Final answer:
Successful athletes are not just born with talent, but also achieve success through hard work and dedication. The combination of innate ability and diligent practice is crucial for becoming a successful athlete in any sport.
Step-by-step explanation:
Successful athletes are not just born with their talent, but rather a combination of natural ability and hard work. While innate physical attributes can give athletes a head start, it is the dedication, effort, and countless hours of practice that ultimately lead to success. For example, Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, possessed exceptional talent, but he also worked tirelessly to hone his skills through hours of practice every day.
Furthermore, the environment in which athletes grow up plays a significant role. If a community has a strong sports culture and offers ample opportunities for training and development, it increases the chances of producing successful athletes. This is demonstrated by the clustering of talent in certain regions known for their sports prowess, such as Brazil in soccer or the United States in basketball.
In conclusion, while natural talent can give athletes an initial advantage, hard work is the key determinant of success in sports. Even the most gifted athletes must put in the effort to develop their skills and consistently work towards improvement.