Why are the Chinese so much better than the US athletes, these games?

Question

The poor old US!

They used to be top dog in the sporting field but have been given a good lesson by the Chinese of late. Are they better trained; more committed; the US are getting to obese & soft? What's the problem?

I know the US is slipping behind the Chinese industrially & commercially - but I never thought they fall behind so quickly in sporting matters.

Answer 1

Chinese are more passionate

Answer 2

I agree with your comments about the US becoming soft!

I also note that the vast majority of athletes representing the US have African ancestry - how many US athletes with obvious European ancestry lines does one see?

The US was originally settled by migrants from Europe. While on that subject I would love to know the % of Amerindians that are, or have, represented the US.

Answer 3

Focus and lack thereof...

Answer 4

China is getting better. And to the point that someone said that China only does well in judged events? Are you kidding? Events like badminton, table tennis, shooting and weightlifting are not judged events in which China has gotten a lot of medals in.

Answer 5

These games are hosted in China... the host country always seems to have a little advantage. China doesn't have to pay to send all their athletes half way across the world... and CHinese competetors probably feel more at ease with thousands of Chinese cheering them on, and competing in a familar enviroment.

Answer 6

I think it is because the chinese are communist, so that is what they are planned to do their entire life.  So they have to practice all their life for one thing.  I guess...  But that is all i could think of on that!

Answer 7

Used to be the communist system paid all their expenses so they could spend all their time training. For example, Russia would put them in the army, so they were technically still amateurs, but in reality they were getting paid to train.

So the athletes in the communist countries had an unfair advantage over their western counterparts who had to spend at least part of their time making or raising their own money. I don't know how true that is today though.  

Answer 8

Our US big brother feels tired of being always on top and chased by everybody, therefore just backward a bit to take a rest. And Chinese is just behind our big brother at this moment, this is why everybody sees Chinese on top. Hope our big brother won't be left behind too much or too long. Otherwise we call Chinese "big brother" next time, haaaaa.....

Answer 9

i think they have the home field advantage

Answer 10

LOL, "crazed communist country"? China is completely capitalistic for the last 10 years, the only thing that makes it Communist is one of the political parties, the one that is in charge as of now of course. And it's not only China that have government sponsored athletic programs. They're just doing better cause they are more committed in areas that require great practice and perfection like diving and shooting. While the U.S. are behind in gold medals, the problem is def not because the athletes are more obese. cough...better drug tests...cough.  

Answer 11

the event i think that they are better than the U.S. is in diving. every other event is pretty much the U.S. taking it or somewhat tied.

Answer 12

If you look at the events that the Americans are dominating versus the events that are dominated by the  Chinese, the answer is simple, and it lends itself to how Americans and Chinese are taught:

Chinese students tend to learn by rote (memory and repetition), where the crux of American education encourages kids to learn to be creative.  Chinese dominate events that have to be judged, because the movements that have to be judged can be taught by repetition (i.e diving and gymnastics).

American athletes excel at events where you need to improvise in oder to be successful (i.e women's soccer, basketball, softball).  I just believe that Americans and Chinese both excel at events that play to their natural discipline.

If you break down medals by China and the US by events requiring discipline or repetitive movements versus events that require improvisation, you see that each is  excelling in their respective area.

Since, to  this point, events have been fairly even in both disciplines, the medal count has also  been fairly even.  But, as the more improvisational sports begin to close their tournaments, you see that the Americans are also pulling away in the medal count.  

Answer 13

You need a reality check. First the Chinese are ahead in Gold medals but not in total medal count. It's really and arbitary argument whats better.

Secondly, the Chinese are playing in their country. It makes a difference.

Thirdly, you might not realize this but there is an obesity problem in China too. So if the Chinese ARE better  athletes,obesity is not the reason.

Answer 14

all part of the evergrowing processs of change...

the rest of the world is catching up to their standards

Answer 15

I would not say that the U.S. is behind the Chinese in The Olympics since we have over 10 medal lead! But China is doing better. Once China got the OK to have the Olympics in Beijing they trained their Athletes harder than ever. Did you know that the Gymnasts they have in this years games they started training to compete when they were 3!? They have are a crazed Communism country and will do anything to get ahead in the world including sports. I hope I helped answer your question.  

Answer 16

the chinese have fierce determination imprinted on their faces...the us is overconfident..to them this is more a vacation with some games thrown in...(generally speaking) for the chinese this is a fight,for us this is a flight of fancy:)

Answer 17

because they are all underage

Answer 18

I'm not sure why you'd say such a thing.  The US has more medals than China does.  True, China has more gold, and hats off to them for their accomplishments, but the US has placed in silver and bronze (sometimes both in one event) in events that China didn't come close to placing in at all.  Are we supposed to ignore those accomplishments?  You can't ignore the silver and bronze, they're still awesome achievements.

Actually, if you look at the current medal count and assign a gold 3 points, silver 2 points, and bronze 1 point, the US is ahead by 1 point (this is as of 11:10 PM eastern, and yes it can change either way).  I call that a tie myself, not quite the *** kicking you describe.

Answer 19

I don't think any of the US Olympians are obese.

Actually, the United States' performance in this year's games are about as good as in the 2004 games in Athens. It has more been an issue of China improving.

Year          G      S       B    Total

2004        36    39      27    102

2008        28     35     34     98 (and counting)

Answer 20

I think the problem might be silly little trolls like you who think you are being clever.  

Answer 21

huh? have you checked the medal count lately? here ya go

US - 98

china-83

and that's BEFORE the IOC begins stripping the chinese gymnists of medals for cheating.

Answer 22

The Chinese gave the world a lesson this time around.  They really came to play.

Answer 23

The Chinese only do well in those sports that use "judges" to determine the winner....Hmmmm.

Americans are getting obese and soft economically because they have the Chinese do all the grunt work for them for about $1/day.

Troll.

Answer 24

And the Cuban athletes?  

they disappeared.  

And the Russian athletes?  

  

  

I am Brazilian, and we lost even in soccer where we are champion of the world.  

Something  is wrong.

Answer 25

The United States has 15 more total medals last time I checked even though China's got more gold.  I think we're still top dogs.  Probably won't be forever..but they haven't eclipsed us yet imo.  

Answer 26

i think its the judging of these games, to be honest. I saw a Russian girl do a perfect routine on balance beam, then a Chinese girl went next and fell completely of the beam and still got a higher score, once track and field comes the Chinese won't get many medals.