Sports thread: Everything sport related here.

[FriedRiceNSpice]

I expect China to get better at swimming as the country gets richer and more kids get pool time to showcase their talents. On the other hand, I expect Chinese efforts at sports like weightlifting to suffer somewhat as that sport relies on poor rural folk throwing thier kids to the wolves in order to get the talent pool we have there.

I think it has to do with genetics too, ie relative length of limbs to the torso, ratio in lengths between different parts of limbs, and the composition of muscular fiber types. In case of swimming, increased access to pools as well as popularity definitely unlocked Chinese potential in that field, but I think Chinese should continue to do well in weightlifting. At the gym I used to go to, frequently used to see stick-thin Chinese kids squatting over 300 lbs and deadlifting close to 500 lbs. And these kids aren't even weightlifters!

More interesting sports to keep an eye on as living standards increase and urbanization continues is how long dominance in diving can last and the trajectory off the gymnastics teams.

 

[manqiangrexue]

I think it has to do with genetics too, ie relative length of limbs to the torso, ratio in lengths between different parts of limbs, and the composition of muscular fiber types. In case of swimming, increased access to pools as well as popularity definitely unlocked Chinese potential in that field, but I think Chinese should continue to do well in weightlifting. At the gym I used to go to, frequently used to see stick-thin Chinese kids squatting over 300 lbs and deadlifting close to 500 lbs. And these kids aren't even weightlifters!

It definitely has lots to do with genetics. Without favorable genetics, it's just impossible. I am sure China will continue to do well in weightlifting because of Chinese explosive power genetics but dominance is another thing. When China had the perfect combination of being poor and the state having money to train people, Chinese women owned every single world record in every single category. When foreign weightlifters were interviewed, they said that whenever a Chinese woman showed up, it didn't matter who she was, nobody remembered her name, but they knew she was going to kill everyone, guaranteed every time. Chinese women were so dominant because poor Chinese rural families gave up their girls to state-funded programs with >1% chance of success without hesitation creating a massive talent pool but the selection pool for men was lower since sons were more valued. Today, Chinese women still dominate, but as we got richer, our dominance slipped; we own maybe half of the world records now and the competition is oftentimes a good fight. This is what I'm talking about when I said that Chinese weightlifting will suffer with increase standard of living in China.

More interesting sports to keep an eye on as living standards increase and urbanization continues is how long dominance in diving can last and the trajectory off the gymnastics teams.

Yup, these are similar to weightlifting and dissimilar to swimming in that they are things that ordinary people don't have their kids try and they are usually explored only by those under state directory for the possibility of professional competition.

 

[FriedRiceNSpice]

It definitely has lots to do with genetics. Without favorable genetics, it's just impossible. I am sure China will continue to do well in weightlifting because of Chinese explosive power genetics but dominance is another thing.

If I recall correctly, you were a weightlifter in college right? Do you still lift?

 

[manqiangrexue]

If I recall correctly, you were a weightlifter in college right? Do you still lift?

Usually, I like to keep personal things as an aside to posts that are on topic, but yes, I did Olympic weightlifting in grad school inspired by China's Olympic team in London. I still lift but I'm past my peak. I am actually naturally an ectomorph and took up weightlifting and Muay Thai/Sanshou/kickboxing to stop being skinny and to break the stereotype that Chinese kids just do ping pong and badminton. I'm not a competitive weightlifter as they are usually mesomorphs. I would have made a great competitive cyclist or sport Taekwondo athlete but I wanted some manlier sports to help guide my life philosophy.

Politely requesting that if you have further curiosities about me personally, that you PM me or keep them as an aside to posts that discuss larger issues that concern everyone. Thanks

 

[sunnymaxi]

The "Butterfly Queen" - Olympic gold medalist Zhang Yufei bagged her fifth gold at the Chengdu Universiade games, as she emerged victorious in the women's 4 × Gold medal in the 200 meter relay race;

Olympics 2024 Aquatics event will be interesting to see. Chinese athletes are at peak of their careers...

 

[ansy1968]

The "Butterfly Queen" - Olympic gold medalist Zhang Yufei bagged her fifth gold at the Chengdu Universiade games, as she emerged victorious in the women's 4 × Gold medal in the 200 meter relay race;

Olympics 2024 Aquatics event will be interesting to see. Chinese athletes are at peak of their careers...

Bro the Chinese female basketball team is a joy to watch, again the women are doing the lifting and are giving glory to the motherland. I think the next Olympics it can surprise the American with a BIG W, since the program is just peaking.

 

[supersnoop]

I wish I can marry Zhang Yufei hahaha. yes Qin is a beast. hopefully he can be at his best next year at the olympics. proud of my country for winning this year's World Aquatics Championships. but that's only because the US had an off year, they too good at swimming. does anyone else think it's unfair that the US has black people competing for it at the olympics? (Half kidding). they have white people for swimming, black people for track and field, two areas with the most medals. I wish china had some black athletes, they absolutely dominate track and field.

anyone here like American football? it's my fav sport.

I tried out for football when I was in high school and after one practice decided “uhhh… no”

Lol

 

[grulle]

I tried out for football when I was in high school and after one practice decided “uhhh… no”

Lol

hahaha, I'm not white, or american, but for some reason it's the only sport that has me completely hooked. I started watching football after the 2007 season, when the Giants beat the undefeated Patriots. I grew up in the NYC area so that's what got me interested lol. my fav team is the Giants, hopefully the Jets do well this year with Aaron Rodgers, I want to jump on that bandwagon LOL.

Also, I'm not pro Japan at all but I do love it when Asian teams do well at the FIFA world cup. so I'm cheering for them at the moment. congratz on getting into the quarterfinals!

 

[ThatNiceType055]

Chinese Basketball team just won a game by one point, 69-68 against New Zealand in the supercup held in Germany. After this game, they will return to Shenzhen for the last two preparation games against New Zealand and Serbia. China won 3 games and lost 5 games in the total 8 preparation games they played in europe.



In the group stage of the FIBA world cup, Team China will be playing against Serbia, Puerto Rico and South Sudan. Top 2 teams in group advance to the second round, while the bottom 2 teams will play 2 classification games to determine the 17th to 32nd rankings.

 

[supersnoop]

hahaha, I'm not white, or american, but for some reason it's the only sport that has me completely hooked. I started watching football after the 2007 season, when the Giants beat the undefeated Patriots. I grew up in the NYC area so that's what got me interested lol. my fav team is the Giants, hopefully the Jets do well this year with Aaron Rodgers, I want to jump on that bandwagon LOL.

Also, I'm not pro Japan at all but I do love it when Asian teams do well at the FIFA world cup. so I'm cheering for them at the moment. congratz on getting into the quarterfinals!

I am also neither White or American
I was happy that David Tyree made that catch.
Tom Brady and the Patriots were insufferable.

I dislike the Giants, always been an Eagles fan. Not from Philly or anything, but I thought Randall Cunningham was amazing when I was a kid.

That probably dates me quite a bit...