| | Since promulgation of the [[Title IX]] [[proportionality test]] in 1979, the medal share won by the United States Olympic team has dramatically and predictably declined, the breakup of the Soviet bloc notwithstanding. Quotas impair competitiveness, whether for race or gender. Just as victory should go to the best competitor on the field, regardless of race or gender, teams should be funded for the most talented and motivated. But Title IX prevents that. | | Since promulgation of the [[Title IX]] [[proportionality test]] in 1979, the medal share won by the United States Olympic team has dramatically and predictably declined, the breakup of the Soviet bloc notwithstanding. Quotas impair competitiveness, whether for race or gender. Just as victory should go to the best competitor on the field, regardless of race or gender, teams should be funded for the most talented and motivated. But Title IX prevents that. |
| − | Never in history has the United States participated in the Olympics and returned with such a small percentage of medals as in the last two, in 2000 and 2004.<ref>http://www.fanbay.net/olympics/us.htm</ref> [[Greg Louganis]], a four-time Olympic gold medalist, has seen his original college diving team eliminated. For the first time, we failed to bring home a single diving medal from the recent summer games in Athens. The famous men's swimming team at UCLA that previously produced 16 Olympic champions has been terminated due to the Title IX quotas. Our Olympic swimmers are now heavily dependent on private clubs rather than schools. In 2002, Howard University felt compelled to eliminate its baseball team entirely, and its wrestling team too.<ref>Mark Asher, "Howard [**17] Drops Baseball, Wrestling," Washington Post, D1 (May 23, 2002).</ref> The American team in baseball, our national pastime, failed even to qualify to compete at the Olympics in Athens. The United States could win only one gold medal in wrestling in 2004. In fact, no American men's team (other than rowing and relays) was able to win the gold medal this year, and most of the individual men and women gold medal winners developed their skills in private clubs rather than Title IX programs. | + | Never in history has the United States participated in the Olympics and returned with such a small percentage of medals as in the last two, in 2000 and 2004.<ref>http://www.fanbay.net/olympics/us.htm</ref> [[Greg Louganis]], a four-time Olympic gold medalist, has seen his original college diving team eliminated. For the first time, The [[United States]] failed to bring home a single diving medal from the 2004 summer games in Athens. The famous men's swimming team at UCLA that previously produced 16 Olympic champions has been terminated due to the Title IX quotas. Our Olympic swimmers are now heavily dependent on private clubs rather than schools. In 2002, Howard University felt compelled to eliminate its baseball team entirely, and its wrestling team too.<ref>Mark Asher, "Howard [**17] Drops Baseball, Wrestling," Washington Post, D1 (May 23, 2002).</ref> The American team in baseball, our national pastime, failed even to qualify to compete at the Olympics in Athens. The United States could win only one gold medal in wrestling in 2004. In fact, no American men's team (other than rowing and relays) was able to win the gold medal this year, and most of the individual men and women gold medal winners developed their skills in private clubs rather than Title IX programs. |
| | Enforcement of Title IX quotas through the private cause of action has caused the elimination of hundreds of wrestling teams at college. In 1981-82, 52.7% of NCAA Division I colleges had a wrestling team. By 2000-01, only 27.1% of colleges did,<ref>See NCAA Sport-by-Sport Participation and Sponsor-ship-Men's Sports 1982-2001, at 119.[http://www.ncaa.org/library/research/participation_rates/1982-2001/091-120.pdf ]</ref> and even fewer do today. Despite a substantial increase in the number of colleges in the NCAA Division I during that period, the number of athletes competing in wrestling declined from 3,659 to 2,662. Similar declines occurred in NCAA Divisions II and III. Overall, the number of colleges in the NCAA increased from 787 to 1,049 from 1981-21 to 2000-01, yet the number of wrestlers declined from 7,914 to 5,966. Id. This decline is due not to high costs of wrestling (it is inexpensive) nor to any decline in demand, which remains high as reflected by the continuing popularity of high school programs.<ref>See National Federation of State High School Associations Participation Study 1971-01, at 191.[http://www.ncaa.org/library/research/participation_rates/1982-2001/175-192.pdf] </ref> | | Enforcement of Title IX quotas through the private cause of action has caused the elimination of hundreds of wrestling teams at college. In 1981-82, 52.7% of NCAA Division I colleges had a wrestling team. By 2000-01, only 27.1% of colleges did,<ref>See NCAA Sport-by-Sport Participation and Sponsor-ship-Men's Sports 1982-2001, at 119.[http://www.ncaa.org/library/research/participation_rates/1982-2001/091-120.pdf ]</ref> and even fewer do today. Despite a substantial increase in the number of colleges in the NCAA Division I during that period, the number of athletes competing in wrestling declined from 3,659 to 2,662. Similar declines occurred in NCAA Divisions II and III. Overall, the number of colleges in the NCAA increased from 787 to 1,049 from 1981-21 to 2000-01, yet the number of wrestlers declined from 7,914 to 5,966. Id. This decline is due not to high costs of wrestling (it is inexpensive) nor to any decline in demand, which remains high as reflected by the continuing popularity of high school programs.<ref>See National Federation of State High School Associations Participation Study 1971-01, at 191.[http://www.ncaa.org/library/research/participation_rates/1982-2001/175-192.pdf] </ref> |