absolutely there is a such thing as natural talent..

if you grow up playing basketball or football, some people can practice half as much as you, and be light-years ahead of you....

to be one of the best in the world it takes years of practice, but at the highest level of competition, all of those guys in any sport was usually dominating their peers at junior high and high school levels..

there are exceptions to the rule as always but generally any pro athlete has been very gifted his whole life..