What makes athletes successful?

[Incog Neato]

You know, I've been wondering about this for a while. Canada usually does well at the Commonwealth Games and just about every other multi-country competition EXCEPT the Olympics.

I believe we have ample representation in the various sports so the number of people shouldn't be part of the problem.

Are the coaches the issue? The amount of training? The WAY they're trained? The drugs?

My sad little brain can't get a fix on what the reason is for Canada's usual lack-luster performance at the summer and winter games.

Any insights? :/

[Nieca]

Hmmm...guess I'll relay this in Canadian.

I think it's kinda like Hockey. Everything else is like the regular season...everyone is just jockeying for position (oh hum), but the olympics are the Stanley Cup Playoffs/finals. Any hockey fan knows, every team "turns" it up a notch when playing for Lord Stanley's cup. The same thing could be said with the olympics (the top of the sporting pryamid). Everyone is turning it up a notch.

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

He's right, you know.

[Justin]

Its harder to stiff roids up your arm in Canada, we have tighter drug controls, and over 90% of our population has an extreme fixation on Hockey, Curling (god forbid) and any other game that involved -5 weather. Its hard being a Football fan up here, and while I am on the subject, almost EVERY good player from the CFL has gone down to play for the NFL. Really, I have no idea, mabey its because we only carry half of the cereal the Americans do.