Should all Countries have only 1 athlete in each event instead of 3?

Question

Track and field have 3 athletes per country at the moment in most events except swimming which only allows 2, (but USA wants this increased to 3. would it not be more competitive to only allow 1 athlete per event, so only the best could compete. giving everyone a chance. only allowing an athlete/swimmer to enter one event. would this not be a fairer system.

Answer 1

A limit of one would seem to be unfair on the other competitors who are good enough to qualify.

But I also see your point.

No-one wants to see a final line-up with all the runners, swimmers etc being from one particular country, which ever country that may be.

Answer 2

I think 3 is good if they made the qualifying time.  They are allowed one by the b qualifying time or one by a wild card entry

It allow country to try for the clean sweep  

Answer 3

No. Because you wouldn't have the best. If Jamaica goes 1,2,3 in the 100 meters. well then you have the best in the world. It would be different if Jamaica won, then china, and USA. because china and US shouldn't have gotten 2nd and 3rd. Sometimes a country produces the best athletes not athlete. I think it would be stupid to only allow 1 athlete per country. It gives more chances to deserving people, and makes for a much more competetive olympics. And it would not be fairer. As for swimming, i don't really care if the bump it up to three. Maybe we will have the first medal sweep in an event then.  

Answer 4

Events that have the high potential for injuries which will keep the athlete from participating in the games, should be allowed 3 entrants.

In the months leading up to the olympics there were many athletes who were injured and fought to get well enough to participate.  As in the case of our men's gymnastics team, we were down to one alternate!

In track, one pulled muscle or one strain virtually cancels participation in an event.

I think it's good as it stands.

Answer 5

Yes and no, yes it will be more fair because more country will get to compete.  But no it won't be fair because what if for instance the top 3 runner in the world comes from Jamaica, that means the second best runner on earth don't get to compete at all, and the fourth best runner on earth will end up with the silver medal.

Answer 6

That idea would be a bad one. You would put too much pressure on one athlete and if he has a minor mistake he alone let's down the nation he or she is representing. And what if one country has 2-3 of the best athletes in the world but could only send 1 yet those athletes could easily beat any other athlete from other countries? would it be fair then that a country can only get gold instead of sweeping the medals?  

Answer 7

i don't knowwwww