Some were college jocks and aristocratic dilettantes recruited from places like Harvard, Yale and Princeton. Others were blue-collar scrabblers, like the phenomenal oarsman John B. Kelly, a Philadelphia bricklayer. Those who were older and out of school did real work in real jobs and trained on the side. They coached themselves and paid their own way to meets. Contrast that with the situation today.
Most Olympic athletes are professionals.
They are specialists who have been developing their skills, in some cases, since kindergarten. With sponsorships and endorsements, track stars like Michael Johnson and Marion Jones can make millions. Today's Olympians are guided by the world's best coaches and prepare at training centers replete with the latest gear, enlightened by the latest knowledge and techniques. Each day, she swallows about 20 pills - vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids. She also ingests creatine, the legal muscle booster.