[faber niger]

Lord Moynihan is a Conservative hereditary peer (and a privately educated Olympian himself), hardly a socialist.

[mabrookes]

(Original post by billydisco)
So what does "Daddy" buy the swimmer? A pair of new arms?

Because we have lots of swimming talent right now, good point In fact, it is a good point - in the sport where there is little to no gain by being privately educated/well off etc nobody is doing well, im sure it is just a coincidence though.

[akj08]

(Original post by Ocassus)
Except as stated before, those with TALENT are quite often sucked up by Private schools anyway by scholarships. This is a good thing.

Only if their parents are clued-up enough to identify the talent at a very early stage and actively seek coaching and the private school scholarships. These are the sort of children who would probably have gone to a private school anyway, or whose parents would have ensured their talent was nurtured in any case. It's the talented children from more disadvantaged backgrounds that are the most likely to slip through the net at state schools.

[Calum93]

(Original post by billydisco)
So what does "Daddy" buy the swimmer? A pair of new arms?

...you do realise that to be an Olympic swimmer requires swimming lessons? You must also realise how extortionately priced these lessons are; £50 a month for 2 kids im reliably informed!

For families on a low income, this simply isn't a reality. And this is one of the more egalitarian events of the Olympics, how does a kid off my estate get to compete in the Equestrian? The Sailing? Rowing? There is absolutely no chance of this happening.