I thought I didn't think I would like math until I made my first game (which needed it); it sucked me in and I tried to learn as much as I could after that. Never really stopped :) Guess kids (gifted or not?) just have to have their buttons pushed, not just do mindnumbing excersizes in school.

Edit: this was 27 years ago BTW: you would hope (gifted) kids now come into contact with game creation faster now.