22 golds?!?! How is that allowed?

[Slab]

Even if you are cool with the distance increments and the 4 various strokes and individual and team disciplines creating multiple medal chances... surely no one would object to all 6 of the medley events being canned?

These are simply duplications of other individual and team events

 

[Hobbit]

Even if you are cool with the distance increments and the 4 various strokes and individual and team disciplines creating multiple medal chances... surely no one would object to all 6 of the medley events being canned?

These are simply duplications of other individual and team events

Should we get rid of the heptathlon and decathlon? Or should we recognise the skill of the athlete that mastered several disciplines?

 

[Slab]

Should we get rid of the heptathlon and decathlon? Or should we recognise the skill of the athlete that mastered several disciplines?

Its a good point (dagnamit)

But as its a forum I guess my best defense is to stick my fingers in my ears, go lalalala and pretend you didn't say it


Although the disciplines are quite distinct in decathlon/heptathlon with no notable overlap of participants

The pool medley seems more like, 'did we not just watch these same guys do this...'

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It's the idea of medal tables mattering that's the issue. If one guy is brilliant enough to win loads of events - great - demonstrates his fabulous flexibility and ability. Not a fan of the medals table as medals are in the main due to the efforts of an individual.

If the medals table didn't matter or didn't exist then no-one would be asking the OPs question but all would be celebrating MPs achievments.

 

[Hobbit]

It's the idea of medal tables mattering that's the issue. If one guy is brilliant enough to win loads of events - great - demonstrates his fabulous flexibility and ability. Not a fan of the medals table as medals are in the main due to the efforts of an individual.

If the medals table didn't matter or didn't exist then no-one would be asking the OPs question but all would be celebrating MPs achievments.

Excellent point, well made.

The USA, with all its resources, will always produce more than, say, Fiji.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Excellent point, well made.

The USA, with all its resources, will always produce more than, say, Fiji.

I also feel that the medal table devalues silver and bronze medals - these being fabulous achievements in their own right but almost rendered valueless in the context of a table ranked by number of golds.

 

[User62651]

Should we get rid of the heptathlon and decathlon? Or should we recognise the skill of the athlete that mastered several disciplines?

Absolutely YES, anyone notice how little attention or coverage the decathlon gets in the absence of any British hope since DaleyT way back. Heptathlon with firstly Lewis followed by Ennis-Hill gets coverage only because we've gold medal hopes, you wouldn't say that about the sprints or middle distance races, everyone want to see those no matter who the winner because of two elements - drama and excitement. If Ennis-Hill wasn't in it no one would give a monkeys, who wants to watch a generalist rather than a specialist in any given event where they're awarded points rather than just a win. Seven events over 2 days is not a watchable sport so lacks both key ingredients - drama and excitement........imo.

 

[Hobbit]

Absolutely YES, anyone notice how little attention or coverage the decathlon gets in the absence of any British hope since DaleyT way back. Heptathlon with firstly Lewis followed by Ennis-Hill gets coverage only because we've gold medal hopes, you wouldn't say that about the sprints or middle distance races, everyone want to see those no matter who the winner because of two elements - drama and excitement. If Ennis-Hill wasn't in it no one would give a monkeys, who wants to watch a generalist rather than a specialist in any given event where they're awarded points rather than just a win. Seven events over 2 days is not a watchable sport so lacks both key ingredients - drama and excitement........imo.

Maybe we should cover very few sports... and its only not watchable, lacking drama and excitement, if it doesn't interest you.

As for sprints and middle distances; unfortunately we're brought up on fast food and instant service. Even some that watch the longer distances, me included, go and make a coffee mid point in the race.

 

[Hobbit]

I also feel that the medal table devalues silver and bronze medals - these being fabulous achievements in their own right but almost rendered valueless in the context of a table ranked by number of golds.

You're not wrong. People seem to forget that a bronze is 3rd best in the world.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I remember Victoria Pendleton moaning, she got a gold for that too, that Chris Hoy won more golds than her because he had more races to ride in than she did. I think that has now been altered. The point is the same though. I think most people discount the sheer number of medals a swimmer can win as it just gets silly so it becomes like white noise. No question that Phelps is a phenomenon and he is unquestionably one of the greatest swimmers of all time. It does not make him the greatest Olympian but it does make him one of the greatest Olympians. The sheer number of medals open to him distorts his numbers but he has to be up there with the likes of Lewis, Bolt and others who have won multiple medals in multiple sports and ideally mass participation sports.

 

[Tashyboy]

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

Bloody hell am worth a fortune, and am literally putting it up the wall. If anyone wants a gallon give me a days notice to get stocked up on smith wicks.

 

[SteveW86]

What about sports where only 1 person per nation is allowed per discipline. Sailing for example, leading back to Sydney in 2000 GB could have had multiple medals in a few different classes of boat if more than 1 entry was allowed.

In swimming/athletics it is my understanding that if you perform inside a qualifying time then you can go to the games? With sailing we have a number of boats (in the 49er for example) who finished inside the top 10 at this years world championships however only 1 person was allowed to go to Rio

 

[bladeplayer]

I appreciate what the OP is saying , but there are qualifying events or times for each event ,

The more events the more chances different swimmers get to be an Olympian , Without the variety the overall spaces would be limited & there would be more dominance by the few ,

Regarding the medleys its like being the best driver, best mid iron, best short game & best putter , all in one , awesome

Alan Mac would prob have the best insight into this but each stroke is a very different skill, some people can master many, some cant , some people have speed , some have endurance skills there is always going to be an over lap around the middle somewhere,


MP is just special talent he has mastered all strokes over various distances by very hard work , & it is very hard work we will probably never see such a talent ever again

 

[Alucard]

Swimming has 50, 100, 200, 400 and 1500.

Running has 60 (not sure if that's in olympics), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5000 & 10,000.

Try again.

In Running 100 and 200 are feasible for a fast athlete but the training at 400 is totally different and then 800, 1500 etc are a different shaped and weight athlete and totally different training again.
Swimming has more opportunities for the same athlete to compete favourably at all the different distances.

That being said Phelps is too good for the other swimmers and credit to him but trying to compare swimming to the fastest runner on the planet is like chalk and cheese and the human body can not take in all the different running disciplines at the highest level unlike swimming where water supports you and its simply a stamina test.
Bolt could do 100, 200, and the team relays and he could have a go at long jump if he thought it worthwhile but thats about it.

Even training to run at 400 meters is an entirely different concept and a totally different challenge for a runner as Michael Johnson found out when he tried to take on Donovan Bailey at 150m. with Johnson pulling up in the straight (to save his ego) when Bailey had him destroyed and Johnson could see he was surging clear and the race was over.

Different speeds entirely and different training that can not cross over at the highest level in running events at the highest level.
I have noticed that the pool in the Rio Olympics is a fast pool in other words the design helps waves to be kept under control and helps the athletes to swim their personal best.
The womens records have been falling as you would expect as the standards are lower than the mens and the records are not as strong and one guy has also broken the world record with Adam Peaty doing it in in the 100m Breast stroke.

What is surprising is that to my knowledge Phelps has not lowered any records in this fast pool and he is easily beating his opposition so maybe the current crop of swimmers does not have the strength in depth of years past.

The main glory in the whole Olympic games for most viewers and what is remembered most though is, Who can be 100 meter champion, the fastest man on the planet and this is all Bolt needs to keep winning to be the best Olympian as the strength in depth in this event is unarguably the strongest.