What is the earliest you have heard of someone getting into a competitive specialty and what did it take?

I'll start first,

Someone I knew along time ago, got onto Ortho in one of the most desirable hospitals by PGY4. Dude was an absolute monster, got a perfect ATAR, got a scholarship at USYD, did MPhil at the same time as doing his MD. I lost contact with him for a while but from my stalking, he did heaps of pretty high quality research and then go on at PGY4.

Another dude I knew also got a perfect ATAR, did the same scholarship at USYD, did a PhD whilst still studying his MD (delayed graduation to coincide with both). Did exceptional work but I think he is still yet to get on to Plastics. Hopefully he gets on sometime soon...