Abstract: Reserve talent is the primary resource for the sustainable development of competitive sports, and it also a key support for accelerating the building of a sports power in the New Era. Through literature research and logical analysis, this study focuses on youth talent identification and foundational training issues, systematically examining and comparing the significance and practical implications of various identification and development models. The findings indicate that, researches on talent identification and foundational training primarily adopts biological and sociological perspectives, and has gradually developed three representative models, i.e., early identification–early specialization–early success model, early identification–multi-sport training–late/stage specialization model, and natural and organized cross-sport talent transfer model. These 3 models demonstrate significant structural differences in terms of talent identification philosophy and developmental orientation, selection methods and developmental pathways, training content and load regulation, competitive performance and tempo of talent maturation, as well as developmental environments and resource support. This study proposes the following suggestions based on China’s actual situation: Adhering to the concept which combines talent identification and development, and building seamless developmental pathways; improving diversified evaluation criteria and establishing dynamic identification and selection mechanisms; optimizing foundational training system and deepening the development pathway for the integration of sport and education; strengthening strategic planning and guidance to promote coordinated regional development; advancing technology-empowered governance to accelerate the digital and intelligent transformation of talent identification and development systems, and comprehensively enhance the systematicness, scientificity and sustainability of talent identification and foundational training in competitive sports.