I've come to believe that many people (like the article author) confuse talent with passion and persistence. If you naturally have a talent for something, you are more likely to pursue it and spark a passion for it.

It's much easier to get good at something you have a natural inclination towards. This does not mean that talent is a prerequisite for getting good at something.

And besides, having talent is like having a small head start in a marathon. You may start faster but that doesn't mean you'll finish faster.