【视频讲解】

UK Sport adopts the mindset of an investor seeking the best returns wherever they can be found. The model has been unashamedly ruthless, concentrating on disciplines with the best medal prospects while ditching also-rans.
英国体育持投资者的心态，并坚持不懈地寻求最佳回报。这个模式出奇地冷酷，专注于夺牌希望最大的项目，而把陪跑者弃置一旁。
adopt v.采纳
- adoption n.采纳，收养
mindset n.思维模式
unashamedly adv.无耻地
- ashamed adj.羞耻的
ruthless adj.冷酷无情的
- The journalist was ruthless in his criticism.
concentrate v.专注于
discipline n.训练 (training)
prospect n.前景 (someone or something that is likely to succeed)
ditch v.抛弃 (get rid of) ,分手(end a relationship)
- His girlfriend ditched him.
also-ran n.陪跑人
- He's an also-run in the competition.

Even among the sports that do receive funding, cash is diverted to a tiny coterie of elite athletes: the £21m allocated to swimming before Rio was focused on nine “Golden Children”. Before Rio 2016, Liam Tancock, Britain’s best male swimmer of recent times, lost his funding largely because he would turn 31 before the games—past his prime.
即使在获得资助的项目上，资金也集中在寥寥几位精英运动员身上：里约奥运会前，划拨给游泳项目的2100万英镑集中在九位“金童”身上。在2016年里约比赛前，英国近年来最好的男子游泳运动员利亚姆•坦考克（Liam Tancock）失去了资助，主要是因为他在赛前已满31岁——巅峰期过去了。
divert v.转移 重点/注意力
tiny adj.小的
coterie n.小团体 (small group of people)
- His coteire of fellow artists.
elite n.精英
allocate v.分配
recent times 近代
prime n.黄金时期 (the period in life when a person is best in health and strength)

Mr Slot’s attention to detail turns up some fascinating facts. East German-style national talent-scouting programmes were created, producing Olympic medallists from those who had never previously played the sport—in the process debunking a widespread notion that 10,000 hours are needed to achieve excellence in a skill.
斯洛特对细节的关注引出了一些迷人的事实。英国设立了东德式的全国人才探寻计划，从以前从未参加过某项运动的人中制造出了奥运奖牌获得者——在这个过程中破除了需要一万小时才能在某项技能上实现卓越的流行观念。
turn up 出现，引出
- When do you think our guests will turn up?
fascinating adj.令人着迷的
- fascinate v.使人着迷
scout v.搜查 (search)
- talent scout 人才搜寻
medallist n.奖牌获得者
debunk v.证明...错误 (to show that something is not true)

Coaches were hooked up to heart-rate-variance monitors, to understand how to manage their stress levels better, and Team GB’s managers analysed the optimal way to coach athletes of different sexes. Teams engaged parents about the best techniques for nurturing high-performance athletes. The British Olympic Association made its first reconnaissance mission to Brazil, to find ideal hotels and training facilities, six years before Rio 2016.
教练挂了上心率波动监测仪，以了解如何更好地管理自己的压力水平，而英国队的经理则分析了训练不同性别的运动员的最佳方式。运动队联系家长，介绍培养杰出运动员的最佳技术。早在2016年里约奥运会举办的6年前，英国奥委会就前往巴西执行了第一次侦察任务，寻找理想的酒店和训练场所。
coach n.教练
- coach v. 训练
hook up 挂上
- hook n.钩子
variance n.波动
monitor n.检测仪
optimal adj.最佳的
engage v. 参与
nurture v.培养 (the care and attention given to someone or something that is growing)
- Parents nurture their children.
reconnaissance n.侦察 (to find out information about an enemy)
facility n.设施

【写作素材总结】

Key takeaways:
1. adopt the mindset of ...
2. past someone's prime
3. debunk a widespread notion that...