The leader of USA Track & Field put out a statement that the popular press quickly latched onto that we would shoot to win 30 medals in 2012. When I saw it my immediate response was here we go again, a classic example of hope disguised as a plan. How naïve can you be. Each year track and field and other sports in this country move farther and farther away from any concept or idea of long term planning and development. We fail to recognize that statements like that are not reflective of a plan, it is wishing and hoping. Development takes time and a huge human investment, the time and investment that we historically have been unwilling to make. If he were a truly enlightened leader he would stand up and present a detailed long term plan preparing for 2016 and beyond. The 2016 Olympians are 12 years old right now. Take look at the twelve year olds out there. They are fat, lazy and unfit, we need to do something about that. To paraphrase my good friend Kelvin Giles, we must do everything possible to eradicate all physical deficiencies at the development level in order to give us a chance to win medals. What are we doing to systematically identify, track, select and prepare our prized resource the youth? 2012 will take of itself. Think big picture and long term. Change the paradigm to tap into this incredible talent base. Get the youth fit and physically literate and the medals will come in droves.
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