> isn't this more a trait of autism than anything else?

No. It’s a sign of drive and discipline.

The latter, specifically the focus element, overlaps with autism. But more broadly it does not. (There are a lot of impressive teenagers applying themselves diligently to impressive ends. Most of them are not on the spectrum, though I suspect mild autism is slightly over-represented in that set.)

And this is all you can come up with this story?

Not all autism presents with intense narrow interests, and not all expressions of intense narrow interest are autism.

Would you say the same for a teenage sports prodigy?

You're assuming that autism is always going to be a disadvantage. In fact, the obsessive focus mirrors scientific practice. Good luck to him, I respect him.