Just seen an interview with Gary Linnekar and David Rudishi who won the 800m - what a gracious young chap he is. Complete contrast to the brilliant but somewhat arragant Bolt
That women's 4 X 100 relay team was out of this world. Very pleased for Alison Felix who always seems very genuine.
What diabolical officiating! The German throws 77.13 metres but they erroneously mark it at 72.13 metres.Then they tell her to throw again- and she throws relatively poorly. At the end of the competition, the Chinese woman is celebrating the bronze but the officials then tell the German SHE has won the bronze - as they are reinstating her 77.13 metres throw. What a nightmare scenario! The correction should have been made "at the time" - not later. Yes, the German merited the bronze but in fact had an extra throw over the others. Poor Chinese girl to lose the bronze medal in that way. Suppose the German had thrown a "gold medal winning distance" when she was instructed to throw again. Would the officials have then turned round to her at the end of the competition and said that they were cancelling that throw and reinstating the 77.13 metres effort? The mind boggles over that scenario!
Just read a nice piece on Usain Bolt. We all know that he admires himself, but there is an infectious feeling about the man that seems to warm the heart of a great many sport fans. The crowds love him. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20120811oe.html
And another cheat bites the dust. The person in question is the US cyclist Tyler Hamilton, who has just now had his 2004 Olympic Time Trial gold medal stripped from him. After testing positive in 04 to blood doping, and having his B sample accidentally destroyed the in the lab, he was allowed to keep his medal. He was rubbed out the next year after testing positive for a blood transfusion. He got two years. In 09 he tested positive to steroid use and was again rubbed out. With Hamilton's demise, the Gold has now been awarded to Russian rider Viatcheslav Ekimov, Silver to USA's Bobby Julich and the Bronze to Australia's Michael Rogers.
I know just a tiny bit about Jamaicans (worked there just for 3-months, so it ain't very much so have not written a book about it - was a lot of the time with Rastafarian stevedores, now there's a thing - spent most of the time passive-inhaling the Ganja and having a hell of a time), but I honestly don't think Usain knows how to be arrogant. It's just the way he is, apart from being a great athlete (no doubt about that) he's an entertainer and a bit of a clown too? Just an opinion, mind.
How do you think the Lance Armstrong accusations are going to turn out cyc...? If Lance gets done the French will feel justified, the yanks will say its a witch hunt... Its going to be very interesting...!!!
I don't know that much about Jamaicans but totally agree with what you say about Ussain. He's a showman and when he celebrates he tries to make sure everyone celebrates with him.
I think Lance is a shot duck Red. It will be interesting to see if the USADA can force home their charges against him. If they do, I think the French might take a run at his 7 tour wins. He likes litigation though, so he might go them in return. How can the French defend their actions if he's not tested positive in their tests? I suppose they could rely on the testimony other riders. A lot of good reading to come mate.
I notice that the commentators were queuing up to have a go at the Turkish girl who won the 1500 metres last night as she's just served a 2 year ban. Funny they never sad the same about Justin Gatlin on Sunday night. I suppose the lesson is if you're going to win a medal after a ban then make sure it's not gold and that you do it against a superstar.
How the hell can a man go seven years without getting caught? Defies logic in a way. Makes the European drug testing systems look pretty damn bad, surely? The French did their damndest to get him but never did. It was a surprise, to put it mildly, when the Yanks themselves took him to task. Shot duck he might be, but I don't get it at all........
The real problem with Armstrong (and please note use the word "problem" in context) is that as he had Cancer he could have been using any number of drugs for medical reasons and not to enhance his performance. Also does anyone really believe that he thought "yippee have got Cancer s now i can use a load of illegal drugs and nobody will be any the wiser?" I always feared that something like this would happen. It's really sad as the man is seen as such an inspiration to millions.
I don't know what's going on, or why it's happening, but the seppos seem pretty keen to wipe some of the stench from US sport. Good on 'em.
What a stunning race from Mo Farah - they were queueing up to take him on but he just kept finding more. A truly inspirational athlete
I never knew Tom Daley's dad but I would imagine he is proud of him tonight. Take a bow young man. <tears in eye smiley>