Should the Australian Women's 4x200 have been DQ last night?

[GOALden Hawk]

I couldn't believe the Australian 4x200 freestyle team was disqualified last night for jumping in the pool before the other competitors had finished the race.

OK, I understand, they clearly broke the rules in the FINA rule book, but tell how does someone jumping in the water 3 lanes away affect the result of the 7th placed finisher. As if the huge ripple effect is miraculously going to appear 3 lanes away and wipe seconds of someone's time who isn't even in contention for a medal. It just seemed a very techincal way to lose a gold medal, when the race was already over, and they hadn't cheated in any way in winning the race itself.

Somone said, well it was like Jim Stynes running across the mark in the 87 preliminary final (just thought I'd bring it up again!) but that was differnt IMHO as Buckenara still had to kick to decide the winner.

Last night, the winner and all the other medals were already decided when they jumped in the pool, and their actions had absolutely no effect on those competitors still competing.

Your thoughts?

 

[Fat Red]

I agree, but they have no one to blame but themselves. It's a lot of hard work to do and then break the rules.

And the excuse: "The cameraman told us to"

If the cameraman told you to jump off a bridge etc etc

 

[thestretch60]

They broke the rules. The race had not finished. Officials had no option but to disqualify them.


Stretch

 

[sbagman]

Yep. Total stupidity and a total disrespect for the swimmers still competing.

Sbagman.

 

[Fat Red]

Originally posted by sbagman
Yep. Total stupidity and a total disrespect for the swimmers still competing.

Sbagman.

That wasn't the Italians by any chance was it Sbagman?

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Originally posted by thestretch60
They broke the rules. The race had not finished. Officials had no option but to disqualify them.


Stretch

Yes, but the Americans broke the rules also be getting a head start of the 1st changeover, yet the head judge decided to overturn this disqualification as "it was too small to affect the race". This smacks of hypocricy to me.

So one team can get an unfair advantage over their competitors during the race to win, yet another can be DQ for celebrating their victory after the event in a manner that had no effect on the result or any other competitor???

 

[Jars458]

If any other country had done it we would be laughing at them for their stupidity

They are proffessional atheletes and they broke the rules

They were therefroe disqualified in accordance with the rules

Re - the American's - two wrongs don't make a right.

its comporable with Woosnam's caddy in the British Open - he stuffed up - had no affect on the result - yet he had to pay the penalty

I feel sorry for the winners who have gold medals by default.

 

[thestretch60]

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk


Yes, but the Americans broke the rules also be getting a head start of the 1st changeover, yet the head judge decided to overturn this disqualification as "it was too small to affect the race". This smacks of hypocricy to me.

So one team can get an unfair advantage over their competitors during the race to win, yet another can be DQ for celebrating their victory after the event in a manner that had no effect on the result or any other competitor???

Maybe the poll should been Are the yanks cheats. Get over it mate, they stuffed up.

 

[Fat Red]

Originally posted by Jars458


I feel sorry for the winners who have gold medals by default.

From the screaming last night, I don't know that it worried them too much.

Goalden one, re the Yanks, they were reinstated because they were wrongly disqualified in the first place. The rules allow the 0.06 of a second grace period, so they just took advantage of the rules.

What does this tell us?

1. The rule of swimming are stupid.
2. So are the Australian team.
3. Fat Red is a hypocrite b/c he had a go at someone else yesterday for calling people stupid.

 

[Catman]

Me thinks the officials are sick of Aussies winning all the Gold medals.

 

[sbagman]

Originally posted by Fat Red


That wasn't the Italians by any chance was it Sbagman?

I think it was. Italians couldn't give a toss about swimming. Neither could I frankly. Would you watch it? I sure as hell wouldn't. It's not the Olympics, so WHO CARES? Do you really think Aussies would care about it if they weren't the best in the world? I find lawn bowls more entertaining than watching eight anonymous blobs going up and down a pool.

Get over it people. Who cares.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Gee...people are suggesting there should turn a blind eye turned to the rules of the sport. What are yers? AFL umpires???

Of course they should have been disqualified.

 

[stoisle]

Originally posted by Catman
Me thinks the officials are sick of Aussies winning all the Gold medals.

Have to agree with you Catman, I read in the paper that the official that disqualified them did not consult the other officials.

If Australians were say 10 seconds ahead of the Americans and then they jumped into the pool causing the Americans to slip from say 2nd to 4th then that is case for them to be disqualified. Not something that had no effect on the medal placing what so ever.

I would hate to see a rule come into the footy where a player cant celebrate a goal until the "all clear"is given.

 

[dees01]

It was a silly mistake to make but it was just one of those bad mistakes. It was anooying as it made no difference to the result. But it is the rule. I was annoyed that the Americans were the ones that dobbed us in. Typical Yanks.

 

[Blues_Brat]

Hell yes, they should be disqualified.

It is a FINA rule and they broke it, no grey area there. Our sportsmen and women are not above the laws of the sport and therefore should abide by them. We'd be saying fair enough if it was another team who did it. I think it shows a great deal of dis-respect towards other competitors, even if they are a long way behind.

They should look at it as a lesson learnt and be thankful they learnt it before the next Olympics. Imagine if they did it there and were disqualified!

 

[Same Old's]

Originally posted by sbagman


I think it was. Italians couldn't give a toss about swimming. Neither could I frankly. Would you watch it? I sure as hell wouldn't. It's not the Olympics, so WHO CARES? Do you really think Aussies would care about it if they weren't the best in the world? I find lawn bowls more entertaining than watching eight anonymous blobs going up and down a pool.

Get over it people. Who cares.

I thought the USA was the number one ranked swimming nation in the world?

 

[GoEagles]

Rules are rules - if you break them you don't get the rewards. Would it of killed the girls to wait an extra 2 or 3 seconds before celebrating in the water?

 

[coxon]

yeapp.. rules are rules...

how about poor ol Ian woosnam.. who was penalised two shots, which effectively ruined his chance of winning... why? cos he had an extra club in his golfbag ! 1 too many ~~~~ surely that didnt affect the other players...

 

[BomberBoy]

These people are proffesional sportspeople.

They should know better.

But we all still know in the back of our minds, that we are the world champs in the 4 x 200 and if the other countries dont think so, they're plain arrogant.