It's only every four years. If athletes are lucky, they get to participate in only 2 of them. If they are really really lucky 3 of them. And if they are just so much better than others that they start in their teens and are still elite in their early 30's they get 4. But there is a reason that father time remains undefeated in the shelf life of an athlete - age and attrition are unavoidable eventually. Originally Posted by Lucas McCainI still don't think it's a punishment. Just bad luck/timing and politics.
Most of them have to qualify and the majority have only one chance. The super athletes get more than one but they are rare and we remember them because they are rare. Unlike Jimmy Carter, the US and other interested countries could have their own competition and show the world. So, some Chinese guy skis downhill in a half second longer time than some guy in Boulder. We, the world, knows who is the real winner. Maybe we could finally get smart and host the Olympics around the world in different, smaller, less expensive venues. Originally Posted by the_real_Barleycorn
I could get behind that idea.