China is hosting both World Cross & T&F this year, With 1.4 billion people, why are their men's records so slow? (List)

agip wrote:

Put another way - why is Japan so good at distance running despite not getting many medals recently? They can't have genetics much different than china - but they deeply care so they are fast...just not medal fast.

Yes, the Chinese are no more genetically limited than the Japanese. Which is to say, not at all.

The Japanese would be "medal fast" again - as they were in the past - if they grew up half-starved like the Kenyans, Ethiopians and Somalians. Then they would weigh less and move more efficiently to conserve their limited energy.

There is no genetic advantage other than lack of civilization. Civilization softens a gene pool. China is an ancient civilization but its territory contains vast amounts of rural land and people who have never lived in cities. If they wanted to be good at distance running, they would.

I've come back from a visit to Beijing Sports University fairly recently (few months ago). It was noticeable that all the sports facilities were absolutely full of students training exceptionally hard (emphasise TRAINING not PLAYING as you see in typical western facilities). In particular, the stuff I saw going on in martial arts / gymnastics / swimming was incredible. I was particularly interested in going to look at the T&F facilities as there were 3 outdoor 400m tracks and 1 indoor track (I might be wrong but I would guess this was also 400m!) all right next to each other. All I saw were people walking and stretching on the infield, there seemed to be no intensity or effort involved in anything.

When I spoke with some of the students and explained I was a runner, they laughed without fail and couldn't believe anybody would do it voluntarily.So although I would hardly consider myself an expert on all things Chinese, my thoughts fit with some earlier comments that the reason performances are so 'poor' is simply that not many people are really trying to achieve them (However - anybody who gets the opportunity really should go for a visit. Extremely interesting country and great people)

agip wrote:

because they don't care

Renato wrote about this syndrome and why he went to china to coach - he talked about how italy used to be a distance powerhouse, but now, just 20 years later, they are terrible. They stopped caring, is all. Nothing about genetics or wealth - they just walked away.

I think not caring has the most to do with it, with such a large population there has to be talent. The Japanese are relatively good a sprints and distance because they are really into track & field, which I understand started in the late 1950s. When Tokyo was awarded the 1964 Olympics, Japan started a national program to identify and develop talent. Btw, Japan per capita, probably has more running depth than any other country. The Tokyo Marathon is carried live on multiple network TV stations and is practically a national holiday.

Genetics probably play a role.

China makes up for it to some extend by having programs to discover talents. And maybe with other programs too, at least on the womens side.

Women are easier to dope than men, you just give them testosterone.

India is without a doubt the least athletic country there is. Except for cricket, they are terrible at basically every sports.

Culture or genetics, or a mix of both.

T&F is more than just men's distance running. They are competitive in other events.

World cross... I don't know. One thing I know is that not many countries are interested in hosting it.

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Yes, World Cross isn't exactly a big tourism draw. Perhaps they offered to host it as part of their national campaign to improve physical fitness and reduce obesity across China, including among their military personnel.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/15/world/new-policy-in-chinas-military-will-link-promotions-with-weight-fitness/#.VQxY2-GULR4

Why is China so good at gymnastics and classical music?Because they care about it.They do not, as a nation, give a rat's a$$ about distance running. Have you ever tried running in China?Kenyans succeed because they are motivated to make money and help their families. It is considered culturally acceptable to move away from your family and parents to make money in running.In China, it is not acceptable at all to abandon your parents and pursue "sports."