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> They all have a free choice about whether to be an Olympian or to take a more lucrative career path.

Not everyone is born capable of being an Olympic athlete and the career path of being one alongside associated opportunity costs is chosen long before the person can consciously and rationally make decisions about themselves. Also, not everyone is as bright as a kid as you.

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The kids have parents who are empowered to make those decisions for them, for exactly the reason you suggest.

Of course, some parents make poor decisions - but it's a free country, but not free from the consequences of bad decisions.

Or do you suggest someone else make those decisions for the kids?

I don’t have a solution for those kids but I know telling them they shouldn’t have chosen to be athletes is missing the point you yourself bring up - which is, their parents made those decisions for them. Humans are not rational economic actors.

> I know telling them they shouldn’t have chosen to be athletes is missing the point you yourself bring up

They can't alter the past, but they can cut their losses now.

It will also hopefully help the next generation of potentially professional athletes.

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