Gold Medal Tally Discussion

[Favpack]

For the first time since 1936, a country other than the U.S. or U.S.S.R. won the gold medal count as China took home 51 golds to the U.S.'s 36.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news;_ylt=Aq.GvOMuGtPVYk3wygH2HqLQ1Zl4?slug=ap-medalsrace&prov=ap&type=lgns

Impressed?

In one regard, yes, going from 8 gold medals in 1988 to the current tally of 51 is nothing short of incredible.

On the other hand, the Chinese have smartly picked less competetive sports - and loaded up their athletes in those events. Post-steriod weightlifting, table tennis diving and other sports that have multiple events -- accounted for most of the golds.

So, how does China do it?

The Chinese Sports Federation - run by the government - scours the country for 3-5 year olds that fit certain body types. These kids are taken out of a kids environment and shipped off to their respective sports camps where they train non-stop in that event - either getting better or not, and if not, shipped back home.

Either you're impressed by that or you're not.

I'm not.

[Miss Kitty]

Not. But what I am not impressed with is the method, the Federation. That does not mean that I take anything away from the athletes. They didn't get there by mistake nor did they win the golds that way. They worked hard. I don't blame them, the athletes, for the ways of the Federation or the cheating, etc.

[twcpfan1]

For the first time since 1936, a country other than the U.S. or U.S.S.R. won the gold medal count as China took home 51 golds to the U.S.'s 36.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news;_ylt=Aq.GvOMuGtPVYk3wygH2HqLQ1Zl4?slug=ap-medalsrace&prov=ap&type=lgns

Impressed?

In one regard, yes, going from 8 gold medals in 1988 to the current tally of 51 is nothing short of incredible.

On the other hand, the Chinese have smartly picked less competetive sports - and loaded up their athletes in those events. Post-steriod weightlifting, table tennis diving and other sports that have multiple events -- accounted for most of the golds.

According to the article, the USA wishes they had done the same thing. And I quote:

“China has been systematically targeting every single available medal, and we’re going to have to do that in the future,” said U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth.

“The resources that they put toward their Olympic team and the population base and the dedication is fantastic,” he said. “It’s much more difficult for the rest of the world to compete, but that’s the way it should be.”

So, how does China do it?

The Chinese Sports Federation - run by the government - scours the country for 3-5 year olds that fit certain body types. These kids are taken out of a kids environment and shipped off to their respective sports camps where they train non-stop in that event - either getting better or not, and if not, shipped back home.

How else are they going to do it? The system of government does not allow anybody to be rich enough to finance expensive Sporting clubs like they can here. American kids who are committed enough, make similar sacrifices like having to give up a normal childhood, if they or their parents want them to achieve that level of excellence, not just in Olympic Sports but in anything. Make no mistake. We weed out the bad and not so good ones here too. But granted, like FB pointed out, the system of gov't is such that the training and development is way more centralized and inherently more efficient.

Either you're impressed by that or you're not.

Well they do have 1.3 billion people. They better get a lot of medals. From an Australian point of view, they actually suck :D

I'm not.
That was apparent from day 1 of the games :D

in blue

[Favpack]

I agree that you're impressed by the Chinese athletes - regardless of age. They all performed well. And, I do agree we need to broaden our athletic prowess in some of these other sports. However, as we all know, the hot sports in the U.S. are snowboarding, BMX, and Wi (sarcasm noted), not table tennis or weightlifting.

[twcpfan1]

I agree that you're impressed by the Chinese athletes - regardless of age. They all performed well. And, I do agree we need to broaden our athletic prowess in some of these other sports. However, as we all know, the hot sports in the U.S. are snowboarding, BMX, and Wi (sarcasm noted), not table tennis or weightlifting.

On a serious note, keep in mind that the average American kid puts more stock in College and PRO sports than Olympic sports. That in itself is a disadvantage.

On the age thing, Sugarland's Tara Lipinski skated beautifully in 1988 at 14 y/0. Yes, I was impressed. Also impressed with Nadia's perfect 10's in 1976. She was 14 too.

[Firebird]

I agree that you're impressed by the Chinese athletes - regardless of age. They all performed well. And, I do agree we need to broaden our athletic prowess in some of these other sports. However, as we all know, the hot sports in the U.S. are snowboarding, BMX, and Wi (sarcasm noted), not table tennis or weightlifting.

Well, BMX was a exhibition this year.

I don't let it get under my skin. The USSR used to beat us all the time. It wasn't a big deal back then and it isn't a big deal now. I don't like it when sports becomes politics by proxy. Our athletes did a great job and represented well. The Chinese,with 1.3 billion people and a centralized sports federation, should win the most gold medals. In fact, they should be doing much better than they actually did.

And, as Cavdad has said, per capita Jamaica, Australia, and Cuba are the real Olympic overachievers.

[RedRage00]

I really enjoyed watching the Chinese gymnast. I don't care how old they were, they were fun to watch. So were the Americans.

[Favpack]

Well, BMX was a exhibition this year.

I don't let it get under my skin. The USSR used to beat us all the time. It wasn't a big deal back then and it isn't a big deal now. I don't like it when sports becomes politics by proxy. Our athletes did a great job and represented well. The Chinese,with 1.3 billion people and a centralized sports federation, should win the most gold medals. In fact, they should be doing much better than they actually did.

And, as Cavdad has said, per capita Jamaica, Australia, and Cuba are the real Olympic overachievers.

The only collective group I was a little disappointed in was the shorter sprinters, yet, we did get multiple medals there, just not gold.

U.S. Volleyball was unreal. Three golds and a silver against the worlds best between indoor and beach volleyball.

[twcpfan1]

Well, BMX was a exhibition this year.

I don't let it get under my skin. The USSR used to beat us all the time. It wasn't a big deal back then and it isn't a big deal now. I don't like it when sports becomes politics by proxy. Our athletes did a great job and represented well. The Chinese,with 1.3 billion people and a centralized sports federation, should win the most gold medals. In fact, they should be doing much better than they actually did.

And, as Cavdad has said, per capita Jamaica, Australia, and Cuba are the real Olympic overachievers.

The US really cleaned up in the Snowboarding events at the last winter games too. That redheaded kid Shawn White ( i think ), Gretchen Bleiler and Hanna Teeter all became stars.

[twcpfan1]

Did Great Britain do better than usual?

Did Germany underachieve?

I don't ever remember the former having that many golds and the latter having only that much.

Speaking of underachieving, Germany has been a little disappointing. You would think with the fall of the wall, they'd be better.

[Miss Kitty]

I think our men's water polo did pretty darn good. :) And I didn't hear of a single instance of a horse drowing. :D

[Maroondog]

For the first time since 1936, a country other than the U.S. or U.S.S.R. won the gold medal count as China took home 51 golds to the U.S.'s 36.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news;_ylt=Aq.GvOMuGtPVYk3wygH2HqLQ1Zl4?slug=ap-medalsrace&prov=ap&type=lgns

Impressed?

In one regard, yes, going from 8 gold medals in 1988 to the current tally of 51 is nothing short of incredible.

On the other hand, the Chinese have smartly picked less competetive sports - and loaded up their athletes in those events. Post-steriod weightlifting, table tennis diving and other sports that have multiple events -- accounted for most of the golds.

So, how does China do it?

The Chinese Sports Federation - run by the government - scours the country for 3-5 year olds that fit certain body types. These kids are taken out of a kids environment and shipped off to their respective sports camps where they train non-stop in that event - either getting better or not, and if not, shipped back home.

Either you're impressed by that or you're not.

I'm not.

I agree. China also targeted events where they figured they could do some damage.
It all boils down to whether you feel a state program that has but one purpose is worth it. Does winning gold medals in the Olympics actually prove anything other than if you set a single goal and strive toward that goal above all else mean that you can actually accomplish it?

[Firebird]

On a serious note, keep in mind that the average American kid puts more stock in College and PRO sports than Olympic sports. That in itself is a disadvantage.

On the age thing, Sugarland's Tara Lipinski skated beautifully in 1988 at 14 y/0. Yes, I was impressed. Also impressed with Nadia's perfect 10's in 1976. She was 14 too.

Very good point. As long as our athletes dream mostly of team sports, we will always lose out. There are lots of athletes playing in the NFL and NBA that could probably win Olympic gold if you put them in the right sport. Imagine some of our NFL stars in wrestling or weightlifting....

This is not a terrible thing. People in the U.S. care more about taking care of themselves and their families than they do about providing the U.S. with national glory at a sporting event. And that is how it should be.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=dw-medalcount082208&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[twcpfan1]

Very good point. As long as our athletes dream mostly of team sports, we will always lose out. There are lots of athletes playing in the NFL and NBA that could probably win Olympic gold if you put them in the right sport. Imagine some of our NFL stars in wrestling or weightlifting....

This is not a terrible thing. People in the U.S. care more about taking care of themselves and their families than they do about providing the U.S. with national glory at a sporting event. And that is how it should be.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=dw-medalcount082208&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

I actually had an interesting conversation with a friend whose daughter swims competitively. He's a little perturbed that there are world class swimmers in the USA and Australia who don't even get to go. He says he looks at some of the times in the Heats from some of these countries, and they're slower than Texas HS level. He went on to say that Phelps probably does not get 8 golds if he had to swim against the world's actual best times. There would have been no 'resting' in the Heats.

Same applies to the UIL too. In swimming and Track, each region has to be represented and consequently, kids from Houston who have better times, end up missing out going to the State Competition.

[Firebird]

I actually had an interesting conversation with a friend whose daughter swims competitively. He's a little perturbed that there are world class swimmers in the USA and Australia who don't even get to go. He says he looks at some of the times in the Heats from some of these countries, and they're slower than Texas HS level. He went on to say that Phelps probably does not get 8 golds if he had to swim against the world's actual best times. There would have been no 'resting' in the Heats.

Same applies to the UIL too. In swimming and Track, each region has to be represented and consequently, kids from Houston who have better times, end up missing out going to the State Competition.

What can you do, though? FINA actually changed the rules to keep the Aussies and Americans from dominating quite so much. Only two athletes from a nation in each event, so no more sweeps. It won't be too much longer before swimmers start pulling Becky Hammons.

I benefitted from swimming in a "slow" region though.

[dragons08]

China also sent more olympians than the US. They also focus more on the sports the average american could care less about. With less caring, it leads to less involvement, which leads to less amount of competition for the americans atheltes in that sport. competition usually allows people to get better. makes them work harder.

[STJL41]

Yeah there are just too many events nobody in America gives a :Censor: about for us to be competitive. We may be able to find some diamonds in the rough every now and then, but most kids just wouldn't put in the time it takes to be good at things like badmitton, table tennis, and trap shooting.

Hell, its hard enough just getting the top athletes to join the track team at some high schools, and we're a world power in a lot of those events (usually).

[jrock210]

China won the Gold Medal tally regardless of what sport(s) it is.
I'm not impressed they had underage athletes. I do think the Olympics should be for all ages though! If you qualify you get in.

[twcpfan1]

edit . posting on wrong thread