Mega Thread RIO 2016 - General Discussion Thread for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games (3rd Aug to 21st Aug)

[Forward Press]

It's more a case of the events that come under "track and field" being more diverse than any other sport.

Swimming has loads of similarities between its constituent events and there is a good spread there of different nationalities from many continents winning medals.

Possibly more the idea of sports requiring less specialised equipment and specific locales attracting a more global spread of athletes. Just my theory. I read somewhere that the Italian eights in rowing spent $50,000 just to fly in their boat to Rio. Won't attract many international competitors from the third world with expenses like that.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

Swimming has loads of similarities between its constituent events and there is a good spread there of different nationalities from many continents winning medals.

Possibly more the idea of sports requiring less specialised equipment and specific locales attracting a more global spread of athletes. Just my theory. I read somewhere that the Italian eights in rowing spent $50,000 just to fly in their boat to Rio. Won't attract many international competitors from the third world with expenses like that.

I have a feeling we actually agree with each other, so I'm not going to argue any more.

 

[Forward Press]

I have a feeling we actually agree with each other, so I'm not going to argue any more.

Well, we both support the right team in the AFL, so that's all that matters in the end.

 

[GreyCrow]

Diversity:

2012

2008

2004

2000

1996

1992

1988

1984

Allan Wells says hello

 

[Illinois Nazi]

Allan Wells says hello

Hi Allan!

 

[L Dizz]

Diversity? Hahaha.

Americans and Jamaicans are basically a sure thing for short, the Kenyans for long. What are you talking about?

At least in the pool we have the Australians, Yanks, Canadians are emerging, Dutch, Germans, Chinese, Japanese and a few strong swimmers from Britain, France, Sweden and Denmark.

In the last Olympics, 33 different nations won athletics medals (141 total). In the pool, 19 different nations won medals (102 total).

You're probably ignoring the field events. So looking at just the running, on the men's side, 7 sprinting events (400m down) had winners from 5 different countries. And 800m up had winners from 4 different countries over 6 events.

And the women: sprints 4 countries sharing 7 gold medals, and longer stuff had 4 countries (none of which were Kenya) sharing 6 gold medals. If you want to include walks, that's another 3 different countries to add to the mix.

So yeah, when you actually pay attention instead of just relying on outdated stereotypes, you'll find athletics is pretty diverse.

PS I'm not having a crack at you personally, or swimming for that matter, I just hear this sort of thing all the time and I find it annoying.

 

[L Dizz]

Allan Wells says hello

Conveniently stopped one Olympics short didn't they...

 

[PoopingHindi]

Allan Wells says hello

Allan Wells is no different

...he was just as doped as the rest of them

 

[Carl Hooper]

They are when they've got a burning tyre around their neck.

Post to username ratio...

Let's bang campaigner

 

[exe ex machina]

Is Michael Phelps the greatest athlete of all-time, in any sport, at any level?

With 22 gold medals over four different Olympics, he's easily the greatest Olympic athlete of all-time, and it's not even close. And he's got a chance at two more medals before Rio is over.

 

[GreyCrow]

When/if you are watching channel 7 tonight and it seems like padding. Blame Cate and Bronte , and Jessica and Mitch.

 

[Carl Hooper]

Not really caught up in the Michael Phelps hype.. Probably because I find swimming boring af.

 

[PoopingHindi]

When/if you are watching channel 7 tonight and it seems like padding. Blame Cate and Bronte , and Jessica and Mitch.

maybe they could show us some live sport instead

 

[BobbyMorri]

Well, now is your time to shine Matilda's. The country need an uplift. Get the upset tonight. Mens pursuit as well

 

[JackNah_8]

maybe they could show us some live sport instead

They will show us a replay of the women's basketball again

 

[HeathySure]

Is Michael Phelps the greatest athlete of all-time, in any sport, at any level?

With 22 gold medals over four different Olympics, he's easily the greatest Olympic athlete of all-time, and it's not even close. And he's got a chance at two more medals before Rio is over.

I would say he is up there, but there is a greater opportunity these days to win multiple medals at more Olympics given its not amateur anymore. They dont retire as young as they used too, especially swimmers, plus there is a lot more events than their used to be in the early days.
As for the best of the modern era, Still give it to Usain, his world records are astonishing given he lairs about at the end of races, and pretty much everyone in the world can run whereas not everyone can swim!

 

[The King!]

Been at work all day in meetings, what the hell happened to the campbell sisters

 

[GreyCrow]

Been at work all day in meetings, what the hell happened to the campbell sisters

 

[Donakebab]

I would say he is up there, but there is a greater opportunity these days to win multiple medals at more Olympics given its not amateur anymore. They dont retire as young as they used too, especially swimmers, plus there is a lot more events than their used to be in the early days.
As for the best of the modern era, Still give it to Usain, his world records are astonishing given he lairs about at the end of races, and pretty much everyone in the world can run whereas not everyone can swim!

Phelps is comfortably a level above Bolt. He's been successful across four Olympics not potentially three and he's done it in a wider variety of events in his discipline. For Bolt to compare he would need to be a champion in more than just the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m. He'd need to add things like the 400m, 800m, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles as well all in the same Olympics.

 

[The King!]

Still over hyping the campbells to intro the replay

 

[rocker_oz33]

After the CH se7en news you could tell they wanted to replay a winning gold -but their wasn't one.

 

[HeathySure]

Phelps is comfortably a level above Bolt. He's been successful across four Olympics not potentially three and he's done it in a wider variety of events in his discipline. For Bolt to compare he would need to be a champion in more than just the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m. He'd need to add things like the 400m, 800m, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles as well all in the same Olympics.

its not possible for a man to run fast in the 100m and the 800 metres in the same Olympics. It requires totally different training. Its like saying Phelps has to win medals in the 100 metre butterfly and diving.

 

[The King!]

Arrogance

 

[Sidebottom2Beams]

Phelps is comfortably a level above Bolt. He's been successful across four Olympics not potentially three and he's done it in a wider variety of events in his discipline. For Bolt to compare he would need to be a champion in more than just the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m. He'd need to add things like the 400m, 800m, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles as well all in the same Olympics.

How is Phelps even close? The 100 meters is the finest athletes on the finest drugs money can buy. Humans at their utmost potential.

 

[Donakebab]

its not possible for a man to run fast in the 100m and the 800 metres in the same Olympics. It requires totally different training. Its like saying Phelps has to win medals in the 100 metre butterfly and diving.

No that's a terrible comparison. The fundamentals of running are the same, swimming and diving are not.

Phelps is not only competing in far more events, he's doing them on the same day and still dominating, he's on another level. Maybe if Bolt wins this year and then comes back in four years and wins he might even be in the same breath, but the fact he's only doing it in three events instead of six to eight still leaves him quite a way behind.