Quote: sootyj @ August 12 2012, 2:24 PM BSTNot true to get anywhere in sports you need 2 things; natural ability and training to take advantage of it.
Some of the UK athletes have had hundreds of thousands invested in them to take the natural ability and convert it into world beating performance.
Probably in Tiber or Palestine there's a better potential runner than Mo.
That we spent £260,000,000 on the Olympic team. Whilst swimming pools close around the country.
Is something not to be entirely proud of.
Some sports are more organic than others.
Rich countries blow everyone away in the technology/facilities sports, like cycling, rowing etc.
In fact, distance running is one of the more accessible sports, but I take your point.
On another topic, there's too many swimming medals IMHO. For someone (albeit someone special) to win as many has Phelps has is evidence that the events are too similar, and requiring of a fairly similar body-type/physique. There are small differences, but the swimmer body (no fat, broad shoulders, big hands etc.) is fairly universal. Whereas, in, say, Track/Field shot putters, high jumpers, sprinters, distance runners etc., are all so different.
Max in Track/Field is probably 100,200,LJ,4x100 (4 golds). In exceptional circumstances, maybe adding a 4x400. 8 is ridiculous.
USA knew what they were doing when they went so whole-heartedly after the swimming medals.
