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I actually cheer for other countries that win the Gold Medal, it's nice to see another country winning gold medals for a change, if your in the USA do you ever hope the other country wins?
Cheering for another country to win is different from cheering for a winner, regardless of his or her country of origin.
We get the picture, though. You're implying that it's jingoistic for Americans to root for their own athletes. I'm guessing that this odd view does not apply to other countries rooting for theirs.
BTW, in case you haven't guessed, I'm rooting for Americans. And I really appreciate how the commentators point out just where the Americans are on the track and swimming lanes.
Just as competitors obviously want to win, themselves, with few exceptions the "losers" congratulate the winners in sportsmanlike fashion; so, too, do viewers at home.
I actually cheer for other countries that win the Gold Medal, it's nice to see another country winning gold medals for a change, if your in the USA do you ever hope the other country wins?
It is stupid to say "it is nice to see another country winning for a change", as if the US wins the majority of medals.
In 2012, the US won only 10.7% of the total medals, or 1 in every 9, or 15.3% of golds, or 1 in every 6. Both are smaller than the US economy as a share of the world total (22.3%, or $1 in every $4.5). I don't use population % because poor countries can't afford to train athletes like the US does.
Last edited by botticelli; 08-16-2016 at 01:11 PM..
I'm happy for anyone who wins a medal. These folks have worked their whole lives for this. I say good for them! I don't care what country they're from. They're working like dogs for this.
I usually pull for the Americans, especially in gymnastics, swimming and beach volleyball. That said, there are other athletes I root for, usually if they have an interesting back story or have overcome hardship. For instance I would love to see someone from the Refugee team win a medal, and I was feeling bad that a week in Brazil was still empty handed. I loved seeing those 2 Brazilian gymnasts win medals, the guy who won Bronze cried and it was very emotional. I also of course root for Usain Bolt in track even when he's racing against Americans, because I like to see someone accomplish great things (like being the first person to win Gold in the 100 meter in 3 straight Olympics) and because I just like him as a personality. I don't think "for a change" is any of the reasons though, it was not that long ago that Russia and Romania were dominant in womens' gymnastics, and the mens team hasn't been really competitive for quite some time. It seems to me to be mainly swimming that the Americans are totally dominating.
I usually pull for the Americans, especially in gymnastics, swimming and beach volleyball. That said, there are other athletes I root for, usually if they have an interesting back story or have overcome hardship. For instance I would love to see someone from the Refugee team win a medal, and I was feeling bad that a week in Brazil was still empty handed. I loved seeing those 2 Brazilian gymnasts win medals, the guy who won Bronze cried and it was very emotional. I also of course root for Usain Bolt in track even when he's racing against Americans, because I like to see someone accomplish great things (like being the first person to win Gold in the 100 meter in 3 straight Olympics) and because I just like him as a personality. I don't think "for a change" is any of the reasons though, it was not that long ago that Russia and Romania were dominant in womens' gymnastics, and the mens team hasn't been really competitive for quite some time. It seems to me to be mainly swimming that the Americans are totally dominating.
Brazil now have a gold in the mens Pole Vault.Thats more than Canada achieved in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal where they became the first and so far only team to not win a gold while hosting the Olympics.
I'd bet my house that there are quite a few folks on here that wouldn't dare be caught rooting for the athlete of a country that is deemed an 'enemy' of the U.S.
I, fortunately, don't engage in such petty politics.
Nationality doesn't mean jack to me, as long as the athlete is someone I enjoy watching. Now, if such athlete made derogatory statements about others, then yes, that would be a consideration. But that's on the individual.
Iran has many great weightlifters as an example that I enjoy watching.
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Yup Yup!
