He’s picked the game up from last year

[possopo]

talking about a pilot who just won last year's championship or (and i really lack context here) about a pilot who just won a race today but he wasn't last year's championship winner.
"He’s picked the game up from last year"

i really don't understand what the narrator is saying. and more generally, what does "to pick up from" mean except for "to resume an activity" ?

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by possopo

talking about a pilot who just won last year's championship or (and i really lack context here) about a pilot who just won a race today but he wasn't last year's championship winner.
"He’s picked the game up from last year"
i really don't understand what the narrator is saying. and more generally, what does "to pick up from" mean except for "to resume an activity" ?

I would have expected this phrase to be "He's picked HIS game up from last year." That would mean he's improved from last year - 'pick your game up' is a euphemism meaning 'examine your performance and improve your results'.