Inside the intense Chinese schools where kids as young as six are training to be Olympic champions
Sports academies in China have sculpted children into Olympic champions for decades.
![Inside the intense Chinese schools where kids as young as six are training to be Olympic champions](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-52439013%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-812621%2Fsports-academies-in-china-have-sculpted-children-into-olympic-champions-for-decades-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
China's intensive training tactics were questionable, but they proved successful in the past. The host country dominated the 2008 Beijing Olympics with 51 gold medals.
![China](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439015,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1130036/chinas-intensive-training-tactics-were-questionable-but-they-proved-successful-in-the-past-the-host-country-dominated-the-2008-beijing-olympics-with-51-gold-medals-.jpg)
Traditionally, children as young as six endured grueling training at sports schools in hopes of reaching glory at the Olympic level.
![Traditionally, children as young as six endured grueling training at sports schools in hopes of reaching glory at the Olympic level.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439016,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1211718/traditionally-children-as-young-as-six-endured-grueling-training-at-sports-schools-in-hopes-of-reaching-glory-at-the-olympic-level-.jpg)
But now, with the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games less than three months away, training practices at sports schools in China are unraveling.
![But now, with the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games less than three months away, training practices at sports schools in China are unraveling.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439017,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1187274/but-now-with-the-rio-de-janeiro-olympic-games-less-than-three-months-away-training-practices-at-sports-schools-in-china-are-unraveling-.jpg)
The established system at sports academies cannot stand up to the rising expectations of education standards among China's thriving middle class.
![The established system at sports academies cannot stand up to the rising expectations of education standards among China](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439020,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1243975/the-established-system-at-sports-academies-cannot-stand-up-to-the-rising-expectations-of-education-standards-among-chinas-thriving-middle-class-.jpg)
As more emphasis is placed on education, fewer parents are willing to subject their children to such rigorous physical training routines.
![As more emphasis is placed on education, fewer parents are willing to subject their children to such rigorous physical training routines.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439022,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1246623/as-more-emphasis-is-placed-on-education-fewer-parents-are-willing-to-subject-their-children-to-such-rigorous-physical-training-routines-.jpg)
As a result, some sports schools have closed entirely.
![As a result, some sports schools have closed entirely.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439024,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1213184/as-a-result-some-sports-schools-have-closed-entirely-.jpg)
There are 2,183 institutions responsible for producing 95% of the country's Olympians. Government numbers reveal this count is down from 3,687 in 1990.
![There are 2,183 institutions responsible for producing 95% of the country](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439025,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1231609/there-are-2183-institutions-responsible-for-producing-95-of-the-countrys-olympians-government-numbers-reveal-this-count-is-down-from-3687-in-1990-.jpg)
Other schools are not shutting down, but instead adjusting their rigid training schedules to allow more time for academics.
![Other schools are not shutting down, but instead adjusting their rigid training schedules to allow more time for academics.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439027,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1191432/other-schools-are-not-shutting-down-but-instead-adjusting-their-rigid-training-schedules-to-allow-more-time-for-academics-.jpg)
Some schools, like the No.1 Children's Sports School Pudong New Area, have improved teacher training.
![Some schools, like the No.1 Children](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439028,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1310234/some-schools-like-the-no-1-childrens-sports-school-pudong-new-area-have-improved-teacher-training-.jpg)
The Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School is trying to recruit new students by visiting kindergartens and reframing gymnastics as a fun, after-school activity to parents. "We call it happy gymnastics," said principal Zhu Zengxiang.
![The Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School is trying to recruit new students by visiting kindergartens and reframing gymnastics as a fun, after-school activity to parents. "We call it happy gymnastics," said principal Zhu Zengxiang.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439029,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1321527/the-shanghai-yangpu-youth-amateur-athletic-school-is-trying-to-recruit-new-students-by-visiting-kindergartens-and-reframing-gymnastics-as-a-fun-after-school-activity-to-parents-we-call-it-happy-gymnastics-said-principal-zhu-zengxiang-.jpg)
The Shanghai Sports School says it wants to use sports training to educate children. Many other schools are adopting this philosophy.
![The Shanghai Sports School says it wants to use sports training to educate children. Many other schools are adopting this philosophy.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439032,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1048166/the-shanghai-sports-school-says-it-wants-to-use-sports-training-to-educate-children-many-other-schools-are-adopting-this-philosophy-.jpg)
Former athletes like Wang Linwen, who retired after five years in 2009, remember a time when weekdays were reserved for training with only the weekend to study. She says improvements like these, no matter how small, are necessary for children in sport schools.
![Former athletes like Wang Linwen, who retired after five years in 2009, remember a time when weekdays were reserved for training with only the weekend to study. She says improvements like these, no matter how small, are necessary for children in sport schools.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439033,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1215280/former-athletes-like-wang-linwen-who-retired-after-five-years-in-2009-remember-a-time-when-weekdays-were-reserved-for-training-with-only-the-weekend-to-study-she-says-improvements-like-these-no-matter-how-small-are-necessary-for-children-in-sport-schools-.jpg)
"(Reform) is good, that way sports school students won't come out knowing nothing," Linwen said.
!["(Reform) is good, that way sports school students won](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52439034,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1133973/reform-is-good-that-way-sports-school-students-wont-come-out-knowing-nothing-linwen-said-.jpg)
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