As a world leader in medals in the Olympic Games, it is clear that China’s athletes are far from the amateurs. However, according to those …
As a world leader in medals in the Olympic Games, it is clear that China’s athletes are far from the amateurs. However, according to those who have been through the Chinese system, the nation’s child athletes suffer horrific treatment as they are groomed for Olympic gold. Unlike most other countries, the Chinese Communist Party carefully grooms its athletes, even in childhood, to be top competitors. In contrast, other countries only begin eyeing athletes as they rise through competition. Indeed, China operates a massive, government-supported athletic program that combs its nation of 1.4 billion citizens to find the best candidates for its athletic programs. But the operations are not without controversy as many of the children ushered into these programs are raised in a brutal environment of strict controls, including DNA testing, humiliating treatment, beatings, and a lack of freedom for the athletes. BEIJING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 04: Members of Team China are seen during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 04, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) The young athletes who find themselves in China’s Olympics mills are expected to hand over all thoughts of personal freedom to the state as they train.
