Olympics Thread

Cookie

British cycling always aim to peak at Olympics, not world championships - they have been quite public about this, so I'm amazed it's a surprise to anyone

Donsteppa

Another reason to forget the 'per capita medal table' - there's a better way of looking at it based only on medals won. 
Heard a stat yesterday that said 120 countries didn't medal at these games, and 70 countries have never won an Olympic medal at all. 
18, bitches.

Immenso Rapido

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="608493" data-time="1471986028">
British cycling always aim to peak at Olympics, not world championships - they have been quite public about this, so I'm amazed it's a surprise to anyone</blockquote>
Is she (and are you) talking about just In Olympic year? Or every year in the 4 year cycle?

Immenso Rapido

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="608469" data-time="1471981515">
Seriously unclassy from Anna Meares of Australia, basically accusing the victorious UK cyclists of cheating.... <a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37165060">http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37165060</a></blockquote>Nah. That's old news. 
Only slightly less old news is Anna Meares clarification that she wasn't insinuating doping. 
BBC are are little too thin skinned on this one. A bit insecure if they include Meares as a 'smearer'. 
Don't know about the context of the French and Germans quoted in the article though.

Cookie

I think what Mears and some of the other cyclists are referring to is that GB only won a few silvers at the 2015 World Championships and a few more golds in March so they they couldn't understand the tragectory but the team aimed to peak for the Olympics, so yes a four year cycle. 
They target the Olympics as that what provides the funding.

Immenso Rapido

Was wondering what NZ's most successful single event is in our Olympic history. 
I reckon it would still be the Mens 1500 meters. 
3 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze. 
That makes us 4th ranked in history in this event: 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1500_metres_at_the_Olympics#Medals_by_country'>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1500_metres_at_the_Olympics#Medals_by_country</a> 
I reckon Mens Single Sculls would probably be our second most successful single event? 
3 gold, 0 silver, 3 bronze.

Hooroo

One of the Equestrian events would be upt here too?

Immenso Rapido

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="608520" data-time="1471992016">
One of the Equestrian events would be upt here too?</blockquote>
Yeah it would be. Individual 3 day event. 
3 golds: 84, 88, 96 
Silver: 96 
Bronze: 92 
Some others this millennium, but would have to look them up .....

Immenso Rapido

Individual 3 day event. 
3 golds. 1 silver, 2 bronze. 
So would be our second most successful. Would have been first equal with the 1500 until Nick Willis's bronze. 
Gold: 84, 88, 96 
Silver: 96 
Bronze: 92. 00

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="608493" data-time="1471986028">
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British cycling always aim to peak at Olympics, not world championships - they have been quite public about this, so I'm amazed it's a surprise to anyone
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It's not an entirely convincing explanation though - I'd imagine most of the other teams also aim to peak at the Olympics in the Olympic year. I struggle to believe that athletes would aim to peak only once every four years.
 
Problem with cycling is that extraordinary performances always bring doping into the conversation - I'd hope and even expect they're not, but it can never be entirely discounted. I hasten to add that I wouldn't be willing to bet my house that all NZ's cyclists/athletes are clean either. :)
 
I think the Brits are clearly doing some things better than everyone else and they probably don't want to tell the rest of the world what those things are. Froome said as much during the TdF when there were calls for him to make his training data available.

KiwiPie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="608550" data-time="1471997968">
<div>
It's not an entirely convincing explanation though - I'd imagine most of the other teams also aim to peak at the Olympics in the Olympic year. I struggle to believe that athletes would aim to peak only once every four years.
 
Problem with cycling is that extraordinary performances always bring doping into the conversation - I'd hope and even expect they're not, but it can never be entirely discounted. I hasten to add that I wouldn't be willing to bet my house that all NZ's cyclists/athletes are clean either. :)
 
I think the Brits are clearly doing some things better than everyone else and they probably don't want to tell the rest of the world what those things are. Froome said as much during the TdF when there were calls for him to make his training data available.
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If the cycling was being dominated by China or Russia in the same way then everyone would assume they were doping. And it could be something which isn't "doping" as such but might be made illegal if it was known what it was. What is suspicious is the level of improvement across a multitude of cyclists.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="608550" data-time="1471997968">
<div>
It's not an entirely convincing explanation though - I'd imagine most of the other teams also aim to peak at the Olympics in the Olympic year. I struggle to believe that athletes would aim to peak only once every four years.
 
Problem with cycling is that extraordinary performances always bring doping into the conversation - I'd hope and even expect they're not, but it can never be entirely discounted. I hasten to add that I wouldn't be willing to bet my house that all NZ's cyclists/athletes are clean either. :)
 
I think the Brits are clearly doing some things better than everyone else and they probably don't want to tell the rest of the world what those things are. Froome said as much during the TdF when there were calls for him to make his training data available.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
was listening to something on the radio a last week and they were saying the funding structure in NZ means that Cycling need to continually provide results, and as such while the Olympics are important, they are trying to maintain a high level all year round rather than look at peaking at 1 event.
 
If NZ want to medal more in cycling, they need to make the Olympics the sole focus, as the British team had done this year, everything else was a warm up or trial for Rio.
 
I'll see if I can find the audio, as I know when I was in the car listening to it last week.

Unco

Anyone else read this?
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700067'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700067</a>
 
Sounds like their book should be an interesting read, not pulling any punches. Dick Tonks sounds like a real dick, no wonder Bond and Murray were completely on Rowing NZ's side last year.
 
I hope they go for a third gold in 2020. Eric Murray will be on the older side by then but I think they're still dominant enough now that they'll still be ahead of the pack.

taniwharugby

I think the thing is if they keep dominating others will steer clear of the event just to avoid them, people have already chosen different events to avoid having to compete against them.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="608663" data-time="1472025532">
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I think the thing is if they keep dominating others will steer clear of the event just to avoid them, people have already chosen different events to avoid having to compete against them.
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So all that winning has created an Aura!!

barbarian

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="608663" data-time="1472025532">
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I think the thing is if they keep dominating others will steer clear of the event just to avoid them, people have already chosen different events to avoid having to compete against them.
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</blockquote>
 
That's the thing that frustrates me about rowing a bit. The core skills are more or less the same across the different boats, so countries just gear their selections towards places where they can win a medal.
 
So other nations have no incentive to challenge Bond and Murray, because they know their efforts will be rewarded far greater in 4s and 8s. It doesn't make Bond and Murray any less great, but it does sadden me that they don't have any great rival to take them on.

Virgil

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="608696" data-time="1472037051">
So other nations have no incentive to challenge Bond and Murray, because they know their efforts will be rewarded far greater in 4s and 8s. It doesn't make Bond and Murray any less great, but it does sadden me that they don't have any great rival to take them on.</blockquote>
 
So just kinda like with the All Blacks and you guys?!?...

Unco

Samoa might have their first Olympic medal... from the 2008 games:
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700274'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700274</a>
 
The silver and bronze medallists failed their retests.

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="608696" data-time="1472037051">
<div>
That's the thing that frustrates me about rowing a bit. The core skills are more or less the same across the different boats, so countries just gear their selections towards places where they can win a medal.
 
So other nations have no incentive to challenge Bond and Murray, because they know their efforts will be rewarded far greater in 4s and 8s. It doesn't make Bond and Murray any less great, but it does sadden me that they don't have any great rival to take them on.
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True. People like to crap on swimming but even though there are lots of events, one athlete can compete in multiple events so winning is still very hard. I don't think women were dropping the 800 free because Ledecky was so good.

taniwharugby

although in rowing is you can only have 1 boat per nation, so can only win 1 medal, unlike some other events where one country can win multiple medals in 1 final.

The Silver Fern

Olympics Thread