Former Soviet amateur system.

[Ron Swanson]

Discipline and Motivation. You find the right raw material and the finished product is closer to your vision. Lets not forget that much of their national teams and athletic programs were tied to their military system.

Between hardship and the welfare and *ahem*protection of your family, those were great motivators. Same goes for many of the international Chinese gymnasts, etc. ... of course, I could be wrong....

I heard Emanuel Steward once said that the place the Klitschkos grew up in make Detroit look like Club Med.

Having lived in Detroit and in the Ukraine I can say that I never once felt an ounce of fear in the Ukraine even with a war 120 KM away. Detroit however, is a scary place. I'll be headed back to the Ukraine in October, poor place but great place.

Kiev is like one big ghetto, but it isn't scary.