The Olympic Games

[Dangerous]

sh*te from the brits yet again. 100 th post

 

[PAZ]

Cheating Chinese - their lack of sportsmanship was quite astounding. I'm sure they'd have been disqualified in the old days...

 

[Mr Tree]

ah, the british bloke (robertson) just said he'd have done the same if GB had been winning :shrug:

the basketball has been good to watch - a rare chance to see the americans on terrestrial tele (and they normally show the games on as one of the options on digital if u look out for it), they've been struggling but finally clicked a bit against the dirty aussies today and beat them by 10. but puerto rico beat them by 19 on sunday was a pleasure to watch them getting humbled :laugh:

 

[Simon C]

Chris Hoy has just won gold in the 1km time trial. :bound:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/3567088.stm

 

[Swinedonbee]

Chris Hoy has just won gold in the 1km time trial. :bound:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/3567088.stm

Just seen the medal ceremony - great stuff. :bound: :bound: :bound:

 

[California Bee]

Re: The Olympic Games - Aaron Peirsol

What are the media saying about the Aaron Peirsol gold medal after the Singapore Judge disqualified him and then had it reversed?

Nobody over here seems to know why the original disqualification was made. There is some talk about the written report being in the wrong language and different from the verbal report.

The guy won the race by yards so he didn't need any help.

A Briton, Goddard, would have got a gold if there had been a dq.

 

[steve bee]

Just watched Great Britain get the gold in the cox less four rowing. Matthew Pinsent's 4th gold medal. Cracking race went to a photo finish. :bound: :banana:

 

[The H]

Goddard would have got a bronze.... we've got our hands full stopping the cheating Germans from winning the horsey Gold at the moment.....

 

[Leonardo]

Goddard would have got a bronze.... we've got our hands full stopping the cheating Germans from winning the horsey Gold at the moment.....

I thought the rider was English but she franchised to Germany

What has happened with that are we going to be stuck with the bronze?

PS Pinsent: Great Olympian

 

[Beebop]

sh*te from the brits yet again. 100 th post

Anyone watching the semi-final of the mens individual table tennis would immediately understand why Britain often disappoints.Here the veteran Swede was fervently supported by the King and Queen of Sweden,with the Queen waving a national flag after every point won.Now it's obvious that if our Queen,aided by Prince Philip,led the fan base with Union flags and maybe leading the singing,we would do so much better.

 

[simon_porter00]

got up early on sat morning as was rewarded by fantastic performance by both the women's teams double sculls and pairs (bronze and silver) and of course the coxles fours getting gold by 8/100's. got to say i was sh*ttting it. i didn't watch redgrave get his gold 4 years ago because i would've been mortified if he didn't so i forced myself to watch this one and now have sheer delight that we managed to pip it in one of the best contests of the olympics so far. absolutley wonderful. pinsent broke down in tears through the national anthem and to be fair i think everyone watching from all over the world would've struggled not to shed a tear or two.

i genuinely think with the small squad that we took over to athens and with the prospect of the medals we could win today from the sailing and the mighty paula radcliffe, even without what we might win in the athletics, this is a fantastic performance from the athletes we have out there.

 

[its just my opinion...]

I totally agree with the above posted, im at work but not much was done until after the coxless fours! That was awesome!

More medals to come as well fingers crossed, Sotherton in Heptaphlon is a great position!

 

[Debbee]

i genuinely think with the small squad that we took over to athens and with the prospect of the medals we could win today from the sailing and the mighty paula radcliffe, even without what we might win in the athletics, this is a fantastic performance from the athletes we have out there.

Agreed! :yes: After a slow start things are really picking up for us and if we get a decision in our favour later on today re the Eventing farse we could add another gold to our tally.

Btw, I did get up to see Redgraves 5th 4 years ago, infact I think I watched all of his wins, although don't really remember the first very well 'cause I was only 8 @ the time. We've got a chance of another gold in the rowing tomorrow with the women scullers so I suggest you get up early to watch that too!

It's so entralling, I doubt I'll be doing much else than watching our athletes this weekend.

 

[Swinedonbee]

Agreed! :yes: After a slow start things are really picking up for us and if we get a decision in our favour later on today re the Eventing farse we could add another gold to our tally.

Btw, I did get up to see Redgraves 5th 4 years ago, infact I think I watched all of his wins, although don't really remember the first very well 'cause I was only 8 @ the time. We've got a chance of another gold in the rowing tomorrow with the women scullers so I suggest you get up early to watch that too!

It's so entralling, I doubt I'll be doing much else than watching our athletes this weekend.

Likewise, I recall staying up to watch Redgrave four years ago. I'm a terrible softie and I go all gooey when I see the GB flag being raised. An afternoon for me listening to BeesWorld, watching the Olympics and drinking beer.

 

[rock_on_u_bees]

yay, another gold from the british cylists, this time bradley wiggins.
and we've been upgraded to gold from the mess up in the horse thingies. thats 5 golds, 6 silvers and 5 bronzes now, leaving us 10th on the medal table

 

[The H]

6G, 6S, 7B now...

come on Paula and Kelly

 

[bees66]

Come on Paula you can do it........

 

[bees66]

Come on Paula you can do it........

Paula has pulled up in tears 4K's before the line after being taken over & put in to 4th place

 

[rock_on_u_bees]

she was taken to hospital apparently

 

[bees66]

she was taken to hospital apparently

Paula was released after a check up

 

[Claire]

i really do feel for her, maybee there was something seriously wrong with her. hope shes ok

 

[Boston Bee]

I was saying for weeks that the pressure that the English media had put on her was absolutely rediculous. So much can happen over 26 miles, especially in the heat of Athens. The media more or less sold us on the Olympics with the thought: we're not great at too many things...but stay tuned and Paula will win the marathon!

Too much insane pressure :no:

I really feel for PR, she so desperately, desperately wanted to win for Great Britain. You could see how much she felt like she let everyone down.

 

[Claire]

bless her little heart. at the end of the day she tried her hardest but it was just way too much for her. theres always next time.

 

[WarrenBee]

Paula has nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[hants in my pants]

1. amateur boxing in the UK is almost non existent, because any good young boxers now turn pro at a young age.

.

you have to be 18 years old to become a professional boxer in the U.K.

 

[Debbee]

I was saying for weeks that the pressure that the English media had put on her was absolutely rediculous. So much can happen over 26 miles, especially in the heat of Athens. The media more or less sold us on the Olympics with the thought: we're not great at too many things...but stay tuned and Paula will win the marathon!

Too much insane pressure :no:

I really feel for PR, she so desperately, desperately wanted to win for Great Britain. You could see how much she felt like she let everyone down.

I think that the Beeb definitely over-hyped this event and Paula's chances...they were almost giving the impression that all she had to do was turn up and the gold medal was her's. I was glued to the action but then I have been for all the events where Britain have had a chance of a medal. The pressure was too great but I think she probably puts too much pressure on herself too. I mean look @ the American who came back from being way down in the field to snatch the bronze, she knew her limitations in the conditions and didn't push herself too hard therefore she had enough in the tank to come back @ the end.

I knew it was going to be tough but I didn't realise until earlier this week that she suffers from asthma and this was being affected by the heat of Athens. I also didn't know until today that the marathon route was up slope for much of the way. All that and the worst conditions possible made it impossible for her to run her kind of race.

I hope she comes back and may be tries again in China in 4 years time 'cause if anyone deserves an Olympic medal it's her. But even if she doesn't, as far as I'm concerned she's the best female long distance runner in the world @ the mo and certainly the fastest.:yes: And I felt priviliged to have been in Manchester to see her win the 10K m Commonwealth title 2 years ago.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

A great weekend.

Already equalled the amount of medals we got in Barcelona, and only a few short of Sydney, less gold though.

Definitely more chances, I think Holmes has a good chance and our cyclists seem to be producing the goods.

Radcliffe found it too tough, whe has been fantastic on flat courses and in cold conditions, this was vastly different, she gave it a go but fell short, no disgrace. The first bloke that did it died

Listened to the rowing on the way to Posh yesterday, an amazing thing, and almost certainly sparked the rush yesterday.

 

[Boston Bee]

She'll be 34 when China rolls around. Think this is it for her. Do very much hope that she gives the 10k a try on Friday as it would be such a shame if she ended up without anything to show for her Olympic dreams.

I hope she comes back and may be tries again in China in 4 years time 'cause if anyone deserves an Olympic medal it's her.

 

[Beebop]

She'll be 34 when China rolls around. Think this is it for her. Do very much hope that she gives the 10k a try on Friday as it would be such a shame if she ended up without anything to show for her Olympic dreams.

34 is no age for a marathon runner but to suggest that she tries the 10K on Friday is ridiculous as at least 8 other runners in the line up have beaten Paula over this distance in the past.

 

[Mark H]

I don't believe the pressure put on Paula Ratcliffe had anything to do with her dropping out. This marathon has to be the most testing I have ever seen. Steep climbs and extreme heat coupled with it taking place in a polluted city. Britain have a history of quality marathon runners failing to achieve their dreams due to the conditions of the event. Steve Jones, Richard Nerukar and now Paula Ratcliffe. As David Bedford said it is almost impossible for Northern Europeans to succeed in these conditions. She has run 6 or 7 mins faster than all the medalist and they each are acclimatise to those conditions from birth. Even Kastor is from California.

In a funny way she is braver stopping than if she had finished. By stopping, and providing the media with those dramatic pics she has provided a bigger story than if she had finished.

I can't possible see how she can pick herself up to run the 10,000m, her heart was torn out when she slipped into 4th place. I would imagine she will wait until the last possible moment before deciding. She is in danger of becoming the greatest female runner never to win an Olympics medal.

 

[The H]

Radcliffe found it too tough, ..... The first bloke that did it died

he ran a marathon though..

 

[Boston Bee]

I swear, it's like somehow Radcliffe personally let down the beeb! Already today I've heard the news reader on Radio 1 and on 5Live say that this afternoon she'll give a press conference to "explain" what happened - like she's some bad schoolgirl. Also liked the early morning stories where the script described how she "stopped and sobbed at the roadside". Made her sound like a weak little girl.

So does the BBC dislike Paula or just think little of woman athletes?

 

[Banana]

The poll on sky news this morning was "Do we put too much pressure on athletes" as in "we" were the general public. It should be of course "we" the media.

 

[Luton Bee]

Ah but the media only reflects public opinion, or so they say anyway!!

 

[kojebee]

She'll be 34 when China rolls around. Think this is it for her. Do very much hope that she gives the 10k a try on Friday as it would be such a shame if she ended up without anything to show for her Olympic dreams.

She could give Beijing a try. But....... during the summer in Beijing it can get very hot and humid still, especially humid :yes:

 

[Paul O'Brien]

I wanted Paula to win. Unfortunately, I'm also a cynic. By dropping out and explaining how bad the conditions were (which were, after all, the same for all the runners) she's able to retain the awe and affection of the British public far more than if she had finished fourth.

Quite remarkable.

 

[Mark H]

I wanted Paula to win. Unfortunately, I'm also a cynic. By dropping out and explaining how bad the conditions were (which were, after all, the same for all the runners) she's able to retain the awe and affection of the British public far more than if she had finished fourth.

Quite remarkable.

What a load of rubbish!!

It doesn't read that way to me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/3590166.stm

 

[finchbee]

I can only think that she had not prepared well enough !!
The Japanese girl ran brilliantly

 

[Debbee]

I wanted Paula to win. Unfortunately, I'm also a cynic. By dropping out and explaining how bad the conditions were (which were, after all, the same for all the runners) she's able to retain the awe and affection of the British public far more than if she had finished fourth.

Quite remarkable.

Bull! She wanted it so bad that she was devasted mentally and had nothing left to give in her legs.

 

[Debbee]

I can only think that she had not prepared well enough !!
The Japanese girl ran brilliantly

Yes the Japanese girl was brilliant but Paula's still the world record holder and therefore the best in the world IMHO.

As for not being prepared enough, as Brendan Foster said, it's very hard to prepare for such a course in such conditions 'cause even if you did try to train in these conditions, you'd be so exhausted that when you came to run the actual race you wouldn't stand a chance.

 

[West Wilts Bee]

I swear, it's like somehow Radcliffe personally let down the beeb! Already today I've heard the news reader on Radio 1 and on 5Live say that this afternoon she'll give a press conference to "explain" what happened - like she's some bad schoolgirl. Also liked the early morning stories where the script described how she "stopped and sobbed at the roadside". Made her sound like a weak little girl.

So does the BBC dislike Paula or just think little of woman athletes?

The beeb let us down , by having a pratt such as Sue Barker, as one of their main broadcasters, what a joke . Talk about jobs for the boys(or girls) She is one of lifes losers. Back to the point, Paula Radcliffe has let nobody down. Thank god we have had her over the years, because our athletes are not up to standard. Our swimmers were a joke with the exception of a few.
I was watching one of our girls being interviewed after finishing 7th in a heat.
Her excuse was " I hit my knee on the table after having Sunday lunch, So I was just pleased to have the swim and experience the Olympics" With attitude like that it's no wonder we are where we are. I watched the the Womans 400 metres qualifiers yesterday.and frankly we were not up to scratch. The class that we had, are sadly now to old.
Paula Radcliffe has been class over the years, she has been a credit to our country. I dont blame her for knocking it on the head. She wanted gold, she may have settled for a bronze. She had nothing left, I have ran a marathon, you have to be right. We are one of the richest nations, but we have never given our athletes the facilities that they need to compete.Look at the Aussies , it's all down to grass routes. We dont let our school kids compete against eash other, for fear of upsetting Mums & Dads. This will to win needs to be installed at an early age. We are a sporting nation, but sadly we are light years behind the top sporting nations.

 

[The H]

wish sh'ed finished though..... would have got from me

 

[Boston Bee]

Not a word I disagree with, WWB. There was some shocking statistic that I can not right now remember exactly, but it was something like in the last 20 years a third of the competitive playing fields have been torn up for housing or some such. It's not just about winning medels, it's general health and fitness of this and the next generation that are being sold down the river.

Paula Radcliffe is a real role model, in the way she competes with all she has, doesn't gloat or pretend to be things she's not, and carries herself so well. Britain is blessed to have her and to talk about her 'failure' (this afternoon on Radio 1, repeatedly) is shockingly ungratious.

The beeb let us down , by having a pratt such as Sue Barker, as one of their main broadcasters, what a joke . Talk about jobs for the boys(or girls) She is one of lifes losers. Back to the point, Paula Radcliffe has let nobody down. Thank god we have had her over the years, because our athletes are not up to standard. Our swimmers were a joke with the exception of a few.
I was watching one of our girls being interviewed after finishing 7th in a heat.
Her excuse was " I hit my knee on the table after having Sunday lunch, So I was just pleased to have the swim and experience the Olympics" With attitude like that it's no wonder we are where we are. I watched the the Womans 400 metres qualifiers yesterday.and frankly we were not up to scratch. The class that we had, are sadly now to old.
Paula Radcliffe has been class over the years, she has been a credit to our country. I dont blame her for knocking it on the head. She wanted gold, she may have settled for a bronze. She had nothing left, I have ran a marathon, you have to be right. We are one of the richest nations, but we have never given our athletes the facilities that they need to compete.Look at the Aussies , it's all down to grass routes. We dont let our school kids compete against eash other, for fear of upsetting Mums & Dads. This will to win needs to be installed at an early age. We are a sporting nation, but sadly we are light years behind the top sporting nations.

 

[GABS]

Look at the Aussies , it's all down to grass routes.

Even the Aussies admit their success (relative to the UK) is mainly to do with having the weather for kids to takeup and practice outdoor activities much, much more than we do in this country with its crappy weather.

Anyhow, they have never won the main athletics event, the mens 100m

 

[West Wilts Bee]

Even the Aussies admit their success (relative to the UK) is mainly to do with having the weather for kids to takeup and practice outdoor activities much, much more than we do in this country with its crappy weather.

Anyhow, they have never won the main athletics event, the mens 100m

I agree GABS, it is an advantage. See Bostons post about school playing fields. sad, but true. To be a winner you have to have heart. The likes of backley, Christie Coe Cramb Ovett, they had the heart. We need to be a nation of winners, not a nation that is just happy to take part.

 

[Simon C]

Kelly Holmes has just won the 800 metres. :bound:

 

[Jam Jar]

Kelly Holmes has just won the 800 metres. :bound:

Doesn't she run for Hounslow & Ealing or somewhere local.

Very happy for Kelly Holmes, she ran a superb race tactically and held firm in a tense sprint finish. Top lady, were proud of you Kelly. Well done.

 

[The H]

she runs for Middlesex Ladies, which merged with Ealing & Southall to form ES&M a few years ago...
she's run on Perivale Track a few times and i get all excited when i see her wearing our colours on TV..

http://www.esm.org.uk/

 

[Downbeat Bee]

Re- Paula Radcliffe

How anyone can criticise her is beyond me. Going to Japan over the summer made me realise just how much climate can affect you. Even for a really brilliant athlete she was always going to be up against it. In the same way I don't think England could ever have won the World Cup in Japan. Paula Radcliffe can drop out of as many races and cry as much as she likes and it won't dimish my respect for her.

 

[simon_porter00]

my two pennies on Paula.
that girl, the greatest women runner over long distance for many a year, owes us ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. it galls me the way the media coverge at the time made it sound like paula was running for us to do us a favour and bump us up the medals table. she ran in the olympics and every over race just for herself and there's absolutley nothing wrong with that. in fact i endorse her single minded attitude to be the best (and she reached it) and i feel its something a lot of british sportsman lack and why they are mediocre. she obviously feels devestated herself and now because of the hype feels bad because she didn't meet our expectations. this is unforgivable and if she runs in the 10,000 just for the gb as opposed to herself then that is a terrilble shame. if she can muster up the energy and get herself right in the noggin and wins it (and lets face it this is unlikely - her taking part and her winning) or gets any kind of result then we should host a party for when she comes back home of the kind no-one has ever seen. if not we should still celebrate her as one of the finest female athletes ever to have competed.

Kelly Holmes - absolutley fantastic. what a race, another superhuman woman. i'm beginning to weep every time we win gold which is tad worrying but watching her reaction after the win was something else. can anyone find a picture of her expression as she crossed the line? it didn't half scare me - all big mouthed and big eyed jeez, if that her ecstatic i'd hate to see her trying to be scary.