mai said:
Population, nor wealth, nor any other excuses people mentioned here have nothing to do to sports achievements. Infrastructure, social programs, sports popularity do. Mind I remind you that small GDR team managed to score 47 golds once, since reunification it's all the way down for Germany despite it got bigger and wealthier, while a lot of sports pros lost their jobs. Say, for the most part Chinese success in swimming belong to ex-GDR coaches. Though even in terms population growth Germany ain't in perfect shape, birth rate is atrociously low, lower than France, US, Russia, China etc. |
Of course population and more importantly wealth have something to do with it. What planet are you on?
You are correct when you stated that infrastructure, social programs, sports popularity helps but can third world countries afford to invest in rowing facilities, sailing equipment, olympic pools, equestian facilities, cycling velodromes etc.,? No. African swimmers train in the sea because there are no pools big enough in their countrises.
Grenada won a gold from a population of 110,000 people. Can they compete with China's 1.4bn? No.
Chinese success came with billions spent. From 5 gold in 1988 to where they are now in 2012 and I believe they will leave the US way behind in four years time.
To mention the dope fueled GDR is offensive and an insult to sport lovers. Their coaches openly admitted to doping and everyone knew it even before they admitted it. It's amazing how many world records set by the GDR still stands that were set between 1984 and 1989.
Their female runners could have probably beaten Bolt in a sprint.
