Mostly true, though I've known a few people who realized, after several years, that they were "not cut out" to be programmers. They then had to redefine themsel

Mostly true, though I've known a few people who realized, after several years, that they were "not cut out" to be programmers. They then had to redefine themselves in that way. But you're right that athletics is unique in that there are a small number of years in which your body and brain are in the right stage of development to achieve peak performance. If you don't achieve your goals in that time, the only consolation you can hope to take away is that you made the effort, and hopefully reached the limits of your capability.