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Children in China who show talent at a very early age often attend "sports training" schools. One of the most prominent schools is in Beijing.
As young as 6 years old, Chinese children are sent to the Beijing Shichahai Sports School to train in hopes of making a World Champion. The sports center gets a majority of its funding from the Chinese government.
And it is not just physical training, these coaches get these future Olympians in the right mind-set. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, one 8-year-old gymnast answered, "A world champion."
That is the goal of Beijing's Shichahai Sports Center. Children throughout China are invited to come and train here in table tennis, badminton, volleyball and several other Olympic sporting events, but only the top athletes can stay.
Children who want to become gymnasts begin at 6 years old. The Chinese believe it is best to focus these young athletes early and begin training them from an early age.
During summer, the children spend most of their time training. During school it's three hours after class.
Coaches say the children want to be there because they love the sport. Many of China's elite athletes have attended this school since it opened 50 years ago.
All the boys were asked if they wanted to be a champion when they grew up, and every one raised his hand. When asked what they want to do if they don't make it that far: no one answered. Coaches say the children haven't even considered that an option.
