| Kasz216 said:
3) China is leading in gold medals because China doesn't care about forcing atheltes to take life shortening drugs... so... Really it's no different then say... the Major League Baseball. Steroids and HGH are illegal but a LOT of players use them anyway and gain a big advantage. (though often these substances aren't life shortening too.) |
There is one huge factor that goes beyond steroids and infastructure though ... Population
Natural athletic ability follows a normal distribution and performance at a high level on an international scale usually is the result of natural athletic ability being shaped by a high level of desire. When you have a country with 3 or 4 times the population they will have a huge advantage in atletics because they have 3 to 4 times as many individuals at each level of natural athletic ability.
Choice is another component because the stand-out athletes in most nations have to find the sport they're good at and find some way to fund themselves, while China will often force children at a young age into a sport and ensure that they're trained.
