>>>>On the other hand, I suppose if Phelps decided he wanted to swim for Zimbabwe, he probably would have little difficulty obtaining citizenship.
>>>
>>>I wish someone would invite Usain Bolt to be a U.S. citizen... At least before 2012... :o)
>>
>>Canadian would be better. Although, I suspect he'd still compete for Jamaica. It seems a lot of athletes want to compete for their 'homeland' rather than the country in which they obtained a later citizenship. I'm sure Canada would have happily given Bosh and Calderon citizenships in a heartbeat.
>
>This doesn't happen much anymore:
>
>http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=3291411

I guess I was really talking about people who immigrate the normal way. Yes, I doubt a defector will want to play for his original country.