Why Chinese people are so hostile towards athletes who have not won them medal ?

Question

Li Na,Tennis player expressed her frustration over it.

http://sports.in.msn.com/olympics/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1643118

Even Chinese people are abusing Liu Xiang who is injured.C'mon man,He is not greatest athlete of China but Of Asia who broke the myth that Asians are poor in track and field.Being from India,we are poor in Olympics but we salute other players.I think that if Tyson g*y represented China and dropped the baton,He would have been executed.China is great but don't demean those athletes who did their best but couldn't win medals.

Answer 1

This is not a trait exclusive to any country.

Alicia Sacramone suffered some nasty criticism for her two falls in the womens all around.

Lisel Jones and Libby Trickett were under attack from some of their fellow Australians for their "mediocre silvers".

The only bad part about the olympics is some peoples true natures are brought to bare - they want their athletes to be good sportsmen, but can't be one themselves.

It is part of the human condition - and thinking its exclusive to one country is ignorant.

I am neither Chinese nor American, but a proud australian who is very ashamed of the disgusting attitudes that are becoming prevalent amongst our country. Maybe a few Olympics languishing again may teach us to appreciate what we do get again - rather than this overinflated sense of ego that drives them today.

Answer 2

Well cause winning is everything and losing is nothing.. If you loose you're nothing it's true in China and in U.S. as well..  

Answer 3

What are you talking about? Everywhere I've seen (well just the Chinese news and yahoo answers and random news from the internet), Chinese citizens were expressing their sympathy for Liu Xiang and basically said that he was still a hero in their eyes. Some cried. Of course there would be some people making mean comments, but just like a few US citizens do not represent all of American, a few Chinese citizens do not represent all of China. I can understand how some people can be mad because they paid a very high ticket price to see Liu Xiang and he couldn't run at the last minute.

And as for Ohioan_femme, WHICH citizens in WHICH country DON'T want their country to look good to the rest of the world? How many people do you know who really do not care what others think of them?

Edit: Perhaps they care more than other countries, but you haven't met the Japanese yet... It's not difficult to understand why China cares so much about its image considering all the invasions, occupations by other countries, being criticized much more often than being praised, and being called "the sick man of the east" for quite a while.

Answer 4

Because they felt that they lost 'face'. Losing face is the worst that can happen to a Chinese. They are very conscious of their image. This is the reason why they had to use digital fireworks and switch little kids singing on the opening ceremony. This is the reason why they spent so much money on the Olympics. It's all about the image, the 'face'. Know the Chinese mindset and you will know why they act this way. Do you know that when their Olympic medalist in one Olympic failed to get any medal in another Olympics, many Chinese sent death threats to him? Even sent him a knife on the mail telling him to commit suicide.

It is for this same reason that I doubt that the IOC will even rattle China about underage gymnasts.

In other countries, we acknowledge that athletes can mess up too, or having a bad luck or bad day and just charge it to experience. Even if the athlete failed to get a medal, we still appreciate the efforts they did.

Add: I didn't say China is the only country that likes to present a good image, but China takes it to a whole different level. In fact, the Chinese people I personally know acknowledge this.

Answer 5

Ohioan_femme nailed it. Kudos to her.

Plus, did you see the look on the Chinese people's faces when Liu Xiang limped away? Boy, it was utter bemusement in its purest form. I felt like sniggering, but knowing what Liu Xiang would have to go through really killed it off. Poor guy.

It was a wonder that he even got to the track, judging by the state he was in.

Also, seeing just how many medals China is winning at the moment, it must be pretty unrefreshing to see other medals rolling in. "Oh, we got another gold medal. Awesomeness. Now, what's next?" Let's hope this can help a little in reducing the hostility for those who don't win a medal.

And yes, I can imagine a chinese Tyson g*y dropping-the-baton being executed. Or simply dying of sheer lost of pride. x(