22 golds?!?! How is that allowed?

[USER1999]

When cycling was made equal in number of events for the women and men, certain disciplines were dropped from the Olympics to keep the total number of events the same. I think individual pursuit was one of them.

Odd that swimming continues to offer a myriad of different events, and yet track cycling had to reduce the number. Especially as this is an area where increasing the events does not necessarily increase the cost, or the number of athletes present.

Maybe it's because the Americans are not very good on a bike.

 

[stokie_93]

The different running discipline are specific enough that a competitor is unlikely to compete across more than two. Not the same in swimming.

Try again

Pretty much the same as Swimming then? Adam Peaty is an expert in breaststroke. The same that Mo Farah is an expert at long distance.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The different running discipline are specific enough that a competitor is unlikely to compete across more than two. Not the same in swimming.

Try again

How came Carl Lewis managed to win 4 golds in one Games - Bolt three golds twice in games

It's not easy to be that good at totally different strokes

Why not celebrate someone who is that good

 

[Slab]

When cycling was made equal in number of events for the women and men, certain disciplines were dropped from the Olympics to keep the total number of events the same. I think individual pursuit was one of them.

Odd that swimming continues to offer a myriad of different events, and yet track cycling had to reduce the number. Especially as this is an area where increasing the events does not necessarily increase the cost, or the number of athletes present.

Maybe it's because the Americans are not very good on a bike.

I think a certain Mr Armstrong might disagree


Yeah I agree there's far too much overlap in the swimming disciplines

 

[Tashyboy]

Bolt should try his hand at long jump like sprinters used to.

Was thinking about that myself, But I think it was Carl Lewis who dropped out of doing a long jump comp because he did not want to overstretch when landing risking injury.

That aside, more than nice to see phelps do it without the assistance of Drugs. Ie he is cleeeeeeeeean.

 

[thesheriff]

How came Carl Lewis managed to win 4 golds in one Games - Bolt three golds twice in games

It's not easy to be that good at totally different strokes

Why not celebrate someone who is that good

I think Phelps should be celebrated as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

what I'm criticising is the number of events its possible for a swimmer of his abilities to win.

Would it even detract from his status if her were to have won 2 or 3 medals per Olympics rather than 4, 6 or 8?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Pretty much the same as Swimming then? Adam Peaty is an expert in breaststroke. The same that Mo Farah is an expert at long distance.

Surely the point of any race is to cover the specified distance as quickly as possible.

In swimming that would appear to be "freestyle" so why faff about with butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke.

By all means have races over different distances , as in athletics, which will still enable different "specialists" to compete but to me different strokes are pointless.

Otherwise athletics would have 100m hopping or 200m running backwards etc;

 

[User62651]

Could be time IOC looked retro - looking at wiki they used to have a 200m obstacle course swim -

"The men's 200 metre obstacle event was an event in 1900 Olympics -

There were three obstacles throughout the 200 metre course. Swimmers had to climb over the first two (a pole and a row of boats), and swim under the third (another row of boats)."[SUP]
[/SUP]
Be interesting to see Phelps do that! [SUP] [/SUP]

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

Surely the point of any race is to cover the specified distance as quickly as possible.

In swimming that would appear to be "freestyle" so why faff about with butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke.

By all means have races over different distances , as in athletics, which will still enable different "specialists" to compete but to me different strokes are pointless.

Otherwise athletics would have 100m hopping or 200m running backwards etc;

Do they still have the walking race?
Less efficient than running but still propels you over the ground.
Bit like breast stroke is slower than the crawl.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I think Phelps should be celebrated as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

what I'm criticising is the number of events its possible for a swimmer of his abilities to win.

Would it even detract from his status if her were to have won 2 or 3 medals per Olympics rather than 4, 6 or 8?

But why exactly are you critizing it ?

What exactly is the problem with having different styles ?

Should the 10k walk be binned because there is a 10k run

Should the triple jump be binned because you can already jump with another event

Should there be only one throwing event ?

In fencing should there be only one type of sword

In shooting one type of gun

The Olympics is supposed to be a celebration of sporting achievement in as many events and disciplines as possible and we should applaud all these wonderful results instead of critizing and looking at ways to reduce them

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Phelps is a legend and should be celebrated.

Another point, I'd like to see the 3 legged race made an Olympic event, that'd give the sprinters another medal to aim for. :rofl:

 

[stokie_93]

But why exactly are you critizing it ?

What exactly is the problem with having different styles ?

Should the 10k walk be binned because there is a 10k run

Should the triple jump be binned because you can already jump with another event

Should there be only one throwing event ?

In fencing should there be only one type of sword

In shooting one type of gun

The Olympics is supposed to be a celebration of sporting achievement in as many events and disciplines as possible and we should applaud all these wonderful results instead of critizing and looking at ways to reduce them

what I was trying to say.

But better

 

[Beezerk]

That aside, more than nice to see phelps do it without the assistance of Drugs. Ie he is cleeeeeeeeean.

You're kidding, he's full of weed

Seriously though, I've heard rumours of US athletes having blood transfusions before the games, dodgy eh?
Also the son of a fella I know makes a fortune selling urine kits for athletes to cheat tests. A bag of wee can sell for thousands in the US

 

[USER1999]

I am pretty sure that if I was in charge, I could get this Olympic thing done and dusted in a weekend.

 

[thesheriff]

But why exactly are you critizing it ?

What exactly is the problem with having different styles ?

Should the 10k walk be binned because there is a 10k run

Should the triple jump be binned because you can already jump with another event

Should there be only one throwing event ?

In fencing should there be only one type of sword

In shooting one type of gun

The Olympics is supposed to be a celebration of sporting achievement in as many events and disciplines as possible and we should applaud all these wonderful results instead of critizing and looking at ways to reduce them

Medal count is used to judge sporting success at an Olympics.

Olympic success is significant in judging the sporting success of a county.

For one man alone to win enough medals in a games to put him in the top ten countries distorts medal tables which seem to matter a bit.

 

[User62651]

The Olympics is supposed to be a celebration of sporting achievement in as many events and disciplines as possible and we should applaud all these wonderful results instead of critizing and looking at ways to reduce them

There is an old adage that I'd apply here - "If everybody's somebody nobody's anybody" Too many events and too many champions dilutes the achievements of the real standout champions.
I'd liken it to professional boxing where there are 5 or 6 governing bodies all claiming their guy is the world champion, dilutes the title to being near meaningless.
IOC is always looking to recruit new sports and events to summer and winter olympics but for financial gain it seems, nothing else.

Swimming is where it is and I doubt they'll change the programme as it keeps the pool area busy for a week and bums on seats to help pay for the infrastructure build.

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

I am pretty sure that if I was in charge, I could get this Olympic thing done and dusted in a weekend.

Preferably last weekend please

😉👍

 

[thesheriff]

Lets have golf golds for:

Longest drive
Closest to pin
Putting challenge
Team challenge

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

There is an old adage that I'd apply here - "If everybody's somebody nobody's anybody" Too many events and too many champions dilutes the achievements of the real standout champions.
I'd liken it to professional boxing where there are 5 or 6 governing bodies all claiming their guy is the world champion, dilutes the title to being near meaningless.
IOC is always looking to recruit new sports and events to summer and winter olympics but for financial gain it seems, nothing else.

Swimming is where it is and I doubt they'll change the programme as it keeps the pool area busy for a week and bums on seats to help pay for the infrastructure build.

So are you saying that Phelps isn't a true champion and that his achievements dilutes the achievement of Peaty for example ? Or should Phelps not be giving a big pat on the back because he is that good he can win that many in so many different styles.

The boxing analogy isn't comparable because that's the exact same event but with three different titles

And what financial gain is there by adding in Rugby 7's ? In regards the statement about only adding in sports to gain money

It's quite clear people aren't a fan of the Olympics and how it's made up - so why watch it then only to then moan ?

 

[pokerjoke]

So are you saying that Phelps isn't a true champion and that his achievements dilutes the achievement of Peaty for example ? Or should Phelps not be giving a big pat on the back because he is that good he can win that many in so many different styles.

The boxing analogy isn't comparable because that's the exact same event but with three different titles

And what financial gain is there by adding in Rugby 7's ? In regards the statement about only adding in sports to gain money

It's quite clear people aren't a fan of the Olympics and how it's made up - so why watch it then only to then moan ?

The same as you moaning about the Euros structure and the lesser teams playing thus promoting football in more countries then watching and constantly moaning.

Have you actually read the rubbish you come out with.