What you don't see are the wrecked bodies of the people who didn't make it.
S: well, ask them if they would do it again, now that they know they will not make it to the top. I would suspect very few would cancel that part of their past, even the abused East Germans, Russians and current Chinese greats.
Center stage at the olympic stadium is awe inspiring btw, even if you are only there to build the wt stage. ( the cleaning crews at all the seats gave the impression of being at the focus of the action)