Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance · chapter 7 · id grit-c7-06-dan-chamblisss-ethnographic-st

“Dan Chambliss's ethnographic study of Olympic swimmers found that excellence is 'mundane' -- the result of many small, correct actions done consistently rather than extraordinary talent or superhuman effort.”

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Chambliss (1989), Sociological Theory 7(1), 70-86 - The Mundanity of Excellencesource alive

Excellence is a qualitative phenomenon. Superlative performance is made of small skills or activities, each one learned or drilled into habit. There is nothing extraordinary in any one of those actions.

Hamilton College - Chambliss on mundanity of excellencesource alive

Chambliss spent five years studying swimmers at every level, from learn-to-swim programs to the US Olympic team, and concluded that excellence is qualitative, not quantitative.

Hamilton College Digital Commons - Chambliss (1989)paywalled — manual check queued

Excellence does not result from quantitative changes in behavior. Increasing training time per se does not make one swim fast.

This claim is a stable, citable object. If you can falsify a verdict, tell us — corrections are loud here.