The 2012 Summer Olympics in London

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Table 5

China has a deep-rooted culture in cheating however, Australia does not. Just look at their business models over there, everything is ripped off without a second thought....it's cultural, not just sports related. That and the fact they have a long an established history of systematic doping when it comes to swimming. They were the East Germany of the 90s.

So yeah, it's a deep rooted prejudice. But it's their own damn fault.

And this didn't happen at all during numerous Western countries' rises to power?

And these countries have never had major cheating/doping/steroid controversies?

[Fire]

Hopefully Canada can grab a gold medal soon. Are we gold medal favourites in any of the remaining events?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Fire

Hopefully Canada can grab a gold medal soon. Are we gold medal favourites in any of the remaining events?

Mountain biking. Catharine Pendrel

Shot put. Dylan Armstrong

Boxing. Mary Spencer

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/...t-medal-hopes/

[Fire]

I will be watching the Shot Put action tomorrow.

[trackercowe]

I wonder how many people would change their tone regarding swimming if Canada was any good at it. We have won zero gold medals in the last 5 Olympics combined. And if you were to count out boycotted games Canada has won one gold medal EVER in swimming (that being Tewksbury in 1992).

Heck Phelps has more medals in his career than our entire country has all-time in those same non-boycotted games.

If Missy Franklin was swimming for Canada we surely would have a different tone regarding the greatness of swimmers.

So for those who say it's easy to rack up medals in swimming you should probably look in our backyard first, because it's a lot more difficult than you think.

It's just a fact that the Americans are damn good at developing swimmers, which is why they are usually the favorite in every swimming event. I would wager that if Franklin did end up swimming for Canada her results would have been far worse.

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I wonder how many people would change their tone regarding swimming if Canada was any good at it. We have won zero gold medals in the last 5 Olympics combined. And if you were to count out boycotted games Canada has won one gold medal EVER in swimming (that being Tewksbury in 1992).

Heck Phelps has more medals in his career than our entire country has all-time in those same non-boycotted games.

If Missy Franklin was swimming for Canada we surely would have a different tone regarding the greatness of swimmers.

So for those who say it's easy to rack up medals in swimming you should probably look in our backyard first, because it's a lot more difficult than you think.

It's just a fact that the Americans are damn good at developing swimmers, which is why they are usually the favorite in every swimming event. I would wager that if Franklin did end up swimming for Canada her results would have been far worse.

Agreed. Though I wouldn't be so quick to discount some of the golds won at boycotted games - Alex Baumann and Victor Davis were winning golds in Los Angeles with WR times so it's tough to say they wouldn't have won even if all countries had been there.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

Agreed. Though I wouldn't be so quick to discount some of the golds won at boycotted games - Alex Baumann and Victor Davis were winning golds in Los Angeles with WR times so it's tough to say they wouldn't have won even if all countries had been there.

The LA games in 84 ruined me. It was the first time i watched the olympics full time and thought canada won THAT many medals every time. So disappointed the next 28 years... hehe

[troutman]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

It's just a fact that the Americans are damn good at developing swimmers, which is why they are usually the favorite in every swimming event. I would wager that if Franklin did end up swimming for Canada her results would have been far worse.

Having 10X the population of Canada is the main advantage. I assume our development programs are not much different. The U of C swim program is top-notch.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Fire

Hopefully Canada can grab a gold medal soon. Are we gold medal favourites in any of the remaining events?

I'm reading about Tara Whitten who has a good shot of winning gold this weekend in a cycling event called "The Omnium", apparently it's the decathlon of cycling. She is a two time world champion.