Do you think it'd be accurate to say that it'd take a pretty specially devoted kid to be an elite athlete without really motivated and driven parents?
I haven't heard athletes talk about their parents much in interviews, other than to say they have been 'supportive'. So I really am clueless and would be interested to know how usual it is that a kid becomes an elite athlete if their parents aren't at least part of the driving force behind it?
Personally, I think sport is for fun. I really hope DD enjoys sport when she grows up. I'm not going to get her involved til she's old enough to tell me what she wants to do though, so that probably excludes her from competing in the olympics for sports like gymnastics, but so be it. She may show an aptitude for a sport when she starts, find that that's her 'place' and be really pumped and into it. At this stage (all hypothetical of course) I reckon I'll support her, so long as like many have already said, there is an adequate balance with other life activities. And I really doubt that splitting your family up so that one can live overseas will give that child sufficient life balance. Just MO.
Interestingly, I am really into music, and a lady we know has asked if I will teach her 3yo piano. I have said no. I couldn't teach a 3yo, and I reckon it'd be a pretty special 3yo who had piano lessons because its what they want moreso than what their parents want. I know there are loads of 3yos learning musical instruments, but I reckon I'll wait til my DD tells me she wants to do it and is old enough to feel some level of commitment to it. Sorry, slightly OT but I'm obviously more passionate about music than about sport so thought I'd toss it into the mix.