How can the Germans seriosuly accept that women's cycling gold? Oh and get back in your boat redgrave - we can't have a jock as our most succesful Olympian...............
It's slightly galling to hear them talk about most successful Olympian and not mention Lee Pearson who has won nine Paralympic gold medals in Dressage.
I totally agree Princess - and it was annoying that when there was the argument over who should light the flame nobody mentioned Tanni Grey Thompson - or Lee pearson.
Well done Peter Wilson...imagine an event where the key is to remain pretty still apart from your trigger finger!!..I'll bet his heart rate was pretty high though..fantastic finger to eye co ordination. Wonder could he bag me a brace of grouse come the glorious 12th..Wouldn't be much left of them mind you judging by the gauge they were off loading today...
Cyc Here in HK amongst Aussie friends (yes I'm man enough to own up to having some), they are very despondent about Australia's performance. They are even saying it would be good if the contestants turned up! What is that all about? Having been brought up on Athletics at the White City and having seen the greatest ever miler (better than Frankel) Herb Elliott I've always admired your great athletes etc.. So it's sad if there's something wrong.
Dan I sort of know TGT and I would be upset if she had represented us in front of Redgrave. I've seen how she treats lesser mortals. I'd contrast that with how Redgrave comforted those rowers on Tuesday. Actually her husband is a smashing bloke, but then again he's not a champion athlete (just is disabled and climbs huge mountains) so maybe you need to be hard to be that.
Been a very quiet start for the "great nation" but things will hopefully turn when we get right into the cycling. We had high hopes of a top 6 finish, guess that no going to happen. There's always Rio to look forward to. Despite Australia's lack lustre performances so far, I've loved the games. It's hard not to enjoy the theatre of it all. Roll on the track.
The wait for today has been long. Track day at the Olympics. As I love the distance events, the big one for me will obviously be the Women's 10000. The courage of these runners is stunning to behold. Ratcheting up the face to spit folk out the back. Then as they head down the straight for the bell lap, there are usually only a few "live" chances left in the race. The two big guns are the 5000-10000 world champion Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya, and the defending Olympic champion Turinesh Dibaba of Ethiopia. At the moment, Cheruiyot is the favourite at a slight shade of red, while Dibaba is a 13-10 chance. Next in the market is Eleynesh Oljira at 14-1. So the experts expect this to be the clash of the titans. This will be a ball tear-er. Cheruiyot should just about win it, but I'm hoping the Dibaba can do it again. To claim these two slender ladies are probably the the name athletes of the 2012 track games, would not be far off the mark. Cheruiyot, who tips the scales at a racing weight of just 38kgs, and known as the Pocket Rocket, sees the battle with the Baby Faced Destroyer as hers to lose. But she will have to be at her best, for when the kick down comes at or around the bell lap, all eyes will be on Dibaba, looking for that famed, electric sprint that took her to the 5000-10000 double in Beijing.
The markets have the Heptathlon as a two woman affair Ardent, Ennis at 4-5 and Tetyana Chernova at 7-4. 5s and up the rest. Looks like a huge chance.
When it comes to cycling i think a lack of resources in certain countries being a problem, as i dont see cycling very high on the agenda in ethiopia, kenya etc... And maybe the countries that do promote cycling they just arnt good enough to get into the top teams... As for the swimming the yanks have had a black lad for a swimmer and he helped win one of the relay events this time, you would think they would have a few more really. But if your going to get one bloke entering 7 events and other people entering multiple swims then again that cuts the chances down... Although as a counter arguement when it comes to sprinting in the athletics there are not a lot of white people running the best times... Where's our Alan Wells...? I suppose you need role models and not many black men have took up cycling or swimming but its the opposite to the athletics and running... Dont know if that answers it Ardent but i do think resources and role models are a big thing in sport...
This is where the french are interesting - top class white sprinters and black swimmers - trust them to be different
Carrying on my theme of watching sports that i wouldn't normally do did any one see the C2, two man canoeing event. Jezz them lads must be so strong to do that... I wouldn't take any of em on in a arm wrestle, they would snap your arm off...!!! As for the Olympics we are now into the business end of the sports, athletics...!!! Im hoping for some real drama, heart ache and pure athletic prowess in both the field and on the track... I cant wait...
The issue of blacks and whites in sport I think, pretty much comes down to culture. I've heard just recently that one of the main reasons why Australia has has a strong history in swimming, is that there are more 50m pools on Australia than the US and Europe combined. Dunno if it's true, but it at least hints at the numbers here. There would be very little in the way of tennis, lawn bowls, cycling, gymnastics etc in the poorer African nations.
