Olympics Tokyo 2021 - sport | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Olympics Tokyo 2021 - sport

Redford

Tiger Legend
Dec 18, 2002
34,353
26,192
Tel Aviv
Where do I watch the delayed coverage of the women’s marathon ? Or do I have to wait 2 days for channel 7 to put it on their pathetic 7+ app ?
 

22nd Man

Tiger Legend
Aug 29, 2011
9,171
3,585
Essex Heights
You need to be Stephen Hawking to follow the scoring system in the speed wall climbing.
Didn't matter how many times they explained it I was still scratching my head. What angle is that overhang? Scary just looking at it. Also a packed audience.
 
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leon

Tiger Legend
Apr 6, 2014
8,903
4,405
The only way you seem to beat those guys is if you are a specialist sit and kick runner with a blistering change of pace, like the American Centrowitz, who was in Stewie's heat and was the defending champion from Rio. If the Kenyans aren't willing to make it fast earlier, blokes like Centrowitz seem to be able to out kick them in the right race.

But the downside to that is if you get in a heat with someone like Stewie who is willing to make everyone hurt from a long way out, you are vulnerable. And as a result, Centrowitz and a couple of other similar types were run out of that semi. They just couldn't mount a challenge off that pace.

Having said this. Like I was talking about earlier regarding the 800m. The only time in these middle distance races that you see someone being able to run from the front and win at championships, is if they are a dominating athlete at the peak of their powers. A world record holder who is several seconds faster than anyone else. Whereas there is no one in that category at the moment. There is a thin margin between the top dozen or so. Stewie is currently ranked 4th on time among that blanket.

So you are right, you likely see him set up a race in Olympic record time. Everyone hurts like hell, a few drop off the back and just cannot kick off that pace., but 3-5 of the absolute cream manage to come over the top at the end. Perhaps even the top 6 (including Stewie) finish under or close to the Olympic record, with less than a second separating them all. That is the scenario you can see playing out.

And I think Stewie's coach, Bideau is realistic in that thinking too. When asked if Stewie can win a medal at the Olympics in this event group, his response (to laymen) is normally along the lines of, "Possibly....but people don't grasp how incredibly hard it is to win or get medals in these events." I think what he is getting at there is the average broadcaster (or punter on the street) watches the gold rush in the swimming, then watches athletics and goes, "We're *smile* at athletics, if our swimmers can do it, why can't our runners?" But what they are looking at is apples and oranges in terms of the overall difficulty level to place at the pointy end. No disrespect intended to athletes from other sports, because we know how incredibly hard they work. But it cannot be compared in a neat way where a gold medal in skateboarding or BMX is of the same value as a gold medal in the 100m or the 1500m on the track. Which is the kind of erudite undertone that is fed by the broadcasters to average fat Wayno, sitting on the couch at home watching the broadcast with a VB in one hand and a packet of twisties in the other.
I enjoyed this reply and all your expert knowledge on Aths. Have always appreciated your thoughtful AFL football posts for that matter too. But getting back to Stewie. Yes, to win a medal, let alone a gold in a key Olympic track event, is incredibly difficult, especially in this era of drug 'temptation'. (And the Kenyans certainly aren't exempt from that. When you can make a fortune in terms of a poor country. Interesting to hear Cheruiyot not qualifying at home due to a hamstring issue recently but headed to Europe and made a remarkable recovery then selected!}

I wonder whether Stewie's incredible high pace over great distance would have made him more potent in the 5000?
 

Ridley

Tiger Legend
Jul 21, 2003
17,755
15,433
What’s that event that just finished at the velodrome. Where they had 1000 riders on the track at the same time. I missed the start so not sure what it’s called. Went for about 200 laps. Was pretty full on.
 

22nd Man

Tiger Legend
Aug 29, 2011
9,171
3,585
Essex Heights
Boomers please an historic medal tonight. last chance for the veterans. Might need Doncic to have an off night, two time best 5 in NBA. In only his third season.
 

CarnTheTiges

This is a REAL tiger
Mar 8, 2004
25,346
11,168
Victoria
What’s that event that just finished at the velodrome. Where they had 1000 riders on the track at the same time. I missed the start so not sure what it’s called. Went for about 200 laps. Was pretty full on.
The Madison. It’s pretty crazy stuff. They haven’t had it at the last couple of Olympics.
 
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22nd Man

Tiger Legend
Aug 29, 2011
9,171
3,585
Essex Heights
Might have to add the former soviet bloc countries to my travel wish list, something about the Olympics has elevated my interest.
 
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MD Jazz

Don't understand football? Talk to the hand.
Feb 3, 2017
13,325
13,704
Boomers please an historic medal tonight. last chance for the veterans. Might need Doncic to have an off night, two time best 5 in NBA. In only his third season.
They are playing well. Patty just needs to pick his shots a fraction better. Playing well, they deserve the bronze. I think they’ll get it.
 

MD Jazz

Don't understand football? Talk to the hand.
Feb 3, 2017
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Love Bogut and Gaze in the commentary. Very knowledgeable.
 
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MD Jazz

Don't understand football? Talk to the hand.
Feb 3, 2017
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Mills has made some great passes. They really need to play off him, he’s gonna get double and triple teamed. Get open and you’ll get some good looks. Great stuff boomers.