[bootload]

"Many "recreational" athletes push themselves harder than olympic competitors. Their bottleneck is talent and they attempt to overcome this with drive and determination"

I would re-label talent as "genetics". [0] There is a genetic profile of people who have the advantages of speed and endurance over mere mortals. [1] Then there is the rest of us. With respect to "drive and determination" I agree. Taking into account age (youth is another measure of fitness), no amount of training, preparation, conditioning or pharmaceuticals make up for this genetic deficit.

Reference

[0] For example the relationship between ACTN3 and sprinting: "Top sprinters may have key gene" (2003) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3183119.stm

[1] "Physical Performance Predictors of Success in Special Forces Assessment and Selection" http://dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a245729.pdf

[jessaustin]

Isn't that what GP meant? What else would "talent" mean in this context?