you're the one whining about it. I clarified the system for locket, outside of that I had like one post on the topic except when Klown had basically the same jingoistic reaction as you.

And no, it doesn't make sense. Sure, China should be "dominating" - but on that same basis, the US and India should be doing a lot better as well... infact by your argument, most big countries are doing fluff, which doesn't really work. Seeing as you were doing your typical "US HOME OF THE FREE DONT YOU DARE CRITICIZE NBC COVERAGE" whine, you probably wanted the US to end up number 1 so I'm guessing the fact that it wouldn't be close to it wasn't your goal.

The kind of training available to athletes in the US is so far above what you get in most of the world. The kind of coaching and facilities available to US people through their educational system is just crazy. In the UK (which is pretty well covered relative to the rest of the world), it just doesn't exist. As an example that I just heard about recently, probably not the most extreme thing: Want to row in the Olympics? Even at the best rowing school in the country, you have to drop out to train - the school won't organise a training programme for you. George Nash (GB pair, won bronze) took a year off from Cambridge for a year to pursue rowing. But at least one other Cantab rower who would've at least stood a chance to get on their country's 8 couldn't take a year out because their academic scholarship wouldn't allow it. An athletic scholarship? Don't be silly.