Rio Olympics 2016

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Rio Olympics 2016

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Really impressed with the performance of the gymnasts.

Congratulations to the athletes and their coaches. It is however much more than that although in part a direct reflection of the provision of and evolution of facilities and coaching. The most impressive thing is the enthusiasm and commitment at grass roots that has produced a pretty impressive incremental competitive structure where kids are fully engaged, and allowed to progress and participate at their own level whilst still feeling part of something that is big, grand and a real event.

Purgatory for parents 90 seconds of action for 2/3rds of a day sitting around, but each kid comes back buzzing the majority pinning up as a reward for incremental progression or getting a rossette or even a trip to the podium for excelling in their group. This is where I feel junior tennis has lessons to learn in terms of retention after giving kids a taste.

This success is very exciting in that there must be thousands of little girls sitting watching Britain win a bronze on the floor thinking that might be me and indeed for one or two increasingly it could well be! For those that aren't going to come close getting 8-14 year olds to willingly do an 30-60 minutes of intense conditioning a couple of times a week is phenomenal and will put them in great shape to have a crack at any sport they like.

There does appear to be equity of access in that most parents are prepared to take a financial hit to insure they give their child the opportunity, and as such the funding model as with boxing and cycling seems to be right. The gold in dressage seems very expensive in comparison given the net gain to society in general against 18 million in funding going to equestrian sports.

Totally amazed by the boys success, as you don't see many on the floor but I suppose it's more a question of finding the boys that can do and then getting them into a club.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Wednesday 17th of August 2016 03:29:57 AM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Wednesday 17th of August 2016 03:30:43 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Laura Trott Need I say more ?

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Tuesday 16th of August 2016 08:48:35 PM

Repeats her 2 golds making her I imagine the most decorated GB female Olympian ( very few of either sex have ever won four or more golds ).

SPOTY pales in comparison, but after her omision in 2012 surely this time she'll make the shortlist. And without really wanting to get into that perennial 'personality' disussion she is a sporting one ( the general point many miss ) and has one so covers all bases. In short she 'impacts' which I believe is how the BBC sum the award up.

Yes Jason Kenny will clearly be there and no doubt also Chris Froome from cycling, but so be it.'

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 18th of August 2016 12:37:34 AM

paulisi · Tennis legend

Well after the tee time exploits of the gymnasts and the track cyclists, it looks like the beeb will struggle for primetime entertainment from a GB perspective.
Athletics is on in the wee small hours and we are left with hockey and a bit of diving and the occasional boxing match.

paulisi · Tennis legend

This is getting ridiculous. We cannot stop winning medals and plenty of surprise medals as well.

wolf · Tennis legend

After so many near misses in major tournaments over the years Great Britain are Olympic hockey champions.

Brilliant from a team that play with so much pride and passion.

indiana · Tennis legend

Extraordinary stuff from the joy of the women's hockey gold and the women's 100m relay bronze to the devastation of Lutalo Muhammad losing taekwondo gold in the last second and then such a raw interview.

Tremendous stuff Team GB, and I can't recall who thought China would come back past GB in the medals table in the last few days Great if he's wrong.

2. 24 G, 22 S, 14 B ( and a lot of 4ths ! ) - Total 60 - now just 5 short of the London medal total of 65 ( 29 golds ). Clearly now best 'away' Olympics ever and even now so close to London with boxing gold shots, another Mo shot and who knows what shot even still to come.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 20th of August 2016 12:32:23 PM

Sim · County player

Despite no cycling nor Athletics on at prime time yesterday evening was incredibly gripping. The contrast of emotions between the women's hockey team and Lutalo Muhammad after their respective finals shows just how much it means to the athletes.

As for Usain Bolt the triple triple will take some beating.

Good to see Manchester hosting the victory parade.

paulisi · Tennis legend

As a qualified athletics official, I have to say the standard of the local officials at the athletics is not what is expected for an Olympic games.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

paulisi wrote:
As a qualified athletics official, I have to say the standard of the local officials at the athletics is not what is expected for an Olympic games.

There seem to have been alot of strange decisions/disqualifications this Olympics e.g swimming,boxing, athletics. Was it like in the past? If it was I missed it!

I'm rapt that Nicola Adams has just won, and yet part of me questions that it was fair because of the dodgy decisions earlier - and that's not good for the world's premier sporting event.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, some strange goings on though Nicola not one, quite tight but she deserved it OK cos our commentators said so

Currently overall :

1 USA 39 G, 36 S, 33 B, Total 108
2. GB 26 G, 22 S, 15 B, Total 63 ( London 29 G, Total 65 )
3. CHINA 23 G, 18 S, 26 B, Total 67

We have clear stength areas ( cycling 6 G, rowing 3 G ) though still impressively spread. China's golds are much more concentrated with 15 golds in 3 sports ( diving 6, weightlifting 5, table tennis 4 ). The USA have owned the athletics and swimming arenas ( 10 G and 16 G rerespectively, also 4 gymnastics G ).

Oh, and let's not forget the Aussies currently on a total of 8 G as per London and 6 fewer total medals. They wil probably be having another national inquiry

Another platform diving gold looks on the cards tonight for China where Tom Daley didn't make the final We of course have Mo going again in the 5000 m. Tough ask, but go Mo ! Also evidently a couple more real taekwondo chances.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 20th of August 2016 06:46:06 PM

Sim · County player

Now guaranteed to beat the London total medals count with 2 to come in Taekwondo and 1 in boxing and that does not include Mo!

steven · Tennis legend

Sim wrote:
Now guaranteed to beat the London total medals count with 2 to come in Taekwondo and 1 in boxing and that does not include Mo!

I don't think GB are guaranteed two more taekwondo medals yet (though hopefully they will be in half an hour or so) - the losing semi-finalists go into bronze medal repechages, they don't automatically get bronze medals like they do in boxing.

It's been a wonderful Olympics to watch, hasn't it

indiana · Tennis legend

Wonderful and quite remarkable

Sim · County player

steven wrote:
Sim wrote:
Now guaranteed to beat the London total medals count with 2 to come in Taekwondo and 1 in boxing and that does not include Mo!
I don't think GB are guaranteed two more taekwondo medals yet (though hopefully they will be in half an hour or so) - the losing semi-finalists go into bronze medal repechages, they don't automatically get bronze medals like they do in boxing.
It's been a wonderful Olympics to watch, hasn't it

Yes I have just realised that - I assumed as there were 2 bronze medals they went to the losing semi-finalists as in boxing.. Anyway lets hope they do win a medal!