Olympics athletes from around the world have come to the United States to do their training. What draws them away from their home countries to train in a place that is foreign to them? The answer can be found in general expertise, the desire to train with the best in a particular sport, and even an attempt to escape persecution.
A Matter Of Expertise.
Many foreign athletes flock to the U.S. to train because of the reputation that the U.S has for expertise in Olympic sport in general. Its overall history of being a major competitor in the Olympics and supporting its athletes draws foreign athletes who wish to learn from this tradition and benefit from this support. In many cases, the facilities for training in the U.S. have more funding than in certain less affluent countries. That in itself is a good reason to make the trip.
What It Takes To Be The Best.
Many foreign athletes head to the U.S. specifically for aquatic sports. The U.S. has had so much success in this area in past Olympics that athletes come to benefit from the advanced training and expertise. For example, U.S. divers have won almost half of all the medals given out in the modern Olympics games. If you want to learn how to win, you go to the people who have done it before. This legacy of tremendous success in aquatic sports draws foreign athletes to the U.S. to seek the edge that training in the U.S. can provide.
A Reason To Escape.
Some athletes travel, in part, to escape persecution. One example is the number of Iraqi wrestlers who competed in the 2004 Summer Games. Iraqi Olympic athletes had previously been killed under the rule of Saddam and Uday Hussein. More than that, they were tortured until they died. Sports aside, going to the U.S. to train allowed these athletes to escape this oppressive atmosphere at home and focus on their sport in the U.S. .
There are multiple reasons why foreign athletes train in the United States. Some do it because of the United States" overall track record of success in the Olympics as well as its overwhelming support of Olympic athletes.
