Beijing Olympics Thread

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by fotze

We? You didn't do a goddamn thing. Your effort towards this Olympics is pretty abysmal.

If they had an Olympic event that involved Jello and wrestling hot naked chicks, I would be not only the World Champion, but I would show a dedication not shown in Olympic training since the very first Olympics where failure ment death.

[Fire]

We need more badminton on CBC. Anna Rice has made it to the Round of 16 and will be playing one of the top Chinese.

[icarus]

Adam Trupish?

[SebC]

Yay, more women's beach volleyball! Now there's a sport that could teach the NHL a few things about regulating equipment size.

[HotHotHeat]

just heard an interview of some lowly target shooter....she was all out bawling about not having a chance to win a medal at the olympics. I'm sorry, but if you lose you're simply not good enough. Don't come to the media crying because you suck....tryharder next time.

[CaptainCrunch]

All I've noticed in the pool is they're talking about setting Canadian records and how great it is. But these Canadians' are finishing so far back from the rest of the field that the next race has started before they get out of the pool.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

All I've noticed in the pool is they're talking about setting Canadian records and how great it is. But these Canadians' are finishing so far back from the rest of the field that the next race has started before they get out of the pool.

What can you do? In that amazing men's relay last night the Canadians broke the existing world record and still finished 6th!

[GirlySports]

Nestor just crashed out of the doubles in the first round.
Another medal hope bites the dust.

Awful awful olympics so far for Canadians.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think that the goal was 14 medals this year, I think that the Canadian's will be lucky to get that.

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

All I've noticed in the pool is they're talking about setting Canadian records and how great it is. But these Canadians' are finishing so far back from the rest of the field that the next race has started before they get out of the pool.

You're making that statement in a vacuum with no background knowledge. The swimming program in Canada had been in decline for years, seeing us tumble from one of the top swimming nations in the world to a complete disaster in Athens. The right steps are being taken now but it doesn't happen overnight. At least we're making finals, getting top eight finishes, and setting Canadian records this time around - things that just weren't happening in Athens. Brent Hayden led off the 4x100 free relay yesterday with a world class swim, very close to the world record (FYI he's the defending co-world champion in the 100 free). The London games in 2012 is where you'll start to see more obvious benefits of what's taking place right now

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

What can you do? In that amazing men's relay last night the Canadians broke the existing world record and still finished 6th!

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/ondemand/...eoId=820511050

Skip ahead to about 6:30 to see the finish. Gave me goosebumps.

Great use of technology, by the way, superimposing that green line showing world record pace.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by fredr123

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/ondemand/...eoId=820511050

Skip ahead to about 6:30 to see the finish. Gave me goosebumps.

Great use of technology, by the way, superimposing that green line showing world record pace.

Amazing finish.

You'll notice the last french swimmer messed up. He swam way to close to the american lane and the american just drafted off him riding a big wave to the finish.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I think that the goal was 14 medals this year, I think that the Canadian's will be lucky to get that.

I think it's still well within the realm of possibility, as none of Canada's strong events have handed out medals yet. As I see it, there are about eight medals that we should get, and beyond that, about 16 where a medal is a distinct possibility but far from a lock. You can probably assume that one of those 'sure medals' I've identified is going to fall flat on his/her face, which means we need those longshots to get 7 medals, which shouldn't be too unlikely.

It's realist to expect:
1 in Taekwondo
1 in trampoline
2 in canoe/kayak
1 in cycling
1 in diving
2 in rowing

Also outside shot at:
1 in Taekwondo
1 in wrestling
1 in athletics
2 in canoe/kayak
1 in softball
1 in cycling
2 in diving
2 in rowing
2 in sailing
1 in swimming
1 in synchro swimming
1 in triathalon

[JiriHrdina]

So it looks like Canada is on track for another dissapointing games - so what should be done? How many millions are spent on these programs? I know tha the individual athletes all do their best but as a taxpayer if we are spending a ton of dough on this stuff - there has to be results. Is our whole approach off? Are people too forgiving when our athlete's fail?

In short...wdf?

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So it looks like Canada is on track for another dissapointing games - so what should be done? How many millions are spent on these programs? I know tha the individual athletes all do their best but as a taxpayer if we are spending a ton of dough on this stuff - there has to be results. Is our whole approach off? Are people too forgiving when our athlete's fail?

In short...wdf?

Well, IMO, re-read the post above yours. None of our solid medal opportunities have taken place yet. And realistically, Canada is more naturally a winter sport nation anyway. But the results are coming - the schedule just dictates that 'our' events have yet to be run.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

Well, IMO, re-read the post above yours. None of our solid medal opportunities have taken place yet. And realistically, Canada is more naturally a winter sport nation anyway. But the results are coming - the schedule just dictates that 'our' events have yet to be run.

Well there still have been some dissapointments already - and no surprises.

I'll hold off judgement to see if they turn it around but we'll see.

[Sylvanfan]

I think with Canada hosting the 2010 Winter games that has been the real focus of the COC is to get the nations winter programs to a level where the country can acheive a top 5 finish in the medals. Unfortunately for the summer athletes I think their programs were probably stuffed on the backburner here until the 2010 games are complete.

[JiriHrdina]

^Which I'm fine with. My interest level in the summer games is a fraction of what it is for the winter.

[Mango]

I'm optimistic about the women's soccer team. I don't think we've seen the best from them yet. That team has so much potential...I really think they can medal.

[octothorp]

Countries that tend to do well in Olympic medal standings are the ones who limit their focus to a small number of medal rich events. Cuba would be a great example of this: despite being overall a very poor country, they won 27 medals at the last Olympics, with 19 of those medals coming in hand-to-hand combat events, such as boxing, wrestling, taekwando, and judo. Australia won 25 of their 49 medals in swimming and cycling.

If we're content to be a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none country, the current approach is fine. If our big priority is the number of medals, we need to reduce the number of sports that the Olympic program funds, in favour of high-reward events. If we were to channel the majority of our funding into rowing and kayak/canoe, (chosen because we already do pretty well in them, and there are a lot of medals awarded) to the extent that we're a contender in every single event, that's 26 potential medals there. Of course, this would never be done, because it's inherently un-Canadian and would be perceived as unfair to many athletes out there. But many countries who outperform their population and GDP in terms of Olympic medals use a similar approach.