|
Post by alkringtonhatter on Aug 1, 2024 11:48:27 GMT
The blue ribbon event is the men’s 1500m for me. Josh Kerr vs Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Two huge egos, two outstanding athletes. Going to be one very sore loser. Kerr is a bit like Mark Cavendish in that he’s quite bullish about his own strengths, very self confident. Might at times be a bit of a dick? Got that preppy Edinburgh background. Ingebrigtsen races more often, is a phenomenal athlete, but doesn’t take well to losing, as he did in the last two Worlds to different British guys. Kerr also beat him earlier this season over the Mile in Eugene (he broke Cram's long standing British Record to do it), but I think Ingerbrigsten may have been coming off injury and has since broke his own European 1500 Meters record so I'd make him the favourite (though I'm no expert). Keeley Hodgkinson is the other outstanding chance for GB on the track, path cleared a little by Athing Mu falling in the US Trials, though that's a disappointment for me as would have been a similar Kerr / Ingerbrigsten clash (and will be a minor asterisk over Keeley if she wins - similar to Christie in 92 when Lewis wasn't there). Yeah, it’s really hard to get a sense of where Kerr is at when he comes down from New Mexico a few times a year to race. There’s more verifiable evidence that Jakob is the favourite and he probably is, and I really like his approach to racing more often. Assuming no mishaps in the heats, of course, I’d expect him to set a searing pace and try and run Kerr out of it before the final kick, but Kerr jumped on that in Eugene, led it out and held him off. It’s really too close to call. Of course if it’s slower and more tactical than could open the door to Nguse or Kessler (shame Wightman isn’t in the 1500m) but I can’t see it. I don’t think there are any asterisks on Olympic medals either. Fact is, Mu didn’t make it, that’s the US system… she (Keely) is the clear favourite as far as I can see. Men’s marathon will be cool with Kipchoge vs Bekele for (presumably) the last time. Don’t know as much about the other Africans, and hope our own Emile Cairess can come top 5 maybe? Top 10 definitely. Sirfan Hassan is doing 5, 10 and Marathon on the women’s side. Lunatic… also could conceivably get a medal in each, I think?
|
|
|
Post by orkneyhatter on Aug 1, 2024 12:08:06 GMT
Whilst I'm definitely in favour of sports coverage not going down the reality TV line, I do think the 'had 3 kids, still competing at the top level' angle is a valid one, if only so that people can see it can be done. It is unusual. Should it be? I don't know. But it has value in more than one regard. Not usual but getting so. BBC coverage of one rowing medal ceremony said out of the 6 medallists on the podium, 3 had children. Yes is is an achievement to come back to top level after having kids, but it does rile me that BBC bang on about it. There are others in minor sports worthy of highlighting their performances-Guatemalas first ever gold medal yesterday, and new Olympic record in women's trap shooting yesterday for instance. Watched the rowing today and there was a definite sense of "GB underachieving" after the womens 4 from the commentators. They have just come 2nd in the Olympics surely that should be an achievement in itself. No one is guaranteed a medal, let alone gold. We should celebrate each one regardless.
|
|
|
Post by gibbo on Aug 1, 2024 12:45:28 GMT
(shame Wightman isn’t in the 1500m) but I can’t see it. I don’t think there are any asterisks on Olympic medals either. Fact is, Mu didn’t make it, that’s the US system… she (Keely) is the clear favourite as far as I can see. On Wightman, just heard he's had to pull out of the 800m, gutting for him. Asterisks is maybe the wrong word as implies it wasn't won fair and square. I just know Christie definitely wasn't fully acknowledged as the best in the world until he'd won at the Worlds the following year (and not only won but set a time, 9.87, up there with anything Lewis had done - compared to the 9.96 he did in Barcelona). Keely has ran faster anyway than Mu I believe, so maybe the same won't apply as did with Christie (IF she wins obviously, clear favourite but no sure thing).
|
|
|
Post by Henry Pratt on Aug 1, 2024 12:47:04 GMT
Whilst I'm definitely in favour of sports coverage not going down the reality TV line, I do think the 'had 3 kids, still competing at the top level' angle is a valid one, if only so that people can see it can be done. It is unusual. Should it be? I don't know. But it has value in more than one regard. Absolutely. It's awesome, genuinely. I just draw the line at the syrupy soft-focus, soaring music bollocks. Worth noting that a few of the other women, from the other medal-winning teams, have had kids. Beyond my comprehension how they can compete at the highest level in the world after that, in such a tough endurance sport. See also cycling. And Serena Williams, who won a grand slam whilst pregnant!
|
|
|
Post by herbiedumplings on Aug 1, 2024 13:01:46 GMT
Whilst I'm definitely in favour of sports coverage not going down the reality TV line, I do think the 'had 3 kids, still competing at the top level' angle is a valid one, if only so that people can see it can be done. It is unusual. Should it be? I don't know. But it has value in more than one regard. Funny how there’s never any expectation that fathers should put their lives on hold… [edit:] I fully appreciate the physical toll that pregnancy places on a mother’s body; I’m talking about stuff like doing night feeds when they’re babies, scheduling your life around the school day when they’re a bit older, etc…
|
|
|
Post by malc on Aug 1, 2024 13:14:05 GMT
The Olympics and especially the athletic events always remind me of my late 1st wife, Bernadette. She adored her athletics on the telly. Back in 1997 I landed what should have been a 6 week contract at Scandinavian Airlines in Oslo. The contract was extended after Xmas and I moved into an SAS apartment almost in the middle of the city. It was walking distance from the Bislett Stadium which I used to visit regularly to watch Vålerenga. Come the summer, Berni came across for a visit and obviously, I took her to the Bislett. Well, I really couldn't have took her on a better day. Unbeknown to me, the Norwegian collegiate championships were on. We stayed there all day and I honestly think that was one of the best days of her life. To watch athletics live at the Bislett Stadium was a dream come true for her.
|
|
|
Post by FridoBiggins on Aug 1, 2024 13:37:41 GMT
My one, sole criticism of the coverage is all this crap around the personal lives of those Brits (especially) taking part. Is anyone really that interesting in a rower having 3 children and running her sport/career around that. Is it so unusual that it's worthy of constant attention even during the race? Maybe it is. But it makes me cringe. But that's it. 9.9/10 in all respects. Does my head in too. There will be great (non-GB) action going on somewhere and yet we have to put up crap like that. Don't think it's always been like that, although that might just be me harking back to the 'good old days'. The other thing BBC seem to do if there is no GB competitor is go all in for a competitor from an ex-colony, particularly an Aussie, as if we still have some 'right' to them. They're not British!
|
|
Fez
Contributor
Posts: 567
|
Post by Fez on Aug 1, 2024 14:16:15 GMT
My one, sole criticism of the coverage is all this crap around the personal lives of those Brits (especially) taking part. Is anyone really that interesting in a rower having 3 children and running her sport/career around that. Is it so unusual that it's worthy of constant attention even during the race? Maybe it is. But it makes me cringe. But that's it. 9.9/10 in all respects. Does my head in too. There will be great (non-GB) action going on somewhere and yet we have to put up crap like that. Don't think it's always been like that, although that might just be me harking back to the 'good old days'. The other thing BBC seem to do if there is no GB competitor is go all in for a competitor from an ex-colony, particularly an Aussie, as if we still have some 'right' to them. They're not British! That happens a lot with Irish competitors. On the commentary / presentation front, a couple of interviews have got up my goat. Emma Reid got knocked out of the judo yesterday, and two minutes later had a microphone shoved up her nose before she'd had a chance to recuperate and reflect. Bearing in mind that her opponent was an Asian games gold medalist and the match could have gone either either way, one question was: "So what happened? Did you get your preparation wrong?" Ignorant and crass.
|
|
Mozzer
Contributor
Posts: 1,298
|
Post by Mozzer on Aug 1, 2024 15:19:21 GMT
The correct response there would have been: My preparation was clearly a lot better than yours.
That's what I would have said if I'd just lost an Olympic judo bout anyway...
|
|
|
Post by bigmartin on Aug 1, 2024 16:39:33 GMT
Does my head in too. There will be great (non-GB) action going on somewhere and yet we have to put up crap like that. Don't think it's always been like that, although that might just be me harking back to the 'good old days'. The other thing BBC seem to do if there is no GB competitor is go all in for a competitor from an ex-colony, particularly an Aussie, as if we still have some 'right' to them. They're not British! That happens a lot with Irish competitors. On the commentary / presentation front, a couple of interviews have got up my goat. Emma Reid got knocked out of the judo yesterday, and two minutes later had a microphone shoved up her nose before she'd had a chance to recuperate and reflect. Bearing in mind that her opponent was an Asian games gold medalist and the match could have gone either either way, one question was: "So what happened? Did you get your preparation wrong?" Ignorant and crass. I saw that interview and I thought precisely the same. Said to my wife "bit harsh innit?".
|
|
|
Post by Bredburyhatter on Aug 1, 2024 20:15:41 GMT
Did someone on here nearly take part in the Olympics?
|
|
|
Post by Imposter on Aug 1, 2024 20:16:48 GMT
Did someone on here nearly take part in the Olympics? Did they? Is there photographic evidence?
|
|
|
Post by atmosphere on Aug 1, 2024 20:19:46 GMT
Love the Swimming, Cycling, Track and Field etc but Football should be f*cked off from the Olympics. I'd can Tennis off too. And I like both sports. But the Olympics should be the pinnacle. It's not like they are amateurs like in Boxing either.
|
|
|
Post by ldjh79 on Aug 1, 2024 20:20:58 GMT
Did someone on here nearly take part in the Olympics? Judo?
|
|
|
Post by gatleyhatter on Aug 1, 2024 20:27:46 GMT
Love the Swimming, Cycling, Track and Field etc but Football should be f*cked off from the Olympics. I'd can Tennis off too. And I like both sports. But the Olympics should be the pinnacle. It's not like they are amateurs like in Boxing either. Bung golf in there too for me
|
|