Is anyone else annoyed with the olympic medal count?

[badgercat]

Don't cry for Dara. She came from major $$$ and has always lived a posh life.

I've kind of wondered about the backgrounds of a lot of athletes, U.S. in particular because that's where I'm from... I was watching a piece on Nastia Liukin, an American gymnast, and there was a clip of her and her dad driving around in a Porsche. Or maybe a Ferrari. I just remember it was something no one in my family could afford.

I'm not trying to knock the talents these people have, and I'm certainly not looking to start a class war or say they're only where they are because of their upbringing... but it's just interesting to think about how much money can affect the level of training an athlete receives. Like... how many people out there might have similar natural gifts, but just haven't had the opportunity to cultivate it because they just didn't have the same resources? It's mind boggling.

Anyway, back to what the OP asked... medal counts are kind of annoying. The media coverage here in general gets on my nerves. Show me less talking and more running/diving/jumping/whatever!

[Aggie_Ama]

Like... how many people out there might have similar natural gifts, but just haven't had the opportunity to cultivate it because they just didn't have the same resources? It's mind boggling.

Anyway, back to what the OP asked... medal counts are kind of annoying. The media coverage here in general gets on my nerves. Show me less talking and more running/diving/jumping/whatever!

Whereas last night they said Shawn Johnson's family took out a second mortgage on their house more than once to keep her training.

Then they switch to diving where the one girl and her dad moved to be near the good diving center while her mother stayed working in California. It takes a bit of money to maintain two households, I would think but who knows we just maintain one.

I read an article on how much it really costs to raise an Olympian, lots of money goes into to seeing your little darling on the podium of a sport.

[sfa]

Whereas last night they said Shawn Johnson's family took out a second mortgage on their house more than once to keep her training.

Then they switch to diving where the one girl and her dad moved to be near the good diving center while her mother stayed working in California. It takes a bit of money to maintain two households, I would think but who knows we just maintain one.

I read an article on how much it really costs to raise an Olympian, lots of money goes into to seeing your little darling on the podium of a sport.

I wonder about all of the others who made similar sacrifices (money and time and effort) whose kids didn't make it onto the team, let alone the podium.

[malkin]

I like that 33 year old gymnast too.
And Michael Phelps' mom.

But I'm pretty tired of the coverage.

[Irulan]

I've kind of wondered about the backgrounds of a lot of athletes, U.S. in particular because that's where I'm from... I was watching a piece on Nastia Liukin, an American gymnast, and there was a clip of her and her dad driving around in a Porsche. Or maybe a Ferrari. I just remember it was something no one in my family could afford.

I'm not trying to knock the talents these people have, and I'm certainly not looking to start a class war or say they're only where they are because of their upbringing... but it's just interesting to think about how much money can affect the level of training an athlete receives. Like... how many people out there might have similar natural gifts, but just haven't had the opportunity to cultivate it because they just didn't have the same resources? It's mind boggling.

Anyway, back to what the OP asked... medal counts are kind of annoying. The media coverage here in general gets on my nerves. Show me less talking and more running/diving/jumping/whatever!

In the US, as I understand it, the athletes don't receive a lot of state/federal funding, it is up to the individual and whatever sponsors they can come up with and still remain non-professional. So ya, no resources = no olympic coaching. Our government would rather spend money on, oh, never mind.

here's an interesting article. The USA is one of three countries that does not support it's olympic atheletes.

The United States is one of only three countries where Olympic athletes receive no government funding. Instead the U.S. Olympic Committee relies exclusively on income from the sale of television broadcast rights and from corporate sponsors.

I'm not saying that warehouseing a kid at a state training facility from the age 3 on is the answer either, but surely there is someplace in the middle? This article was a little to rah-rah private sector for me but it does explain how US funding works.

funding article

[kelownagirl]

Michael Phelps has more Gold medals than my country....

[colby]

Michael Phelps has more Gold medals than my country....

It's okay... your country is better looking.

(Zing!)

[OakLeaf]

It's okay... your country is better looking.

(Zing!)

LMAO! The other day I had to explain to DH how the men's swimming is SO not the female porn equivalent of the women's gymnastics and beach volleyball... I still don't think he understood...

[Mr. Bloom]

LMAO! The other day I had to explain to DH how the men's swimming is SO not the female porn equivalent of the women's gymnastics and beach volleyball... I still don't think he understood...

We're still trying to figure out the spectator appeal of water polo

I understand that it is quite athletic to do what they do, but it's boring

Last night, I heard one of the commentators say "they have the best defense in the sport of water polo today"...
isn't that like being "the best bluegrass band in Denmark"

PS: I don't like basketball either

[Aggie_Ama]

We watched the most bizarrely boring sport- Modern Pentathalon. Part were interesting but mostly it was just weird.

I found water polo extremely boring yet the US channels showed it all the time. Someone must like it but I don't know who.

I don't like watching basketball (except my college and March Madness) or baseball (ever), I didn't watch any of that.

[uforgot]

LMAO! The other day I had to explain to DH how the men's swimming is SO not the female porn equivalent of the women's gymnastics and beach volleyball... I still don't think he understood...

I would have argued with you when I was in High School in the 70s. My friends and I all had the poster.

[Irulan]

LMAO! The other day I had to explain to DH how the men's swimming is SO not the female porn equivalent of the women's gymnastics and beach volleyball... I still don't think he understood...

Sure it is. Nicely formed young men in mini speedos? What's not to like?

[bounceswoosh]

Sure it is. Nicely formed young men in mini speedos? What's not to like?

They don't wear mini speedos for speed swimming -- they wear suits with about the same coverage as cycling bib shorts, although even more form-fitting.

But I have to agree -- those swimmer bodies are pretty good eye candy.

[OakLeaf]

Sure it is. Nicely formed young men in mini speedos? What's not to like?

Goggles, swim caps, shark suits. Plus more subQ fat than any other sport.

Never mind Phelps actually looks better with the goggles and swim cap on...

I like faces, and I like 'em cut. Apparently I'm in the minority here, though