Olympics - what are you watching?

The USA women's 400 meter hurdler, and current world record holder,  is from Dunellen where I went to high school.   


Maplewood and South Orange have had a bunch of olympians over the years.  Swimmers, runners, fencing, rowing.  


A couple of the Aussie surfers were from around the Gold Coast, either as children (schools near me) or as local surfers cheese (hello, Steph)

If we weren’t in lockdown the local BMXers would be trying all the tricks used for the gold this arvo:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-01/australia-wins-freestyle-bmx-gold/100340960  it’s a glorious afternoon, perfect for riding or skating.

Oh! And Emma McKeon, the much-medalled swimmer, is a graduate of our Griffith Uni. 
But I have to confess an abiding love for Maori and Islanders continuing traditional welcomes, send-offs, celebrations of each other with wonderful songs, dances and ceremonial chants/haka. Thank you, youtube! 


Klinker said:

Between the racism, sexism, corruption and, this year, blatant disregard for human life, I think it is clear that the Olympics need to radically transform themselves if they are to continue to serve any purpose whatsoever.

 Wrong. It already serves a purpose. Large salaries and perks for the executives. 


How the NY Times shows medals v. how the South China Morning Post shows medals.


I don't understand the Italian, but I feel the experience for Tamberi in the men's high jump: 

(Click on "Watch on YouTube" to view. NBC doesn't allow playback on other sites. Or go to YouTube and search for "high jump Tokyo gold" and pick the ones posted by NBC Sports)

Slightly less dramatically announced in English, but includes Barshim's (Qatar) jumps, not just Tamberi's (Italy). And the process, score cards (o=cleared, x=miss, and if they miss, they get 3 tries to clear the bar), and what they are saying to the Olympic official, are easier to follow:

After the Olympic official speaks, I believe Barshim turns to Tamberi and says "History my friend".


The shoehorning of Steve Kornacki into Olympics coverage isn’t working for me.


DaveSchmidt said:

The shoehorning of Steve Kornacki into Olympics coverage isn’t working for me.

 Yeah that is weird.


Sydney McLaughlin of Dunellen NJ won the women's 440 hurdles.   While she went to athletic power school Union Catholic, I like to think that she practiced on the same Dunellen track that I ran when I went to Dunellen HS.  


Never heard of speed climbing - but that's pretty cool:

Synchro swimming was pretty cool - I can't do any of these moves.

Diving and volleyball have been my faves I think.


dave said:

How the NY Times shows medals v. how the South China Morning Post shows medals.

Very interesting article in the NY Times last weekend about China and their Olympics program.

They focus their resources on individual sports that award multiple medals such as swimming, diving, weightlifting, martial arts, badminton, table tennis, etc.  Their goal is the most gold medals, not total medal count.  Women make up 2/3 of their Olympic team.  They do not focus on any team sports.

The high potential athletes (aka children) are identified at young ages (10-12) and sent away to training facilities where they don't do much except train and compete.  Education is not prioritized and the athletes only see their families a few times each year.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/29/world/asia/china-olympics.html


yahooyahoo said:

dave said:

How the NY Times shows medals v. how the South China Morning Post shows medals.

Very interesting article in the NY Times last weekend about China and their Olympics program.

They focus their resources on individual sports that award multiple medals such as swimming, diving, weightlifting, martial arts, badminton, table tennis, etc.  Their goal is the most gold medals, not total medal count.  Women make up 2/3 of their Olympic team.  They do not focus on any team sports.

The high potential athletes (aka children) are identified at young ages (10-12) and sent away to training facilities where they don't do much except train and compete.  Education is not prioritized and the athletes only see their families a few times each year.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/29/world/asia/china-olympics.html

 I was wondering what China did regarding Olympic athletes. Sounds similar to the old USSR model.


Here's a breakdown of # of medals awarded in each category.  Something is out of sorts.  


48 Athletics
37 Swimming
15 Judo
15 Shooting
14 Artistic Gymnastics
14 Rowing
14 Weightlifting
13 Boxing
12 Fencing
12 Track cycling
12 Canoe Sprint
12 Freestyle Wrestling
10 Sailing
8 Diving
8 Karate
8 Taekwondo
6 Equestrian
6 Greco-Roman Wrestling
5 Archery
5 Badminton
5 Table tennis
5 Tennis
4 BMX cycling
4 Road cycling
4 Skateboarding
4 Canoe Slalom
4 Basketball
3 Triathlon
2 Indoor Volleyball
2 Beach volleyball
2 Water polo
2 Artistic (synchronized) swimming
2 Field hockey
2 Football (Soccer)
2 Golf
2 Handball
2 Modern pentathlon
2 Mountain biking
2 Rugby sevens
2 Rhythmic Gymnastics
2 Sport climbing
2 Surfing
2 Trampoline
1 Baseball
1 Softball


RobertRoe said:

Sydney McLaughlin of Dunellen NJ won the women's 440 hurdles.   While she went to athletic power school Union Catholic, I like to think that she practiced on the same Dunellen track that I ran when I went to Dunellen HS.  

SYDNEY!!! That's my alma mater, which was definitely not an athletic power school when I went there. Also UC doesn’t recruit from all over the state like Seton Hall Prep, Bergen Catholic, etc. Originally, UC was “co-institutional” — UC Boys’ High School and UC Girls’ High School (my diploma says “Union Catholic Girls’ High School). Same building as today, with a central entrance and a wing on each side. There was as much a focus on girls’ athletics as on boys” — and this was many years ago. UC has never had a football team, which I assume has saved a lot of money. When they showed the finals live on NBC, they kept cutting to the simultaneous Watch Party at UC!

Sydney is so exciting to watch Not to mention Dalilah Muhammad winning the silver in the same event, with both of them beat Sydney's world record in the finals, and Athing Mu from Trenton, the first time an American has won the gold in the 800m hurdles in 53 years!  NJ was well represented.

This is the final in the women’s 400m hurdles:

https://twitter.com/sportscenter/status/1422748625340440576?s=10 


DaveSchmidt said:

The shoehorning of Steve Kornacki into Olympics coverage isn’t working for me.

 I would have liked to see that!  I have a professional crush on Steve Kornacki.  


BaseballMom said:

DaveSchmidt said:

The shoehorning of Steve Kornacki into Olympics coverage isn’t working for me.

 I would have liked to see that!  I have a professional crush on Steve Kornacki.  

Yes, it felt somewhat forced on NBC's part but it was still entertaining.


For those who haven't seen it - here's an example:

These are stats that I don't need Kornacki-splained to me.


I LOVED watching Skate-boarding --Men's & Women's, Street & Park.  Japanese kids (& I mean KIDS!) dominated & will be a force for years to come.  Tony Hawk's involvement in the coverage & with the athletes was great.  

Also watched as much Surfing & Fencing as I could catch.  Maplewood had another female fencer there.  Don't think she got a medal, (could be wrong), but was fun to watch.  Loved Swimming & Diving, & of course,  Gymnastics.  Track & Field didn't hold much interest to me, other than the Women's finals, (hurdles & sprints --(Go Jersey girls!!)

Beach volleyball was amazing!  but a little too much air-time I think.  Emphasis on scantily-clad women to boost ratings was a bit sexist.

I have Xfinity so I say "Olympics on Xfinity" to my remote & get a selection of sports to watch on demand -- some live & some recorded.  W/ time difference, recorded didn't really matter to me, & some things were fun to watch several times over.


Juniemoon said:

  Emphasis on scantily-clad women to boost ratings was a bit sexist.

 It is my understanding that the women don't have to wear bikinis.  They can, for example, wear standard volleyball shorts.


Tjohn, when several teams tried to change their uniforms they were penalised severely and forced back to the bikinis. See various articles re the Norwegian team (Washington Post is a good one)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/07/30/2021-olympics-why-some-women-still-wearing-skimpy-uniforms/5399967001/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-26/women-athletes-reject-skimpy-olympic-sport-uniforms/100323220 includes history of women’s uniforms.

BBC also had a great series of articles.


joanne said:

Tjohn, when several teams tried to change their uniforms they were penalised severely and forced back to the bikinis. See various articles re the Norwegian team (Washington Post is a good one)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/07/30/2021-olympics-why-some-women-still-wearing-skimpy-uniforms/5399967001/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-26/women-athletes-reject-skimpy-olympic-sport-uniforms/100323220 includes history of women’s uniforms.

BBC also had a great series of articles.

 yeah, but in volleyball, which was the subject at hand, they can wear shorts if they want.


tjohn said:

It is my understanding that the women don't have to wear bikinis. They can, for example, wear standard volleyball shorts.

Starting with this Olympics. In the past, the briefs could be no longer than 7 centimeters (about 3 inches) on the side.

ETA: That’s according to an MSN article. I also see some other references to the change’s being made before the 2012 Olympics. Haven’t been able to find a primary source.


People scoff at rhythmic gymnastics, then will shell out $100 for Cirque du Soleil tickets.

I’m beguiled.


Should have watched more Olympics and less Mets. 


dave said:

Here's a breakdown of # of medals awarded in each category.  Something is out of sorts.  


48 Athletics
37 Swimming
15 Judo
15 Shooting
14 Artistic Gymnastics
14 Rowing
14 Weightlifting
13 Boxing
12 Fencing
12 Track cycling
12 Canoe Sprint
12 Freestyle Wrestling
10 Sailing
8 Diving
8 Karate
8 Taekwondo
6 Equestrian
6 Greco-Roman Wrestling
5 Archery
5 Badminton
5 Table tennis
5 Tennis
4 BMX cycling
4 Road cycling
4 Skateboarding
4 Canoe Slalom
4 Basketball
3 Triathlon
2 Indoor Volleyball
2 Beach volleyball
2 Water polo
2 Artistic (synchronized) swimming
2 Field hockey
2 Football (Soccer)
2 Golf
2 Handball
2 Modern pentathlon
2 Mountain biking
2 Rugby sevens
2 Rhythmic Gymnastics
2 Sport climbing
2 Surfing
2 Trampoline
1 Baseball
1 Softball

What is “athletics?” Track and Field?

Good point, though. Seems like team events should be segregated from individual events in the medal counts. 


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