Olympics Thread
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="608493" data-time="1471986028">
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<p>British cycling always aim to peak at Olympics, not world championships - they have been quite public about this, so I'm amazed it's a surprise to anyone</p>
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<p>It's not an entirely convincing explanation though - I'd imagine most of the other teams also aim to peak at the Olympics in the Olympic year. I struggle to believe that athletes would aim to peak only once every four years.</p>
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<p>Problem with cycling is that extraordinary performances always bring doping into the conversation - I'd hope and even expect they're not, but it can never be entirely discounted. I hasten to add that I wouldn't be willing to bet my house that all NZ's cyclists/athletes are clean either. :)</p>
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<p>I think the Brits are clearly doing some things better than everyone else and they probably don't want to tell the rest of the world what those things are. Froome said as much during the TdF when there were calls for him to make his training data available.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="608550" data-time="1471997968">
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<p>It's not an entirely convincing explanation though - I'd imagine most of the other teams also aim to peak at the Olympics in the Olympic year. I struggle to believe that athletes would aim to peak only once every four years.</p>
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<p>Problem with cycling is that extraordinary performances always bring doping into the conversation - I'd hope and even expect they're not, but it can never be entirely discounted. I hasten to add that I wouldn't be willing to bet my house that all NZ's cyclists/athletes are clean either. :)</p>
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<p>I think the Brits are clearly doing some things better than everyone else and they probably don't want to tell the rest of the world what those things are. Froome said as much during the TdF when there were calls for him to make his training data available.</p>
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<p>If the cycling was being dominated by China or Russia in the same way then everyone would assume they were doping. And it could be something which isn't "doping" as such but might be made illegal if it was known what it was. What is suspicious is the level of improvement across a multitude of cyclists.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="608550" data-time="1471997968">
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<p>It's not an entirely convincing explanation though - I'd imagine most of the other teams also aim to peak at the Olympics in the Olympic year. I struggle to believe that athletes would aim to peak only once every four years.</p>
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<p>Problem with cycling is that extraordinary performances always bring doping into the conversation - I'd hope and even expect they're not, but it can never be entirely discounted. I hasten to add that I wouldn't be willing to bet my house that all NZ's cyclists/athletes are clean either. :)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think the Brits are clearly doing some things better than everyone else and they probably don't want to tell the rest of the world what those things are. Froome said as much during the TdF when there were calls for him to make his training data available.</p>
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<p>was listening to something on the radio a last week and they were saying the funding structure in NZ means that Cycling need to continually provide results, and as such while the Olympics are important, they are trying to maintain a high level all year round rather than look at peaking at 1 event.</p>
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<p>If NZ want to medal more in cycling, they need to make the Olympics the sole focus, as the British team had done this year, everything else was a warm up or trial for Rio.</p>
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<p>I'll see if I can find the audio, as I know when I was in the car listening to it last week.</p> -
<p>Anyone else read this?</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700067'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700067</a></p>
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<p>Sounds like their book should be an interesting read, not pulling any punches. Dick Tonks sounds like a real dick, no wonder Bond and Murray were completely on Rowing NZ's side last year.</p>
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<p>I hope they go for a third gold in 2020. Eric Murray will be on the older side by then but I think they're still dominant enough now that they'll still be ahead of the pack.</p> -
<p>I think the thing is if they keep dominating others will steer clear of the event just to avoid them, people have already chosen different events to avoid having to compete against them.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="608663" data-time="1472025532">
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<p>I think the thing is if they keep dominating others will steer clear of the event just to avoid them, people have already chosen different events to avoid having to compete against them.</p>
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<p>So all that winning has created an Aura!!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="608663" data-time="1472025532">
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<p>I think the thing is if they keep dominating others will steer clear of the event just to avoid them, people have already chosen different events to avoid having to compete against them.</p>
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<p>That's the thing that frustrates me about rowing a bit. The core skills are more or less the same across the different boats, so countries just gear their selections towards places where they can win a medal.</p>
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<p>So other nations have no incentive to challenge Bond and Murray, because they know their efforts will be rewarded far greater in 4s and 8s. It doesn't make Bond and Murray any less great, but it does sadden me that they don't have any great rival to take them on.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="608696" data-time="1472037051"><p>
So other nations have no incentive to challenge Bond and Murray, because they know their efforts will be rewarded far greater in 4s and 8s. It doesn't make Bond and Murray any less great, but it does sadden me that they don't have any great rival to take them on.</p></blockquote>
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So just kinda like with the All Blacks and you guys?!?... -
<p>Samoa might have their first Olympic medal... from the 2008 games:</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700274'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700274</a></p>
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<p>The silver and bronze medallists failed their retests.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="608696" data-time="1472037051">
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<p>That's the thing that frustrates me about rowing a bit. The core skills are more or less the same across the different boats, so countries just gear their selections towards places where they can win a medal.</p>
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<p>So other nations have no incentive to challenge Bond and Murray, because they know their efforts will be rewarded far greater in 4s and 8s. It doesn't make Bond and Murray any less great, but it does sadden me that they don't have any great rival to take them on.</p>
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<p>True. People like to crap on swimming but even though there are lots of events, one athlete can compete in multiple events so winning is still very hard. I don't think women were dropping the 800 free because Ledecky was so good.</p> -
<p>although in rowing is you can only have 1 boat per nation, so can only win 1 medal, unlike some other events where one country can win multiple medals in 1 final.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="608780" data-time="1472087514">
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<p>Samoa might have their first Olympic medal... from the 2008 games:</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700274'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11700274</a></p>
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<p>The silver and bronze medallists failed their retests.</p>
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<p>I'm going to be alone in this, but 8 years ago? For some reason, this feels pretty hollow to me. 8 years is a fucking long time after the fact to test. Maybe if you got away with it for that long, we just let it go?</p>
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<p>Not sure if being handed a medal 8 years after the fact is going to mean all that much either?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608785" data-time="1472088975">
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<p>I'm going to be alone in this, but 8 years ago? For some reason, this feels pretty hollow to me. 8 years is a fucking long time after the fact to test. Maybe if you got away with it for that long, we just let it go?</p>
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<p>Not sure if being handed a medal 8 years after the fact is going to mean all that much either?</p>
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<p>They store samples and retest when the technology becomes more advanced. Dopers are always going to be ahead of the authorities.</p> -
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<span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Not sure if being handed a medal 8 years after the fact is going to mean all that much either?</span></blockquote>
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<p>If you're a journalist it would make one hell of a story - a tiny nation robbed of its first chance to celebrate a medal due to drug cheats.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608785" data-time="1472088975"><p>
I'm going to be alone in this, but 8 years ago? For some reason, this feels pretty hollow to me. 8 years is a fucking long time after the fact to test. Maybe if you got away with it for that long, we just let it go?<br><br>
Not sure if being handed a medal 8 years after the fact is going to mean all that much either?</p></blockquote>
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Yes it's a little hollow but I like the idea of chasing the cheats. Athletes shouldn't have to pump themselves full of carcinogens to compete and anything they can do - even shaming someone 8 years later - is good.<br><br>
Should sue them too. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608785" data-time="1472088975">
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<p>I'm going to be alone in this, but 8 years ago? For some reason, this feels pretty hollow to me. 8 years is a fucking long time after the fact to test. Maybe if you got away with it for that long, we just let it go?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not sure if being handed a medal 8 years after the fact is going to mean all that much either?</p>
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<p>The statute of limitations on stripping medallists of their medals is ten years, so there's just two more years to catch Beijing Games cheaters but, frankly, it should be like 20 years because fuck em.</p>
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<p>And yeah, it might be a bit hollow for the legit winners but what good would letting the cheaters get away with it do?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="608790" data-time="1472091423">
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<p>They store samples and retest when the technology becomes more advanced. Dopers are always going to be ahead of the authorities.</p>
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<p>oh true.... jesus hydro, everyone knows that. </p>
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<p>Look, i get, and even completely understand the arguments for. Hell, i guess on one level i whole-heartedly agree with the procedure, even Unco's 20 years.</p>
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<p>It's just i heard that story and didn't get the same reaction i would have had it been Rio, or even London at a push. It just seems like a footnote now, rather than an achievement. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608801" data-time="1472093486">
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<p>oh true.... jesus hydro, everyone knows that. </p>
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<p>Look, i get, and even completely understand the arguments for. Hell, i guess on one level i whole-heartedly agree with the procedure, even Unco's 20 years.</p>
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<p>It's just i heard that story and didn't get the same reaction i would have had it been Rio, or even London at a push. It just seems like a footnote now, rather than an achievement. </p>
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<p>I feel that way too. I would just feel even worse if drug cheats kept their medals.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608801" data-time="1472093486"><p>
oh true.... jesus hydro, everyone knows that. <br><br>
Look, i get, and even completely understand the arguments for. Hell, i guess on one level i whole-heartedly agree with the procedure, even Unco's 20 years.<br><br>
It's just i heard that story and didn't get the same reaction i would have had it been Rio, or even London at a push. It just seems like a footnote now, rather than an achievement.</p></blockquote>
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It's not aimed at the 4th placed, now medalists. That's always going to be crappier that winning/medaling at the time.<br><br>
It's aimed as a disincentive at those who are prepared to cheat but still care about their legacy/reputation.<br><br>
Would not have much affect on those cheaters who only live in the now.
