Look inside China’s secretive Olympic training camps

Event Context

• The 31st Olympic Games are scheduled for August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Western media has limited access to China's secretive Olympic training facilities.

Strategic Objectives

• China is executing a strategy designed to overtake the United States on the overall medal table.
• The strategy involves a ruthless focus on events where China holds a competitive advantage.
• China is explicitly avoiding track and field events in this calculation.

Talent Identification and Training Pipeline

• Recruitment centers on local "Olympic schools" housing approximately 400,000 children.
• Recruitment begins as early as age six, involving visits to hundreds of towns and villages.
• The selection process utilizes specific physiological criteria, including height, weight, muscle mass, and posture.
• Athletes like Jinwen Shi (age nine) undergo three years of intensive training before developing personal Olympic aspirations.
• Selection factors encompass physical ability, skill, and psychological state ("state of mind").

Case Study: Gao Lei and Trampoline

• Only two athletes will be selected to represent China in trampoline for Rio.
• Gao Lei, 23, is a primary contender for one of the two spots.
• His coach has previously produced two gold medalists in this specific event.

Risk and Probability

• The statistical probability of recruited children reaching the Olympic Games is described as "very small."
• Survival outside of professional sports is cited as difficult due to the sacrifice of childhood joy and general education.

Incentives and Rewards

• National team members and gold medalists receive life-changing financial rewards, including approximately $200,000 in prize money.
• Gold medal winners are typically offered high-ranking government positions.