Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
It is also not accurate to say there are no part timers in the Olympics. E.g. I watched the US silver medalists in synchronized diving, one was a medical student. It depends on the sport. Basically professional sports like tennis, soccer, cycling, basketball, etc - of course the competitors are full time professional athletes. Track and field, weight lifting, swimming, gymnastics - not so much. Many of those are college kids.
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BZZT.
My friend down the street has 3 daughters. All gymnasts. The oldest is in HS gave up competition 2 years ago. Also marked the 1st time in her life that she has attended a public school.
The youngest, 10, has decided to switch to swimming, she is now in a regular school.
The middle daughter was a contender for this years US squad but missed out due to injury. She is currently being offered full rides to several colleges. She has never attended a regular school.
All 3 spent their entire days in the gym, were home schooled, lived, ate and slept gymnastics. They did nothing else.
You don't become an elite gymnast without sacrificing just about everything.
I would say they put more into earning a shot at the US squad than any multi million dollar a year ball player ever did.
They are by no means amateurs, unless your definition is that they didn't get paid.