Table of contentsIntroductionUnderstanding the term “talent” in sportNature versus nurture: the debateConclusionWorks citedIntroductionIt is common for television viewers/spectators to perceive a successful athlete as “talented”. Media is one of many attributes that explains why we define elite athletes as “talented.” The term talent is intertwined with the statement to describe someone who consistently performs at a high athletic level or who completes/learns tasks extremely quickly (Vaeyens et al., 2008). Before we can examine the discussion of an athlete's abilities in a sport and nature versus nurture in sport, the term "talent" requires a thorough understanding. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Understanding the Term “Talent” in Sports Talent identification is one of the most important and profitable problems in sports. We are constantly looking for a new David Beckham in the world of football, the next Serena Williams on the tennis court and Usain Bolt in running. The public and the media demand more. Scientific research has been carried out and some come to zero results (Starkes., 2016). However, the German Tennis Federation (GTF) organized a talent identification camp to spot their next potential high-performance athlete. A trained psychologist was also used to help identify the next talent from the recruited group. Tennis players who participated in the program were tested on their specific tennis skills, but also on their athletic qualities in general. The psychologist found that the better the overall athleticism, the more tennis players were able to learn tennis-specific skills in a short time (Coghlan., 2003) Nature vs. Culture: the debate “Are athletes born or bred?” “Is talent a product of development or genes? When discussing the origin of talent, the most common debate between “nature versus nurture” is called into question. The scientific literature offers limited documentation on successful athletes and the term “talent”, leaving the subject unclear for many (Hecimowich., 2004). To fully evaluate the nature versus nurture debate, we need to clarify what the terms nature and nurture mean in a sporting context. Nature is somehow defined as an athlete born with genes that give them the ability to excel in a certain sport; On the other hand, education is classified as an individual who has developed elite skills over time through rigorous training. Richard Mulcaster, a British educator, compared nature and nurture as follows: “Nature leads the boy to the future, nurture leads him forward” (Mulcaster, 1582). “What we know about genes in sport is that genetic makeup makes up about 50 percent. of variability in basic performance” (Bush and Salmela., 2002). The Independent newspaper published an article on whether nature or nurture is behind Jamaica's need for speed? In the 100 and 200 meter events in London, eight Jamaicans managed to finish in the top 3. Three won gold. Many Jamaican athletes are considered to genetically inhibit fast-twitch fibers, thus allowing them to perform at an expert level. It has been said that Jamaicans are "blessed" with long limbs, narrow hips and low body fat, which explains their constant efforts to finish in the top 3.., 40(4), 271-283.