Thought Leadership v8

Why talent alone isn’t enough to go pro in track and field.

🗓 Thursday August 7th, 2025

Going pro as a track and field athlete requires an incredible amount of talent. Dropping faster times, furthering distances, and soaring to new heights are the most important starting point in a successful career. However, talent alone is only one of many required characteristics and qualities of a successful professional track and field athlete. Today, we’re diving into some of the specifics of why talent alone is not enough to sustain a career as a pro in this sport.

Talent alone is not enough because…

You need a solid team on and off the track.

As an athlete, it’s crucial to surround yourself with people who are going to help you be successful at the highest levels of athletics. Everyone from your coaching staff, to your athletic trainers, to your business team, etc. should be on the same page with your specific goals and needs. Navigating the journey alone is near impossible, and therefore, cultivating an environment full of team members who have your best interests is essential.

Visibility and branding are key.

A huge part of professional track and field success lies in the optics and visibility of the athlete. How you show up on social media, how you tell your story, and how you interact with your supporters go a long way. It’s important to not only understand the value in keeping a digital presence online, but also learning how to communicate with brands, fans, and the media. When you have two athletes with a similar talent level, chances are the one with the better branding is going to have more success.

Mental Resilience is about 90% of the game.

Contrary to popular belief, the mental aspect of track and field is much more intensive than the physical. At its core, athletics is a straightforward sport - run faster, jump higher, and throw further. What separates the good athletes from the greats, however, is their ability to lock in mentally at the right moments. From being disciplined enough to complete workouts on days where motivation is low, to being able to bounce back and execute a race after a false start, having a strong head on your shoulders will undoubtedly separate you from the bunch.

Here at ProTrackletes, the goal is to provide resources, guidance, and support for professional track and field athletes on and off the track. We’re creating a central hub for athletes that is fully encompassing and supportive of the success of the pros in our sport.