Evidence suggests that a number of preconditions are necessary to achieve at the highest levels of sport, including a family culture of striving and achievement, positive sport-related experiences during early development, late sport specialization, and an ability to “push yourself to the maximum” in competition and practice. But what differentiates elite athletes (those that compete at the international level) and “super-elite” athletes (those that win at the international level)? Research published in the Journal of Expertise reports a number of defining characteristics among super-elite athletes, including a higher relative importance of sport over other aspects of life; the use of “total preparation” strategies to maintain/enhance performance under pressure; career “turning points” leading to enhanced determination to excel; and continued performance improvement over more years during adulthood, eventually attaining their (first) gold medal after 21 ± 6 practice years.