so you live, work and train in the US....

[Mickey's Minion]

I think he should compete for the Netherlands JMO

Why?

He is an American, a US citizen.

And anywaym unless he was a citizen or had some biological tie to the Netherlands, such as he was born there or one of his parents were, he could not even compete for the Netherlands. Just because you live or train somewhere outside your country does not mean you are even eligible to represent that country.

How about all the US skiers that go to South America to train during our summer and their winters? Should they represent South American countries or are they just chasing the snow in order to train better?

 

[babytrees]

When we visited the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs we saw many nationalities practicing at the center. From what I remember of our tour.....the other countries paid a nominal fee for the use of the facilites and consultations with the experts at the center. The US competitors (and some of the others)worked for their room and board....our poor guide got sick on the tour. We have state of the art equipment, why begrudge other countries/people the ability to learn and grow on the equipment?

 

[honugirl]

And Apolo Ono trains in Vancouver. By the OP's reasoning then, he should be competing for Canada.

If he's training in Vancouver, it's new. He was training at Colorado Springs, then all the speed skaters moved to Park City, Utah. He was supposed to go there. At least that was the rumor the last time I was at the OTC in Colorado Springs. They were not very happy with him at that time...

 

[Mickey's Minion]

If he's training in Vancouver, it's new. He was training at Colorado Springs, then all the speed skaters moved to Park City, Utah. He was supposed to go there. At least that was the rumor the last time I was at the OTC in Colorado Springs. They were not very happy with him at that time...

I am just going with what they were saying on the endless coverage about him, that he decided to return to the sport after a brief absence when he found out the olympics were going to be in Vancouver. They said he wanted to compete where he spent so much time training, sort of a home-coming of sorts.

I just don't all this animosity toward foreigners in our country. Why can't we be happy for them if they want to represent a country other than the good 'ol US. Have we, as a country, really become that unfriendly?

 

[EMom]

One of the advantages of dual citizenship is that it allows the opportunity for athletes to compete for more than one country. If my child had worked for years and had only so much time to realize an Olympic dream, certainly I'd want that child to represent the US. But if we knew the odds were not good that he/she would make the team in the US, yet excellent that he/she would make the team in the other country of citizenship, I'd tell them to go for it. (Considering my child's dual citizenship is in Russia, if she couldn't make the US team, odds are she couldn't make the Russian team either....So she'd be out of luck in my hypothetical. )

As for people who become citizens of a country in order to represent that country in the Olympics......Well, it seems the US gets some and we lose some. It probably all evens out.

 

[XTinabell]

This is silly. If there was an athlete from the USA that lived and trained somewhere else and decided to represent that country in the Olympics you would all be mad that he wasn't representing his home country (USA). Just because you live in a different country you do not lose your heritage and where you come from.

 

[claudia]

Nor do I.

A man won today in Nordic combined who was born in Montana but has always raced for France. His father is French. There's nothing wrong with that choice.

also his family moved to France when he was 10.

 

[merryweather20]

Kristi Yamaguchi trained in Canada for at least a couple years. Canada has a rhythmic gymnast that trains in Spain because thats where her coach moved to. Some of the sports are so elite that high level training can't be had in every country, especially some of the teeny tiny ones. And even in something like Figure Skating where there are plenty of high level coaches you are going to find someone that fits with you.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I agree with everyone who said it's not a big deal. I live and work in the US, will probably become a US citizen in a few years - but I would want to compete for Great Britian. It's still my home country, even if I don't live there anymore.

 

[LuvOrlando]

All I know is GO USA!

Other countries have been using us as a host for ages. They send their kids here to get educated then leave. They come here for medical care then say how bad our way of life is. It doesn't bother me at all because, of course, you go where the best is the only part that bugs me is when they badmouth us. The real thorn in my side are the celebrities who make all their millions here then move away and trash talk us in foreign papers **Remember the America is like a Stupid Puppy** comment yes, I am still holding a grudge for that one.

All I know is US athletes are the best in the world in my opinion and I'm not the slightest bit apologetic for feeling this way. If someone wants to play for someone else, it's their loss. I won't be cheering them on.

 

[RadioNate]

ahhh US ethnocentrism at its finest.

 

[luvmy3]

Who cares, its just the Olympics.

 

[PeterPan09]

I watch the Olympics to watch ALL the athletes. I don't care where they train or what country they are from. These kids-and to me they are all kids-are doing something AMAZING and I love watching their faces when they hit that ski jump or land that triple axel that will get them on the medal stand.

Of course, I love to see someone from my country win-I was really cheering yesterday when Johnny Spillane won the first US medal in Nordic Combined! However, I was cheering just as loudly for Team Canada when they won their first gold on home soil.

The Olympics are about people doing the best they possibly can and achieving their goals-whether it's getting a medal or not. Can't we celebrate that and stop worrying about whether "our" country is better than "their" country?

 

[SaraJayne]

ahhh US ethnocentrism at its finest.

Yeah, pretty much what I was thinking.

And for all the non-Americans reading this, please don't think some opinions expressed in this thread are true of *all* Americans.

 

[merryweather20]

All I know is GO USA!

Other countries have been using us as a host for ages. They send their kids here to get educated then leave. They come here for medical care then say how bad our way of life is. It doesn't bother me at all because, of course, you go where the best is the only part that bugs me is when they badmouth us. The real thorn in my side are the celebrities who make all their millions here then move away and trash talk us in foreign papers **Remember the America is like a Stupid Puppy** comment yes, I am still holding a grudge for that one.

All I know is US athletes are the best in the world in my opinion and I'm not the slightest bit apologetic for feeling this way. If someone wants to play for someone else, it's their loss. I won't be cheering them on.

The medical issue is no different than the sports issue. Americans regularly cross the border to Canada for fertility treatent. People come to Canada from all over to seek treatment in a number of pediatric specialty areas, likewise I know Canadians who have gone to the U.S. for Cancer treatment, but I also know those who have gone to Australia and the UK. I had a teacher who saw an Opthomologist in China, because that was the only Opthomologist in the world with expertise to treat his extremely rare eye disease. There were two patients freom the U.S. who made the commute as well. If you have the money you find the best Doctor, wherever they are in the world and go there.

 

[mom2rb]

I work at one of the best men's gymnastics' training facilities in the country. We have a great gymnast from Colombia. He is on the national team there. He trains during the day and coaches in the evening.

It is hard to find high level coaching. You go where the best coaches are.

 

[tasha99]

ahhh US ethnocentrism at its finest.

Lol. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[puffkin]

And look at something like the luge/bobsled tracks....you don't see them everywhere. You go where the facilities are.

As for Apollo training in Vancouver....I believe that was when he was a youth before he made the Olympic team. Now I believe he trains with the others in Salt Lake City (we get a lot of speed skating coverage here since Allison Baver is from our city).

But I agree, when you are an elite athlete, you go where the facilities and coaching are. It doesn't bother me at all.

 

[crashbb]

Yeah, pretty much what I was thinking.

And for all the non-Americans reading this, please don't think some opinions expressed in this thread are true of *all* Americans.

Don't worry - we've all read that poster's posts before!

American athletes are doing well at the Olympics though, so congratulations to them.

 

[declansdad]

It doesn't matter where you live and train. Athlete train where they receive the best coaching and have the best training facilities. This happens all over the world; it isn't just a USA thing.