Redefining Genius – watching Sam Ruthe
Last Sunday I had the privilege of watching NZ 15 year old Sam Ruthe run the fastest 1500m for someone his age in the history of athletics. Not only did he run faster than Snell, Walker, Dixon, Coe, Ovett, El Guerrouj, Ingebrigtsen and Australia young sensation Cameron Myers … but he was very tactically astute and showed real strenth down the home strait to power past two high quality senior runners for a second place. He recently one the NZ semior mens 3000m chapmpionships – also in a worlds best time for his age.
Form the time I was eight years old and saw Bayi, Walker and Dixon run – I was hooked on athletics.
Sir John Walker was the first human to run under 3min 50 seconds for a mile. Then he won the Olympic 1500m gold medal in 1976 … a genuis.
However the words genius, talent and giftedness need to be redefined, for the good of children, every field of human endeavour and the inspiration of adults.
Much of the theory on the development of “gifted and talented” children is problematic. For example, the concept of talent, including IQ, as being fixed. The emphasis is often about the the gratification of parents or the benefit of sports institutions, coaches, (or schools). There is huge concern about the effects of labelling – both on the “gifted” and those excluded. Plus, regardless of the starting point, I cannot find a single example of a human at an exceptional level that has not worked extraordinarily hard to get there, been through many struggles, shown great sense of purpose and remarkable resilience.
In recent years there has been great change in our understanding of the human brain and physique and the development of ability. To name of few influential thinkers there is Carol Dweck and her growth mindset work, Matthew Syed (Bounce) and Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers, David and Goliath). Syed wove his Bounce, around the 10,000 hours concept and has meshed his work into Dweck’s mindset concepts.
The ideas are important as every human has the ability to develop exceptional skill and knowledge sets. To do so requires guidance, many hours of purposeful practice and opportunities to attempt things and respond to both failure and success.
There is huge concern about the mental well-being of young people and adults. The understanding that abilities are grown over time, that “talent” is developed and is available to us all in some form – is mind-changing for young people and for the enhancement of their lives. Teachers change from being ability categorisers and brain fillers to genuine developers of humans. The length of time it takes to become good at a complex skill also changes the approach of sports academies. Instead of “talent ID” they can become developers of ability with a much healthier approach to young people. It allows for a longer term arroach instead of dumping kids at 18 who are not there yet.
If we understand that “genius” is developed – schools and other institutions should still be providing for young people who already have a high degree of developed ability. In doing so they need to emphasise the need to keep taking risks, seeing failure as a stepping stone, and eliminate the negatives of labelling.
These concepts are inspirational for adults too. If an adult is prperaed to put the time and effort in there a no extra barriers in comparison to young people in many fields.
Sam Ruthe appears to have the perfect combination of great heritage and very good coaching. He has arrived early at an exceptional level and it is inspirational to see. He next stated aim is to be the youngest athlete to ever run a sub-4 minute mile.