Athletics

This is where medals can be a bit unfair. A medal says you're better than the others, but in a case like this, 3/1000th of a second doesn't make you a better or more deserving athlete.
 
Gemili did everything he possibly could and I initially thought he'd done it. I'm sure his time will come in the future. As for Bolt, well it's probably the end of an era but great to see him seal the legend.
 
In that Taekwondo medal ceremony, there were two bronze medalists on the podium. Crazy, yet they can't give two bronze medals out in the 200m.
 
Merlin5 said:
In that Taekwondo medal ceremony, there were two bronze medalists on the podium. Crazy, yet they can't give two bronze medals out in the 200m.
Click to expand...

Many of the combat sports give double bronzes, it prevents the need for extra bouts and also any complications if a combatant has been injured and can't compete again.

For racing sports where the athletes can be separated by a photo, then they will be, rather than rely on timing. Even if it's just by a nose, tyre width, canoe tip etc. Swimming is different because they do it on touch.

Shame for Gemili though, he definitely deserved a bronze.
 
I think taekwondo uses a repechage system of some sort where a bronze medal is almost given out as a second change 'b' final for those who have lost earlier in the contest (not necessarily at the semi-final stage)

Unlike boxing where losing semi-finalists are not expected to fight again, but get a bronze instead. For reasons of safety.

I think boxing is the only 1v1 knockout sport in the games where you can get a bronze straight off the back of a defeat.

As for the 200m final: very surprised at how poorly Merritt ran. All the three fast guys seemed much more affected by the wet conditions than the others. Unlucky for Gemili.
 
Last edited:
ps3ud0 said:
Man, Bolt is interviewing like hes definitely retiring :(
Click to expand...

I'd expect so. Honestly, he's been lucky to win this time, he's nothing like as fast as he was.

Actually: checking the times on previous events, the only people who would have run faster than him were drugs cheats :rolleyes:
 
There is just a point where you're old enough to just go ahead and enjoy life rather than stress your body. Athletes can choose to go out when their bodies are still pretty decent or you can retire because the body has become unable to keep going, if you're already rich, risking life long joint problems by going longer than you need to honestly just isn't worth it.

He could be a quad gold medal winner if he really wanted, but the older you get, the extra years of training, the worse recovery from injuries and the more stress on joints, end up richer, but risking joint problems for life.

Many footballers and other athletes end up spending half their life in serious pain from all the stress they put into their body, 99% of them would exchange the last few years of their career for better health.

Honestly I can't quite recall the gap in the 100m, but the 200m.... Bolt still has a lot of time and pace he can lose before the rest catch up let alone beat him. He may be too old by the next olympics to win, he might not, but there is nothing that suggests the next year or two will suddenly be hugely difficult for him.

But he's already at that point where he has money, has all the fame, everyone believes he's the fastest without question. He's a personality, he can take commentary/pundit jobs for easy money without all the training, without the risk to future health.
 
If he's really sure he's finished with sprinting I would love to see him compete in a few long jump competitions. His speed alone would give him a huge advantage but when you consider his height and stride length he could cause some serious damage to the rest of the field.
 
Pigeon_Killer said:
If he's really sure he's finished with sprinting I would love to see him compete in a few long jump competitions. His speed alone would give him a huge advantage but when you consider his height and stride length he could cause some serious damage to the rest of the field.
Click to expand...

It would be interesting to find out how difficult it is to get that jump spot on from a sprinter point of view (baring in mind they carry on running/ slowing down after the finish line which would get them thrown out of a long jump)

Would he be able to do the run up at full speed - or would he have to back off considerably to actually make the jump at the plasticine line
 
Hypothetical question:

What happens if the same baton issue (obstructed, drop baton) happens to USA, or one of the other main players, in the final as happened in the previous round?

Precedent is they get a second chance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom