| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Bo Peabody
Joined: 25 Aug 2005
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:57 am Post subject: How Did Koreans Get To Dominate Short Track Speed Skating? |
 |
|
They've been absolutely dominating this event for the past decade in winter olympics and the world championships with many different athletes and coaches at such an unprecedented level. At the risk of starting a racial argument, let me pose this question: Why do Koreans excel so much in short track speed skating?
- Low center of gravity: Strong thighs and light upper body... physiological characteristics of 'east Asians', esp. Koreans. Supported by the fact that the best 'western' short track skater is also half-Japanese.
- Well established internal sports infrastructure in this event... ?
- South Korea's lack of advanced facilities in other winter events (mogul, ski jump etc.). One of the reasons why the most talented athletes turn to skating. Cornering the niche market ???
- Sheer luck and talent at the first short track event in '94 (?) attracted government funding ???
***I'm not implying that they don't deserve this success.
Let me know what you think. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
High kimchi intake.
With their freezing winters and ice hockey, why don't Canadians dominate this sport, or at least have a few more gold medals up there?
(You can't all be here teaching English.)
(can you?)
Last edited by JongnoGuru on Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:18 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bo Peabody
Joined: 25 Aug 2005
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| High kimchi intake |
I knew somebody was gonna say that. Besides, wasn't it primarily for bird-flu prevention? 
| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| With their freezing winters and ice hockey, why don't Canadians dominate this sport, or at least have a few gold medals up there? |
I know, right? Or why not Swedes or Russians? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jacl
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Because all the best skaters are playing hockey. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bo Peabody
Joined: 25 Aug 2005
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Because all the best skaters are playing hockey. |
Wouldn't it still behoove them to compete when there are 8 gold medals awarded in short-track and only 2 in ice hockey? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
I used to spend a far amount of time at Lotte World (you know, with the rink in the middle) 6-7 years ago (while Coex complex was being converted into Coex mall).
It comes as no surprise to me, nor would it to anyone else who was around there at the time. The number of kids taking short track lessons, the conditions they learned and practiced in... no surprise whatsoever that they're dominating now. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jacl
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Bo Peabody wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Because all the best skaters are playing hockey. |
Wouldn't it still behoove them to compete when there are 8 gold medals awarded in short-track and only 2 in ice hockey? |
No. Skating around in circles compared to playing hockey is... well... just stupid.
Hockey is the best sport in the world. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bo Peabody
Joined: 25 Aug 2005
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| jacl wrote: |
| Hockey is the best sport in the world. |
Sorry I asked. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
Jacl makes perfect sense. And it's the logic that drives the Cdn and American men's hockey teams. That's why they're going to win medals.
Oh, wait a sec... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bo Peabody
Joined: 25 Aug 2005
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
[deleted]
Last edited by Bo Peabody on Thu May 02, 2013 1:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Fast, agressive contact sport in a confined space...
I can't possibly understand how Koreans would excel in it!
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bali-bali ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I'm going to take a wild guess here and say it's related to their success rate in women's golf: talent. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This might be perfect time for Koreans to branch off into other ice sports such as speed skating.
I might be wrong but down here in Daegu, there is a short track training center that held the 2004(?) Olympiade games. Also, Olympic Park has another facility up in Seoul.
Korea could very well see more medals in Vancouver. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bo Peabody
Joined: 25 Aug 2005
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| I'm going to take a wild guess here and say it's related to their success rate in women's golf: talent. |
There's no doubting their talent... but what kind of talent? Nature vs. nurture? or some combination of both? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
