Olympics
- Thread starter stefanovic
- Start date
So strokeplay, matchplay, team matchplay, doubles comps are all the same are they? 
If they were, it would be excessive, just like the long list of track cycling and swimming events that are broadly the same.
Saw that one of the British shooting team has had to withdraw after testing positive. She as one of the favourites as well.
Surely not out of the realms of possibility to have people shoot in isolation and to compete on their own in solo events, even to allow rounds to be completed later on if need be. Not ideal but surely some concessions are needed to make sure this Games is a competition between the best as I guess that this will not be the last case.
Surely not out of the realms of possibility to have people shoot in isolation and to compete on their own in solo events, even to allow rounds to be completed later on if need be. Not ideal but surely some concessions are needed to make sure this Games is a competition between the best as I guess that this will not be the last case.
Like most comments so far, I like the idea of the Olympics but feel it has become bloated in the search to be super inclusive. Orikoru made a good point about the athletics 100m v 200m etc. But other sports are much worse, swimming in particular devalues the prestige of a gold medal when Phelps can win 8 golds at a single games.
I have no interest in any of the fighting competitions, I don't see the point in differentiating the different types of fighting. There should be 2 medals: men's fighting and women's fighting.
It is crazy that they have different weight categories for fighting. Surely the winner should be the best regardless of weight. There aren't different categories for the triple jump.
Olympic golf is quite simple, with a men's and women's event (although I don't believe golf should be at the games at all - but that's another argument). Other sports could benefit from streamlining like this.
It is crazy that they have different weight categories for fighting. Surely the winner should be the best regardless of weight. There aren't different categories for the triple jump.
Olympic golf is quite simple, with a men's and women's event (although I don't believe golf should be at the games at all - but that's another argument). Other sports could benefit from streamlining like this.
D
Not aimed at you personally as I’m unaware if you have any involvement in the sport.
But for anyone who has not been involved in Swimming at National or even Regional Level, the comment about Phelps is actually the opposite to how you feel about it and shows a lack of understanding, to win 8 in one Olympics is absolutely incredible, to even compete at that many is at a level nobody on here will probably understand.
He should be revered rather than dismissed.
But for anyone who has not been involved in Swimming at National or even Regional Level, the comment about Phelps is actually the opposite to how you feel about it and shows a lack of understanding, to win 8 in one Olympics is absolutely incredible, to even compete at that many is at a level nobody on here will probably understand.
He should be revered rather than dismissed.
Because he was really good at swimming, 8 times??
Plus different strokes require differing techniques. If it were that simple. They'd all compete in multiple swimming events.
And "really good". He's a sporting legend as worthy of that description as Woods, Federer, Bolt etc
D
Because he was really good at swimming, 8 times??
To maintain that level at 4 Olympics is unreal.
I'm not sure there are too many.
Maybe if you go down the lengths route I could see a point. But certainly not the styles.
Same for running really. The difference between 100, 200 and 400 is significant imo.
Maybe if you go down the lengths route I could see a point. But certainly not the styles.
Same for running really. The difference between 100, 200 and 400 is significant imo.
Phelps is obviously a total legend - as you mention, it was an incredible feat winning 8 events in a single games. 22 medals in total - he has got to be the greatest swimmer ever.
But compare with Steve Redgrave, who competed in 5 different Olympics to win his 5 golds. Or Haile Gebreselassie - arguably the greatest distance runner ever - he's not going to win 8 golds in a single games is he?
I guess what I'm trying to say is some gold medals are worth more than others.
But compare with Steve Redgrave, who competed in 5 different Olympics to win his 5 golds. Or Haile Gebreselassie - arguably the greatest distance runner ever - he's not going to win 8 golds in a single games is he?
I guess what I'm trying to say is some gold medals are worth more than others.
But why have different styles? Surely swimming is a race, and the winner is the first person past the post regardless of style.
Maybe athletics should even it up a little by adding a 100m running backwards race, 100m hopping on left foot, 100m hopping on right foot, etc.
Maybe athletics should even it up a little by adding a 100m running backwards race, 100m hopping on left foot, 100m hopping on right foot, etc.
Well I can see a sensible conversation with you isn't a reasonable expectation. So I'll leave you to it.
🙄
Between 100 and 200 isn't really significant. Look at the list of finalists - there's a huge overlap.
Between 200 and 400 - yes big difference - leaving pure anaerobic effort - big difference in endurance and physiology.
400 - 800 big difference.
800-1500 small difference.
1500-5000 big difference.
5000-10000 small difference.
Between 200 and 400 - yes big difference - leaving pure anaerobic effort - big difference in endurance and physiology.
400 - 800 big difference.
800-1500 small difference.
1500-5000 big difference.
5000-10000 small difference.
I suppose I can see a bit of the point being made. Each swimming event is simply travelling a distance and making it harder or more difficult by varying the way it is done. Whilst a bit of a comical argument, it is the similar to asking someone to do the 100m backwards (backstroke) or by adopting a particular mannerism in your running technique. To match track events with pool events, you would only differentiate between distances and entrant would be free to use whatever stroke they felt propelled them to the finish line quicker so, potentially, some usng crawl, others butterfly etc.
There is sort of a point to be made that swimming increases its events by imposting technique rather than focusing on getting from A to B quickest.
There is sort of a point to be made that swimming increases its events by imposting technique rather than focusing on getting from A to B quickest.
I could not agree with you more! This is exactly what I was thinking as well. Who the hell came up with stuff like 'butterfly' or whatever else they have - that's just showing off?? Surely you just have a race of a set length at swimming and let people swim it however they find most efficient and we see who the fastest is (i.e. freestyle).