What type of improvements are elite athletes typically aiming for in their performance?

Elite athletes are generally focused on achieving marginal gains in their performance. Achievements in the range of 0.5-1% are significant for those at the highest levels of competition, where the competition may be so close that even a slight improvement can determine success or failure. This principle is grounded in the idea that small incremental improvements can accumulate over time, leading to a substantial overall enhancement in performance.

In sports, particularly at the elite level, many factors such as technique, strategy, and mental preparedness are finely tuned, making larger leaps in performance increasingly difficult. Thus, the pursuit of 0.5-1% improvements aligns with the realistic and strategic focus of elite athletes who recognize that every small enhancement can contribute to overall competitive success.