To feel sorry for the Chinese

[JeezyPeeps]

I've noticed this before, but it was highlighted by the men's diving last night.

The Chinese Olympians seem to be under pressure to get gold, and nothing less will do. I have to wonder how much of this pressure is external, especially in the light of some of the stories we have seen about Chinese training camps.

The contrast between Tom Daley, obviously just delighted with his bronze medal, and Qui Bo devastated to be getting silver was marked.

I know that we have seen British athletes apologising for missing out on gold, but they have also been happy with their performance. Qui Bo seemed absolutely devastated, despite achieving over 560 points, which is absolutely outstanding.

I just think they should be able to enjoy their achievements, second in the world is not a bad place to be!

They should be reminded these wise words:

"First the worst, second the best, third the one with the hairy chest"

I have reason to believe Tom Daley may be a werewolf.

Hahaha, ive not heard that for years!

I agree. I haven't watched much of the olympics but caught the diving last night. The guy looked so upset i asumed he'd lost out completely. I feel it's cruel and unpleasnt personally.

We have no idea what they think of it, really. I do not think any of the team speak English, which is why there are no interviews to British cameras.

And one can read anything reliably into immediate post-event demeanour (look at our silver medal winning rowers, who spent their time in tears and apologies).

Any MNetters in Asia see what the coverage is like there? China doesn't really have a sleb culture and rarely lionises individuals - or has this changed?

It might have something to do with the gold medallists get an automatic life pension. Plus the Chinese government only congratulates gold medal winners.

Or it might be to do with mindset - winning above all else.

I wouldn't have thought any professional athlete goes into a competition without focusing on winning?

I would imagine, if you missed by a whisker, dependant upon age etc, it would be pretty gutting to know you have to wait 4 years for another go at the ultimate prize.

I've noticed that a lot of athletes who win silver have looked rather upset, but the bronze medalists tend to be overjoyed. I think it's the difference between just missing out on gold and just making it into the medals.

The Chinese synchronised swimmers looked delighted with their silver. I think that it is to do with expectations. He clearly expected to win and on his form he was on track to get gold. He missed out and so the silver made him sad.

Did he miss out last time or was that another diver as commentators were going on about how chinese team lost out in Beijing?

Some of Russian gymnasts also looked devestated when got bronze etc so I suspect it's an expectation thing.

I actually think that it was Tom Daley's fantastic celebration of his bronze that was more unusual than the Chinese disappointment with the silver. I've seen so many athletes from many countries (including GB) gutted by anything but gold. It was great to see such joy from Tom last night.

I have 2 Chinese friends. When they focus on something they focus on it completely, winning (or succeeding is very important to them. They say that's the way they are brought up.
Remember china isn't the freeist of countries, you can be Damn sure the government won't be happy funding people to comets in the olympics for them not to win.
I think its a mixture of culture, government interference and pride.

I didn't see the synchronised swimming, that's really good to hear!

As an aside I hate my fucking phone and its Damn auto correct.

The commentator said last night that the Chinese guy puts the expectation on himself.
It was lovely to see Tom and team GP celebrating!

Yes, I thought Tom's delight was lovely to see - even the American winner was smiling indulgently at him

I think it has far more to do with the fact he just lost out on gold rather than his nationality. Although the different responses were marked last night in the diving.

At the start of the Olympics, dh (Chinese) expressed his amazement that the British gymnasts were pleased with bronze. He said in his country if you had worked for four years for a goal and you didn't reach it, you would be devastated.

I guess it is cultural, with such a huge population you have to try so much harder to stand out and be noticed.
I think all of the Olympic athletes have done an amazing job ( except for the badminton debacle) regardless of achieving a Medel or not .

Gateacre, I totally agree. I think every Olympian should be very proud of representing their country at this level, regardless of where they come in the standings.

I'm glad to hear that it seems that Qui Bo's disappointment is likely to be due to self-pressure (if that makes sense!)

I was so sad for him.

It's a Chinese mentality I'm afraid. THe kids are at school with a lot of 2nd generation Chinese (parents born in china) and they are just the same. Only the top prize counts to them.

Strangely, DD2 commented in the fact that the Chinese female gymnasts were quite smily this year. They certainly didn't win everything (I guess several retired after Beijing). The synro team looked delighted.

The Chinese woman who won the ladies ten metres still looked a bit miserable.

Maybe the diving coach is particularly horrid. Certainly their divers expect to win.

Having seen the semi there were ~6 people, who diving at their very best could have got a medal. I think the GB team were in absolute tender hooks, because the build up meant Tom had to medal. With everyone diving do well it was a bit of a lottery.

Team GB have had a fair few silver medallists in tears.
Christine Ohuruogu said she was heartbroken after she won silver.
Hunter and Purchase were obviously devastated with their silver.
Victoria Pendleton was also very upset with her final, silver medal.

I don't think it's just the Chinese team who have been under immense pressure to achieve gold.

Afaic qualifying for the Olympics is a great achievement.

I saw the diving last night and felt sorry for Qui Bo when he seemed so disappointed with getting silver instead of being pleased. From some other posts I guess it's a cultural thing.

I loved Tom Daley's reaction though. He was so delighted, it was a pleasure to see both his and the team's reaction.

I went to a public sixth form, with a large Asian population. All lovely girls. But they worked (and still do) only for the very best. To get anything less than an A* / first place / distinction in whatever they did was devastating to them. A lot of them were very open about the fact that there were huge pressures put on them from at home, some seemed blinkered to it, unaware that it wasn't the "norm".

Frankly I think anyone who even qualifies to be good enough to compete in the Olympics should be damn proud of themselves.

Qui Bo was the red hot favourite for this event though - I'm sure I heard Tom Daley saying earlier on that silver was gold in this event because Bo was nailed on.

I remember when our degree classifications came out consoling a mate who was gutted that he'd missed out on a first while he congratulated me on scraping my 2:1 - same result, but very different reactions depending on our realistic expectations. Daley knows he's roughly the 4th best diver in the world, so bronze is a good result.

I agree with pip - lots of GB athletes have been upset at getting silver, Christine Ohuruougo in particular was absolutely devastated not to have won.

There was a lovely moment I thought when the GB girl who got bronze in the uneven bars gymnastics - after she finished her round one of the Chinese coaches gave her a massive hug.

Glee has a whole episode called "Asian F"