Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
Neither is McKeever. In fact, the only reason they would race him ahead of the other four is specifically because he is blind, not because he is one of the four best we can send to the starting line.
If they send him now, they send him only for the purpose of charity.
Canadian officials massively bungled this PR wise, however.
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I think you could even argue the performance side of things as the others have all raced already a number of times and won't be fully rested for what is a 50km race.
I disagree with the logic of putting your best out every time when the result is irrelevant, all of the hockey teams gave their backup goalies a run out when it didn't affect their chances of winning a medal, many of the relay teams in speed skating did the same with their 5th member. To me the difference between one individual finishing 55th instead of 65th doesn't justify it.
I wouldn't be shocked if one of the other 4 steps aside.
Also - I want to add just to illustrate the first point that I just looked up the last time they ran a 50km classical at the World championships, 2 and a half years ago in Japan and McKeever beat Babikov by
12 places.