A Review: Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool—“Peak”

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As I was re-reading “Peak” by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool, the quoted paragraph caught my attention. (I most often read my books multiple times as with each reading I tend to find more learning.)

“A 2012 study of tennis players looked at the success and rankings of junior tennis players, that is, younger players who are working and competing to become professionals and compared that with their success after turning pro. There was no relationship. If differences in innate talent were playing a role in determining the best professional tennis players, you’d think those differences would have been noticeable during their junior tennis years as well, but they were not.”

I referenced the study cited to be sure that the conclusion of the study is accurately represented by the author. The theme of this book is that excellent performance is primarily the result of deliberate practice/training, and less so on some perception of innate talent. Another key concept in the book is that at young ages, those exposed to a particular endeavor, sports, music arts, whatever, will initially develop fast and be ahead of their peers, but that initial level of performance does not necessarily correlate to high performance as the athletes age.

Key Athletic Takeaways from “Peak”

• Ericsson emphasizes that world-class athletes don’t rely on innate talent alone. Instead, they reach the top by engaging in purposeful practice, training that is focused, structured, and feedback-driven. The takeaway for athletes is that deliberate, high-quality training sessions matter more than simply putting in hours.
• Elite performers, whether in sport or music, build detailed mental visualizations/representations of the skill required. For athletes, this means an internal model of proper technique, pacing, or strategy. These visuals allow them to anticipate outcomes, make quick adjustments, and refine performance under pressure.
• No athlete reaches the top without effective coaching. Ericsson stresses that coaches who design specific pathways to develop skills, identify errors, and push athletes slightly beyond their current limits are key to unlocking higher levels of performance. Feedback loops are essential.
• While the “10,000 hour rule” became popular, Peak clarifies that it’s not about the number of hours, it’s about the quality of those hours. Athletes improve most when training at the optimal level for their current fitness and skills, not by simply repeating routines.
• The book highlights that the human body and brain are far more adaptable than we tend to believe. Many “limits” in sport (endurance, speed, technique ) are not fixed physiological or neuromuscular barriers but can be pushed beyond what is currently possible with proper training and mindset.
• Ericsson notes that elite athletes distinguish themselves by maintaining motivation over the long haul. They embrace discomfort, sustain focus, and find ways to stay engaged even when progress feels slow.

These concepts highlight what I believe are critical to developing both athletic and life skills so everyone can more fully develop their potential. There are multiple goals and outcomes in sports. For a very few international excellences maybe one outcome, competing in college is another possible level of sports performance, but for many the process of training and exploring one’s potential is valuable outcome but for most participation in lifelong sport for health and fitness is an ideal outcome.  Sports should provide many opportunities to excel and develop skills, not just athletic skills, that can be carried out through life.

I have been writing and speaking about this issue as it relates to talent identification in endurance sports and in skiing for many years. As I shared in one of my early articles for FasterSkier, “What’s the Hurry?” I believe that identifying or selecting talent at the U16 specifically and less so, but still at the U18 age groups, is not likely selecting all the athletes who will continue to develop and improve as a senior athlete at the international level.

Some may reasonably point to individual athletes who were all successful as elite skiers and were successful as U16s and younger. True enough, but this does not mean those who were overlooked at that stage lacked the potential to become equal, or even superior performers as seniors. The truth is, we simply do not know. What we do know is that sport development would be more effective if it were more inclusive, less about early selection, and more focused on giving a broader pool of young athletes access to deliberate training and practice.

Peak reminds us that perceived early talent is not destiny. With purposeful practice, effective coaching, and long-term commitment, athletes at every level can achieve far beyond what they once believed possible. This perspective challenges us, as coaches, athletes, and sport organizations, to rethink how we identify, nurture, and sustain talent across the full arc of development. Together, these themes illustrate that sport development should emphasize inclusive opportunities, long-term training, and skill progression, not just early selection of “talent.”