Quite the opposite, Lolo was able to bypass much of this as a publicity stunt. There were girls doing better than her "by the numbers" in the European circuit who ended up not being selected to allow a spot for Lolo. She is actually a great example of how the sport isn't looking soley at creating the most competitive squad. Go back at look at the numbers from the Olympics she was in. She was given the best driver, but if you look at the early splits, you can see that she was the third best pusher selected for the olympics. The reality is it is a sport that there are a few in control and the way the sport is set up, they basically get to continue to control, to the detriment of the sport. They might even mean well, but are blind to the fact that just because that is how something has always been done doesn't mean it should continue.
HMM.MMM.MMM wrote:
Didn't know Lolo Jones was on the boards...
USA bobsled wrote:
Have you ever had any contact with USA bobsled/skeleton? Because if you had, you would realize how much better track is at identifying and nurturing talent. Bobsled is practically trying to mismanage its talent pool.
You know how it is hard to make it as a track athlete because there is so little money? At least you can choose to live somewhere that family can help you out with an easy part time job or a converted garage while you try to run a sponsor-worthy time. Bobsled forces you to live 6 months of the year in lake placid.
At least with track you can choose your own coach for off season conditioning. With bobsled, if you dont choose to hire and pay one of the "in" coaches, you very likely wont be selected.
At least in track there is an open tryout of one or two days to make the olympic team, which allows you to train where and when suits you best. Bobsled requires you to do a combine, then do push camp, then do tryouts. If you are selected, you have to commit to continuing to tryout while doing meets, and might be kicked off the eventual selection for the olympic team at any time.
Even if you make it to the top as a pusher, you have to ingratiate yourself with the drivers, who ultimately get to choose their team. You may do all that work only to be not selected because you didnt go out for beers with him that one night in turin...
And it is partially funded by the USOC despite the coaches lining their pockets with what is obviously not a serious attempt at putting forth the best team possible.