California Dominates the Olympics

[Loopdilou]

If California were its own Olympic team, it would have bigger delegation in London than Mexico, Turkey or Switzerland. The 128 members of Team USA hailing from the Golden State represents 23% of all the Americans at the Olympics—by far the most. Considering roughly 12% of the population is from California, even by percentage difference the state dominates the Games.

Using this method, the Journal set out to see which states are the most productive at producing Olympians relative to their size and which are not picking up the slack.

Four states—South Carolina, West Virginia, New Hampshire, and North Dakota—sent zero athletes to London this summer. But don't chide them for under-producing. That (dis)honor goes to Texas, whose 32 delegates comprise barely less than 6% of our Olympic team. Since residents of the Lone Star State make up 8% of our population, they have the most catching up to do if they want to be proportionally represented on Team USA.

On the flip side, Pennsylvania is another hotspot for Olympians, particularly in field hockey with 10 Olympians hailing from the Keystone State. New Jersey is also carrying its weight with 23 Olympians, including five members of the women's soccer team.

As for the Californians, they might have an unfair advantage: They seem to be the only ones who play water polo, with 24 of the 26 team members at the Games calling California home.

—Tony Olivero and Sara Germano
online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443792604577571232861904696.html

[lynnerself]

I don't have the statistics, but Oregon seems to be well represented in track and Field.

[Loopdilou]

I wonder what it is about the particular states and what type of athletes they tend to send...

A breakdown of athlete per sport per state would be fascinating. Obviously, water sports are huge in CA, but we've also sent two gold winning Ice Skaters to the winter olympics in the past two decades. Not to mention our skiers and snowboarders.

Demographics? Culture? Public funding? I'm curious.

[Cookies Galore]

Go PA!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Demographics? Culture? Public funding? I'm curious.

Facilities? Trainers?

Athletes are going to go to where they can get the best training. Where they trained isn't necessarily where they're from.

[Loopdilou]

Ahh, but this was supposedly using 'hometowns,' not training towns.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I agree, Lynn, and was going to post the same thing.
Although, not everyone who attends the University of Oregon is from Oregon.


I am keeping a close eye on the differential between China and USA.

[midjd]

I thought YM had decided that training for the Olympics was a losing investment... in which case, CA being in the lead makes total sense!

(I keed, I keed)

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Love the accent, Mid!
Did you pick that up during your time in NY?

[zibazinski]

;D