have not brought up the talented young artist Kieron Williamson. He has only been painting a very short time and demonstrates a true gift.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Evan from Cleveland - I grew up with a step brother who was only 6 months older than I. His father was a professional musician. My step-brother had amazing ability to pick up any instrument and make music with it, while I was never able to come close to playing an instrument. We would try to play music together but I just was not able to do it.
Comment sent via SMS
Is There is an obvious way to measure our motivations? certainly we differ in our ability to be coached. Talent is sometimes the willingness to sweat!Call me. Paul belgium
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jeff in Indianapolis emailed - I agree that nobody reaches a level of excellence without hard work, however it is ludicrous to suggest that there are not genetic factors at play. We know for a fact that the percentage of fast twitch muscle fibers is higher in world class sprinters than the average person.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Branton Shearer emailed - This is an over simplistic formulation of what accounts for success. You have to focus your training on the areas of strength that are unique to your own brain. We are born with specific types of strengths that experience the world then can either enhance or thwart the development of.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Ramesh emailed - I have had some experience - some of my friends seem t have talent for solving maths / calculus, physics problems and don't work hard at all - i have several friends who wen for all sorts of tutorials and classes and struggle to get it right and fail miserably
Comment sent via SMS
Sounds like a game of semantics; passion, brain wiring, desire all sound like innate God given talent or inclination at the least-Masiko in california
Comment sent via SMS
My daughter, for instance, has perfect pitch. She’s 7, and she can sing anything, without practice. That is a natural-born gift, and if you manage to discover yours in your lifetime, you’re lucky. But everyone is born with some natural aptitude over another to develop. Good luck! Banks.amsterdam
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jared in Montana - There is one thing to say about natural talents, but on the other end of the spectrum is natural weaknesses. Are those also inherent? I tend to pick most things up rather easily, but I have always been horrible at dancing. My 3-year-old daughter dances for fun and is already immeasurably better than I am. Instances like this make me think twice about inherent natural talent.
Comment sent via SMS
Hello. I’m afraid your speakers thesis is wrong: if you substitute the phrase ’natural talent’ with ’natural propensity for dedication’, and then add physical capability and environmental support to encourage and nurture that dedication, you will make a winner. Lloyd from prague.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Laurie emailed: I have two boys that I consider natural atheletes. They are 9 and 6. They play well at most sports they have tried. I find it interesting that the younger son is more talented than the older one because he has a better focus and enjoys practicing than the the older son.
Comment sent via BLOG
Lincoln Muri on the blog - If we define talent as a genetic pre-disposition to do some things better than others, then talent is definitely real. Come to think of it, that is the definition of talent. You are not born with talent to play tennis, you are born with good hand-eye coordination which enables you to become a great tennis player if you work at it. To me, it's elementary.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Barbara in Ft Myers, Florida emailed: Have you read Malcom Gladstone’s Book, The Outliers? Makes a strong case for a perfect storm of hard work meeting opportunity equaling tremendous success. We all have personality traits and learning styles that impact our talents and success in the workplace. Then what is success and is it better to have success in one’s personal life versus in the world of sports and business.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Shane in Salt Lake City emailed: When I think of Usane Bolt, he has "natural talent" or genetics that make him an incredibly fast runner. Sprinters can't be taught they are born.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Dave in Lawrence, Kansas: Question for Susan Polger. Do you believe that with sufficient practice anyone can become a chess champion? I am 58. I love chess, but I'm terrible at it. If I practice, can I become a chamption? And how much practice would it take?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Abubakar in Freetown - Talent without opportunity is a waste.
Comment sent via Facebook
Emeka in Nigeria - Talents are natural endowments on mankind by the Supreme Being. It can't be sourced by humans or within human capacity. They exist because the Almighty has made it so and are handed to those precious and dear to Him.