Let's just assume that there was an athlete at any given sport, a junior, and that the school worked out some kind of deal where the kid could maintain his acedemics... like a study-abroad or distance education thing. Could he/she compete for the good ole US of A and return to compete in NCAA athletics, his/her senior year

2/15/2006 7:16:19 PM

Yes, theoretically. Bloom (?) from Colorado tried to do it as a skier/kick returner.

[Edited on February 15, 2006 at 7:19 PM. Reason : hard because of endorsements or something removing amateur status]

2/15/2006 7:18:22 PM

Yeah. Being in the Olympics has zero impact on your college eligibility, IIRC.

^Right, Bloom's issue was the money, not competing in the Games themselves.

[Edited on February 15, 2006 at 7:22 PM. Reason : ^]

2/15/2006 7:18:45 PM

^^a Skier and a kick-returner????? That's a talented kid. I'm sorry, but I have to ask, was he white?

Right, but if he did no endorsements, and therefore was paid nothing for it... I guess they don't count the good treatment that I assume the Olympians receive... I guess that's just room and board.

[Edited on February 15, 2006 at 7:21 PM. Reason : room and board]

2/15/2006 7:19:56 PM

A soccer player from UNC participated in the 2004 summer olympics and then came back to finish her senior yer. So, yes, you can

2/15/2006 7:20:39 PM

^Thank you.

2/15/2006 7:21:40 PM

Haha I should know this better because I'm taking Sports Law right now...

http://www.jeremybloom.com/

This guy has more athletic talent in his little finger than most of us have.

2/15/2006 7:25:21 PM

Damn. Some guys have all the luck, er, I mean talent.

2/15/2006 7:33:06 PM

Yup, they can

Laura Gerraughty, shot putter for UNC, competed in the 2004 olympics and she is back throwing for UNC the following year and this year

2/15/2006 9:15:48 PM

he probably got so much ass while at CU.

2/15/2006 9:51:10 PM

is this a serious question? how old are you?

they had to change the rules to let pro players compete, it used to be all college

2/15/2006 10:12:50 PM

Didn't Atsur play for the Turkish Olympic team? Or was it the JR Olympic team and does that carry different rules?

2/16/2006 12:47:29 AM

The Olympics are an amateur competition. Over the years, they've modified the rules to allow professionals to compete, but it's still an amateur competition, and competing in it doesn't change your amateur status.

It used to be a HUGE deal if a big name didn't win a gold medal, because if they wanted another shot, they'd have to wait another four years without turning professional.

2/16/2006 1:17:23 AM

Quote :

"is this a serious question? how old are you?"

My question was not if they could compete. It was if they could compete and then return to NCAA competition.

Pay attention and read the thread before you try to troll someone.

2/16/2006 6:59:43 PM

That's what I thought.

2/17/2006 11:58:29 PM