Inside China's Olympic-training schools

More than 2,000 state-run schools have been churning out gold medalists for decades

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Girls do handstands during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China.
Girls cheer for their friends competing on the parallel bars during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School on May 4, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Aly Song)China often dominates several Olympic events, including gymnastics, badminton, table tennis, and diving. To get there, China has more than 2,000 state-run schools dedicated)

A boy practices as his coach assists during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School on May 4, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Aly Song))

Students at the Shichahai sports school attend a class in Beijing on May 18, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj))

Students practice table tennis at the Shichahai sports school in Beijing on May 17, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj))

A student puts her helmet on during fencing training at the Shichahai sports school on May 17, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj))

A coach helps a girl during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School on March 23, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Aly Song))

A boxing session at the Shichahai sports school in Beijing on May 17, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj))

Stickers in the shape of Chinese flags are placed on an achievement board on the wall of a dormitory at the Shichahai sports school in Beijing on May 17, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj))

Girls do handstands during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School on May 4, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Aly Song))

Students practice taekwondo at the Shichahai sports school in Beijing on May 17, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj))

Students at the Shichahai sports school pass a poster featuring the school's former students who became Olympic champions, on May 18, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj))

Girls run during a break from gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School on May 4, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Aly Song))

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.