When did you discover that you were skilled at something?

I discovered my ability to do math when i was 14, before that i wasnt interested in math so that might be one reason i didnt figure that out. I became more interested into physics there after though (i have been constantly in touch with both maths and physics even now). But its arguable if mathematics is considered a talent by public ^_^! Sure people call you talented for it but they dont mean to compare with usual talents like sports and singing. I discovered my talent in chess 6 months after i got interested in math, its weird but before that i wasnt interested in chess either even though i used to play it with my family and got defeated all the time ;_; .. and just like you i sharpened my chess skills there after.. now my chess rating is very close to a GM.

It is difficult for me to generalize what talents I might have...ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪...I discovered I am actually not retarded or else I wouldn't use this language now!

Since I was a kid I've always had a knack with anything in my hands, Especially knives. Also had gut instinct on knowing when people were lying at young ages, though I wasn't sure what it meant until I was older. First time I shot a gun, I realized I had a talent for em when I hit the target sheet right between the eyes, and wherever I aimed. Not really sure if I can say I had a talent with video games since I've been playing them since before I had memory due to my family. But I'm decent with them with pretty quick ease. Other than that, I can read people easily. Not the most convenient talents that could make me money or help me in classes, but we all are good in different things. I was good at math as a kid, buuut those skills haven't been around for a while. I sure do miss it, would make classes so much easier.

@Ed, but are you "skilled" at receiving pain? XD I always was good at math too. I discovered it in early high school, when my classroom had a whole year without a math teacher because of multiple teachers strikes. That's what you get in a public school... That's how I found out I didn't need a teacher to learn. Afterwards, my future math teachers were getting increasingly annoyed at me for almost never attending classes and acing all the tests.

Hard to say, I've been a good swimmer for longer than I remember. But since I was in second grade, people have said I was good at memorizing dates.