Let's go Australia, Olympics thread

[cmndstab]

Yes

 

[Red mist]

The participation award culture - need to embrace expectations and learn to thrive on it.

Need more Aussie battler and boxing kangaroo back.

 

[johnnypanther]

Seems like a "disease" permeating throughout the whole Australian Olympic program.

 

[jenny61_99]

There would be about 500 fans total in the athletics stadium. Did they know the Olympics were on?

This is a fundamental problem in holding the games in a country with much poverty, and also in an area considered to be incredibly dangerous for tourists. Consequence is, locals who can't afford tickets, and tourists - who might have normally travelled to the games - put off by Rio's reputation.

 

[jenny61_99]

Triple jump is a weeeeeeeiiiiiiiiird sport.

How did they invent it? Why triple and not double or quadruple?

What's your take on pole vaulting?

 

[jenny61_99]

So performances aren't stacking up to expectations this Olympics. Becoming the hunted and can't handle it or something. Need a rethink.

Or... the media just need to lay off. Seriously, they build everyone's expectations up with the number of medals they say we'll win, and then everyone gets all deflated when it doesn't happen. Fact is, this is a world event where the best of the best (and the better enhanced) get together to fight it out for Gold. It is interesting to read in here though, those that constantly bag our club and players for performances, also do so to Aussie athletes. I guess they are consistent.

 

[relapse]

Seems like a "disease" permeating throughout the whole Australian Olympic program.

Don't worry the Commonwealth Games are coming up soon and the Aussies will go back to smashing nobodies and all will be right in Australian sport again

 

[Red mist]

Or... the media just need to lay off. Seriously, they build everyone's expectations up with the number of medals they say we'll win, and then everyone gets all deflated when it doesn't happen. Fact is, this is a world event where the best of the best (and the better enhanced) get together to fight it out for Gold. It is interesting to read in here though, those that constantly bag our club and players for performances, also do so to Aussie athletes. I guess they are consistent.

Seems all the team sports players are in the best leagues in the world when not a the olympics. They get rated because they are at the top levels. Just doesn't seem to gel.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Hurdler just ploughed into the first hurdle without jumping wtf?!

 

[Elite Crow]

Or... the media just need to lay off. Seriously, they build everyone's expectations up with the number of medals they say we'll win, and then everyone gets all deflated when it doesn't happen. Fact is, this is a world event where the best of the best (and the better enhanced) get together to fight it out for Gold. It is interesting to read in here though, those that constantly bag our club and players for performances, also do so to Aussie athletes. I guess they are consistent.

Wasn't it the Australian camp who built up expectations of a top 5 finish?

 

[johnnypanther]

Or... the media just need to lay off. Seriously, they build everyone's expectations up with the number of medals they say we'll win, and then everyone gets all deflated when it doesn't happen. Fact is, this is a world event where the best of the best (and the better enhanced) get together to fight it out for Gold. It is interesting to read in here though, those that constantly bag our club and players for performances, also do so to Aussie athletes. I guess they are consistent.

I think that we can/should distinguish between (i) those who achieve personal bests (whereever they may finish) and (ii) those who (themselves) have expectations to win but fail (yes fail) when it most matters and (iii) another group in between the above 2 groups.

eg Those 3 Aussie girls in the 5000m final can go home proud with a sense of achievement - they performed when it counted (even if they now finish in the last 3 in the final).
On the other hand, there is a litany of under performance this Olympics amongst that group (ii) above and they will go home bitterly disappointed themselves! (quite apart from media/public pressure).
Would I be disappointed (pis*ed off actually), if, for example, the Crows were minor premiers then bombed out in the finals without making the GF - yes, of course and rightly so.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Wasn't it the Australian camp who built up expectations of a top 5 finish?

Channel 7 were fairly bullish about our medal hopes

 

[hey shorty]

Once again the sailing guys look set to try and rescue the situation. Gold and a bronze overnight.

You can already see the soft Aussie culture in regards to the Opals. 'They did their best', 'The umpiring was terrible'

 

[Crow-eater]

Hurdler just ploughed into the first hurdle without jumping wtf?!

That was actually hilarious.

Surprised no one has mentioned we actually won a gold (!!) overnight. Tom Burton in the laser sailing!

 

[hey shorty]

Channel 7 were fairly bullish about our medal hopes

So were ESPN and Sports Illustrated in the USA. Had us winning 15 golds.

 

[MarcusP2]

Every team sport going out in the QFs.

Cycling a bit of a disappointment; GB have mastered Olympic prep (like the Americans with swimming).

 

[jenny61_99]

Hurdler just ploughed into the first hurdle without jumping wtf?!

LOL

 

[MarcusP2]

Starc nowhere near his PB, but he was never in the medal frame. He'll still be disappointed with that, he jumped higher in the qualifying!

 

[Crow-eater]

And there goes the Aussie Javelin throwers shoulder. Ouch.

 

[hey shorty]

Aussie chick just popped her shoulder in the javelin.

 

[hey shorty]

Every team sport going out in the QFs.

Cycling a bit of a disappointment; GB have mastered Olympic prep (like the Americans with swimming).

Can only hope the Boomers don't follow suit.

 

[Elite Crow]

Channel 7 were fairly bullish about our medal hopes

As was our Olympic Head, you know the one that was fighting with everyone

 

[Tex200]

Or... the media just need to lay off. Seriously, they build everyone's expectations up with the number of medals they say we'll win, and then everyone gets all deflated when it doesn't happen. Fact is, this is a world event where the best of the best (and the better enhanced) get together to fight it out for Gold. It is interesting to read in here though, those that constantly bag our club and players for performances, also do so to Aussie athletes. I guess they are consistent.

I'm not sure it's bagging for the sake of it.

If Kyle Chalmers places 5th nobody turns a hair. Was barely expected to qualify for the final. Media didn't build up to be anything more.

They did build up the Campbell's and others based upon their world standings and the records they held. Of course they did - these were favourites in their events who bombed.

Opals went undefeated in qualifying then bomb at the first final.

What irks is not that these are kids who are outclassed by better competitors - what irks is these are kids who have been outclassing competitors over the past 12 months but go to pieces when it matters.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Are the Aussies too busy having a good time? Our performances seem to be dipping.

 

[headache1]

Hurdler just ploughed into the first hurdle without jumping wtf?!

Bold strategy!