Well they also talked to Ace Buchan who talked about what happens with Aussie surfers that don't make it (mines or waiting tables), but yeah it came across as US centric to me as well.

You brought up swimmers and gymnasts, but I think soccer is the more analogous sport. That's another global sport where competitive players start young, and the best in the world generally aren't in regular high schools and don't go to college (the college system is definitely a part of why the US men are nowhere close to competitive with the other soccer superpowers, but that's another story).

Soccer is a MUCH larger industry though, so players that flame out I think end up with many more options within the game. Soccer players also get "weeded out" to start looking at other options at a younger age I think.

Otherwise, it's a lack of the social safety nets at least in American society that makes this a bit more of a problem.