That is how it goes unfortunately. Kids with talent get selected at very young ages, and when they turn 18 the already have 10 or more years of lifting under their belt. This is the main reason why China has the best lifters in the lower weightclasses right now.
My friend is a national level coach and over the years leading up to the last Olympics visited China on many occasions (checking out facilities, advising, etc.) and he says the whole country is geared towards athletic streaming. Kids who show aptitude or promise are placed in the system. Coaches, likewise, are judged on their aptitude and the #'s of kids they place in the stream - and they are then, in turn, moved upwards, so there is no incentive to 'horde' great candidates. Those athletes that flame out, are injured or lose interest are merely replaced and forgotten. It's very mechanical, but the results seem to speak for themselves, right?
