In any field of endeavour, it is impossible to make a significant contribution without first being strongly influenced by past achievements within that field.

The statement asserts that to make a significant contribution in any field, past achievements strongly influence. The statement may or may not be accurate. I strongly feel that it is dependent on an individual’s behaviour and what motivates him to work in any field.
In a field like entertainment, past achievements do make a strong influence. People get encouraged by fame and money; this motivates a person to pursue a career in such a field. The desire to be famous pushes them to achieve great heights despite the obstacles and low chances of success. In sports, to make a mark, a younger player has to break the record of other players. This shows the player’s contribution to a sport.
Nonetheless, outstanding success can be achieved without any inspiration from past achievements. Entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs started their own business idea and became the first kind in their respective fields. Mark Zuckerberg revolutionize social interaction and inspired other media like Instagram.
So, all past achievements may influence an individual to make a significant contribution. However, it may not be the only reason to contribute to any field.