Olympics 2012: London - Discussion thread

[Shayan]

Please use this thread to discuss general issues regarding the upcoming Olympics. Other threads can be created for specific events as and when they occur.

Any guaranteed medal winners?

[Shayan]

London 2012: Usain Bolt heads to the Games surrounded by doubts

As pre-Olympic panics go, it's a pretty big one: the fastest man in the world, perhaps the biggest single star of the entire Games, is no longer even the fastest man in his own training group.

Usain Bolt - clown prince of track and field, the athlete who changed the paradigm for how sprinters behave and blew apart the record books with four runs so far beyond the possible that the times still barely make sense - suddenly has some serious problems on his king-sized plate.

Continue reading the main story
“You see people on TV false start and you think, that must be bad luck. And then you feel how bad it is. It's awful”

Usain Bolt

Those two defeats to Yohan Blake over 100m and 200m at the Jamaican Olympic trials last month, while seismic, were not the start or end of it.

From the moment he clocked 10.04 seconds in Ostrava at the end of May - the slowest 100m of his senior career - the whispers began that some of the old showboating magic might be missing.

Bolt appeared as nonplussed as the watching world. "My legs kind of felt dead," he admitted afterwards, "and I don't know the reason."

There were stories of late nights out, of tight hamstrings and a troublesome back, of a return to the parties and fun times of previous post-seasons rather than hard yards and fast times that took him to the top.

Many of them were nonsense or exaggeration. Bolt's celebrity and charisma is such that he attracts rumours and hangers-on like no other track star in the world.

A week after that sluggish start in Ostrava, he ran a blistering 9.76 secs in Rome - 15 hundredths of a second faster than he had run by the same point in his record-breaking season of 2009.

Even now, with less than two weeks to go until the start of the London Olympics, he has three of the five fastest 100m times in the world this year, with that showing in Rome, into a headwind of 0.1 ms, probably worth more than Blake's season's best of 9.75 secs with a 1.1ms tailwind.

For any other athlete that would be enough to still the alarm bells and send them to Stratford with a smile on their face and a strut in their step.


See how the men's 100m and 200m sprint world records have progressed over time with BBC Sport's Olympic graphics.

How have sprint world records changed?

But Bolt is not any other athlete. When you have won the sprint double at the previous Olympics by margins so vast your rivals were barely in the freeze-frame (he took the 100m in Beijing by 0.2 secs, the 200m by a staggering 0.66 secs) you inhabit a stage all of your own.

Few remember that Richard Thompson took 100m silver four years ago, or Shawn Crawford silver in the 200m. Should Bolt finish second in either, no-one will forget in an age.

Before the Jamaican trials, Bolt hadn't lost a 200m in four years. When Blake defeated him, not only by three hundredths of a second but by coming through and past when Bolt had led with 50 metres to go, it left spectators trackside with hands on heads and mouths agape.

Blake, of course, had beaten Bolt to 100m gold at the World Championships in Daegu last summer. But that, after the most famous false-start in the history of the sport, had felt different - the story almost entirely the disqualification, rather than the coronation.

As Blake celebrated in Kingston, Bolt was on the ground, receiving treatment from his physio for tight hamstrings.

A few days later he flew to Munich to see celebrated sports doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt - a session described as a routine check-up by his agent - but when followed by his withdrawal from the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on 20 July, his final competitive outing before the Olympics, it appeared to take on greater significance.

Leading 100m times in 2012

•9.75 seconds - Yohan Blake
•9.76 - Usain Bolt
•9.79 - Usain Bolt
•9.80 - Justin Gatlin
•9.82 - Usain Bolt
•9.84 - Yohan Blake
•9.85 - Asafa Powell
•9.86 - Keston Bledman
•9.86 - Tyson Gay
•9.86 - Usain Bolt

On numbers alone Bolt does not appear to be in vastly different shape than he was in his biggest years.

By the middle of June in the last Olympic year of 2008 his fastest 100m time was 9.72 secs, just four-hundredths faster than his Rome showing a fortnight earlier this time around. In 2009, the year he went to the Worlds in Berlin and blitzed even those Beijing records to bits, his quickest run at the same point was just 9.91 secs.

So what is different this year?

There are rivals out there who know how to beat him - Blake, Tyson Gay. There are others who, years after their supposed peaks, will quietly be fancying their chances anew - former world record holder Asafa Powell; Justin Gatlin, the disgraced former Olympic champion back from his doping ban.

Then there is Bolt himself.

At the peak of his powers, laughing into the pre-race cameras, beaming on the blocks as others shook, he didn't appear to feel the same pressure as the others. It all seemed part of a wonderful game, and his exultant performances felt like part of the same glorious show.

Now? Now we're not quite so sure, and neither is he.

That World Championship final 11 months ago in Daegu may have triggered a more lingering malaise than many realised.

On that Sunday morning in South Korea Bolt was 20-1 on with some bookmakers to retain his 100m crowd. When he jumped the gun - not by a flinch, but by a street - we saw something new on his face, alongside the disbelief and despair: doubt.

"I just couldn't believe it," he tells a BBC One documentary to be shown on Monday. "You see people on TV false start and you think, that must be bad luck. And then you feel how bad it is. It's awful.

"I was in great shape, I was running fast, I was good. I was sure I was going to get my medal.

Play mediaBolt out before Blake takes gold in Daegu
"To know it's going to happen and then lose - not even lose, not make it to the finish line - it's hard, very hard.

"I pretty much squandered it, I'd say. All I could hear was something saying GO! in my head, and I just went, and after I thought, 'What the hell just happened?'"

Bolt's start, something he had turned from average to respectable over the previous three seasons, remains his greatest weakness.

He is a remarkable 3-1 with the bookies to be disqualified for a false-start in this year's Olympic final; as Michael Johnson, his predecessor as world 200m record holder and now BBC pundit says: "I am absolutely concerned that we could lose a Bolt."

Bolt is currently lying low in west London, living near Heathrow and training at nearby tracks as he does most summers before he heads, this year, to Jamaica's Olympic holding-camp in Birmingham.

He has always talked of his desire to make history by retaining both Olympic sprint titles. Carl Lewis, who knows a thing or two about such things, isn't entirely convinced he will do so.

"The reason it hasn't been done is because it's hard to stay at that level for a long period of time," says Lewis. "People are always trying to beat you when you are a champion.

"Blake has beaten Bolt two years in a row now after the World Championships in 2011, and we don't know what Bolt's head is like when he loses."

No-one is writing Bolt off. A man who has defied logic and precedent as he has done lives under different rules of physics to the rest of us.

"Last 10 metres, you're not going to catch me," insists Bolt.

"No matter who you are, no matter what you're doing, no matter how focused you are, no matter how ready you think you are, you're not going to catch me, because that last 10 metres is going to take me three and a half strides to pass the finish line."

[saad1024]

Nadal has withdrawn from London '12 event citing knee injury...Poor rafa

[SempreSami]

Lord's is looking absolutely glorious dressed in Olympic decor and bathed in sunshine.

[shades]

100M: 4 years of training culminating in less than 10 seconds and decided in fraction of a second. WOW.
Need to show this to cricketers who keep complaining that they have not got enough chances to perform!

[Ibad17]

USA will top the chart with China being 2nd..

[withlovefrom vizag]

Lin dan to win the men's singles badminton!

Excited abt Dipika kumari,she is the world no 1!!
Hope she wins the gold

[withlovefrom vizag]

Bolt failed to even come close to his record 9.59 this year,i think blake will take the gold going by the poor form of bolt.
But 200m winner will be Bolt

[Shayan]

Those that are in London today, what's it like? Today was apparently the busiest day in the history of Heathrow Airport.

[cricketworm]

Excited for opening ceremony.

Congratulation to British PPers for hosting this Olympic. Savor this moment for rest of your life. It's very rare opportunity. Enjoy it while it last.

And Good Luck.

I would love to visit London some day in my life time.

Cheers.

[cricketworm]

Originally Posted by withlovefrom vizag Bolt failed to even come close to his record 9.59 this year,i think blake will take the gold going by the poor form of bolt. But 200m winner will be Bolt

Bolt win both.

[cricketworm]

My interest would be in 100m, 200m, diving, Judo, tennis, shooting, swimming, Basketball and many more.

[Looney]

Usain Bolt will win it inshallah

[cricketworm]

Watching how much security is needed for this kind of tournament. Quite a shame this for highly evolved human species.

[Markhor]

With local authorities paying £50k per day for the torch to pass through their area and now £27m on an opening ceremony, we could have helped sort out some of the mess we are in with all this money.

The Olympics has come in - billions of pounds over budget, middle of a recession with 2.5 million unemployed.

This is LONDON 2012, not Britain 2012. The Olympics just doesn't resonate with the common man, its an event full of minority sports that a lot of toffs from public schools play (canoeing, rowing).

Its a sporting event and should be part of the sporting bulletin. This wall-to-wall coverage is excessive.

Our economy has contracted for third time in a row, millions are unemployed in the worst economic crisis since the 1920s yet the masses are supposed to be distracted by this ridiculously hyped up event. Lord Coe is more interested in the sponsors than the people who are funding this event.

You're not allowed to wear Nike trainers at the stadium, or come in with Pepsi t-shirts - such is the corporate protectionism. The People's Olympics ? Yeah right, its the Sponsors Olympics.

An article just the other day reported how the original budget of under £3bn was hiked to £9bn.

It reported Cameron boasted that the games would generate £13bn over the next four years, and thus make a profit. That accounts for all revenues and sponsorships.

Sadly, someone neglected to inform him, that the total cost would actually exceed £24bn, and possibly higher than £30bn when all transport, improvements , and extra policing/security costs were factored in.

In addition - Any disability charity who has sponsored or helped any disabled person to reach the Paralympics, is not allowed to use the story of that person in any way that might be construed as fundraising. This includes using the words: Paralympics or Olympics, or 2012 - or even the words bronze silver or gold.

If people can look beyond the smoke and mirrors - people will be able to see what a farce this event really is, and who it really benefits.

[Uzi]

Originally Posted by Shayan Those that are in London today, what's it like? Today was apparently the busiest day in the history of Heathrow Airport.

Busy.

[Markhor]

I'm crapping it over the 'Judo' and the 'Canoe Slalom' events personally.

Seriously, haven't heard of half of these sports - Fencing ?

[withlovefrom vizag]

Talkin abt minority sports,Britain makes the most of these games

[TalhaSyed]

Britain athletes should really be looking to make the most of this oppertunity of having the olympics in their back yard and winning as many medals as possible.

Obv USA & China will be the teams to beat

All updates for Pakistans Olympic campaigns, in particular, can be foundon thsi thread for those who are interested

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...d.php?t=158199

[Space Cat]

Originally Posted by Markhor I'm crapping it over the 'Judo' and the 'Canoe Slalom' events personally. Seriously, haven't heard of half of these sports - Fencing ?

Fencing and Judo belong in there more than all these pro sports like Football and basketball.

[Markhor]

What is fencing ? Something about fighting with swords/sabres apparently...

There seems to be four types of Cycling and three types of Gymnastics.

To be fair, the BBC interactive page is class.

[Space Cat]

Originally Posted by Markhor What is fencing ? Something about fighting with swords/sabres apparently... There seems to be four types of Cycling and three types of Gymnastics. To be fair, the BBC interactive page is class.

yep sword fighting essentially. Been around for centuries.

[shahrukh619]

Its ridiculous that they recognise some stupid games at the olympics, like handball and badmenton, but no sign of cricket

[Space Cat]

Handball is quite exciting and badminton is popular. Most people in those countries probably would think the same thing if cricket was in the Olympics.

[OZGOD]

Thought tickets were all sold out to the marquee events...what happened?

The swimming


The women's tennis


The story

Where is everyone? Empty seats blamed on 'Olympic family' no-show Jacquelin Magnay Published: July 29, 2012 - 12:01PM Advertisement London 2012 organisers promised an investigation after thousands of empty seats were visible yesterday at some of the most popular Olympic venues. Rows of vacant spots were seen at swimming heats, volleyball, gymnastics and dressage events on the opening day of the Games, with "no shows" by Olympic officials, athletes and members of the media blamed. The London 2012 organising committee (Locog) said most of the empty seats were not those sold to members of the public, but had been reserved for members of the "Olympic family". Sports fans complained in light of the great difficulty members of the public had faced in obtaining tickets for events after they originally went on sale. Many of the estimated one million-plus spectators lining the route of the men's cycling road race said they had been unsuccessful in attempts to buy tickets for other events. One fan, Alex Batchelor, wrote: "Can anyone explain why there are lots of empty seats? Tried repeatedly to get tickets without success." Organisers said last night that the public areas at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park in Stratford, the dressage in Greenwich Park, tennis at Wimbledon and volleyball at Earls Court and Horse Guards Parade were all full. "The public areas at all of the venues are packed and rocking," a spokesman for Locog said. "It is accredited areas for sponsors, media, international federations and even the support staff for those that are competing that are looking a bit sparse." During morning swimming heats at the Aquatics Centre there were an estimated 500 empty seats in one "block" alone, while there were thought to be more than 1000 seats vacant at the gymnastics, despite would-be buyers being told sessions were sold out. The sports taking place at the ExCel centre in Docklands, including judo, boxing, fencing and table tennis, appeared to be full. Lord Coe, the chairman of Locog, had pledged to address the issue, which had plagued the Beijing Olympics, by having "flexible" accredited seating zones. This was meant to allow for smaller accredited areas for heats, taking place in the morning, which would then be expanded for evening sessions when the demand for finals tickets was highest. Organisers appear to have abandoned that plan, citing the logistical and security problems involved in repeatedly changing the layout of venues. "We have reduced the size of the accredited areas compared with previous Games but it is too difficult to make the size of that area flexible," a spokesman said. Organisers also believed some officials and sponsors slept in late yesterday to recover from Friday's opening ceremony, which finished well after midnight. They are investigating which bodies did not use the seats and issuing warnings that tickets would be redistributed if the problem persists. "We believe the empty seats are in accredited seating areas, and we are in the process of finding out who should have been in the seats and why they weren't there," the spokesman said. One fan, Diana Hill, contacted the BBC, which is Britain's Olympic broadcaster, to complain about the empty seats. She said: "To sit down and watch the first day and see the dressage event half full, huge chunks of seating empty in men's gymnastics and badminton (and I'm sure many more events), is incredibly frustrating. "Where are all these apparently 'sold out' tickets going to? Sponsors? It's a sad joke." There were thousands of empty seats at football matches but organisers were expecting this because large venues failed to sell out. Originally, about 6.6 million of the 8.8 million tickets were made available to members of the public. However, many of those who applied failed to get tickets for any events at all, while others were only successful with a fraction of their total orders. The balloting system ended with some of the most expensive tickets still available and about 500,000 football tickets removed from sale. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled that a certain number of seats must be reserved for members of the "Olympic family", whose numbers include athletes, team officials, members of federations and others. In most venues, at least a fifth of the seats are reserved for "family" members and sponsors, while this can rise to almost half the tickets for highly prized sessions such as athletics finals and the opening ceremony. Officials have discussed operating a "recycling" scheme, similar to a policy used at Wimbledon for the tennis championships, which would see unused tickets resold at a much cheaper price to spectators who were already at the Olympic Park. They have also said they will make it very clear to sponsors that they must only take tickets they are certain will be used. But yesterday it was unclear whether such a scheme would be introduced. Most venues last night reported a vibrant atmosphere as fans turned out in hundreds of thousands for the opening day of the Games. The Sunday Telegraph, London This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/olympics/off-t...729-2358y.html

[IgnitedMind]

Sania Nehwal Starts the Campaign with a Win..



Rower Swarn Singh goes to Quarter Finals...



Boxers Vijayender Singh and Bhagwan into pre Quarters..

[Markhor]

Originally Posted by OZGOD Thought tickets were all sold out to the marquee events...what happened?

Locog have called in the Army (again !), this time to fill up the seats.

Have to feel sorry for the Army, first they had to cover for G4S where there was a shortage of security personnel despite months of G4S, the private security firm affirming that everything was under control...

Now they have been drafted in to watch some dire Olympic sports.

[leatherface58]

the funniest thing was some curmudgeons getting their knickers in a twist on seeing a clip of two girls kissing during the oc. personally, i they liked it and didnt want to admit it.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by Markhor I'm crapping it over the 'Judo' and the 'Canoe Slalom' events personally. Seriously, haven't heard of half of these sports - Fencing ?

Are you really young or just really thick?

[SempreSami]

Also, caught the Men's Team final in the archery. Was watching from the top of the Mound Stand where workforce goes for breaks, and since we couldn't see the targets where we were and the TVs were a few seconds behind, we were going by the crowd's rection. Simply brilliant sporting theatre when Italy scored a 10 on the last arrow to win the gold medal.

[Markhor]

Originally Posted by SempreSami Are you really young or just really thick?

Its funny how you replied to Post 17 not Post 15, which was right above. Cold hard facts tough to swallow ?

I am concerned about the £9bn of taxpayers money going towards this - well it was actually supposed to be £3bn but who cares ? Lets just throw more money at this event even though as a nation we are completely broke.

The doctors and nurses losing their jobs, the lives that are being ruined by this recession, the worst since 1929 are supposed to watch some fun and games, sorry 'sport' and forget all about it ? Or the elderly who are having their winter fuel allowance cut ?

Did you know that any disability charity who has sponsored or helped any disabled person to reach the Paralympics, is not allowed to use the story of that person in any way that might be construed as fundraising. This includes using the words: Paralympics or Olympics, or 2012 - or even the words bronze silver or gold.

If people can look beyond the smoke and mirrors - people will be able to see what a farce this event really is, and who it really benefits - the large corporations.

But no - as long as SempreSami can put his Games Maker dress on and sod everyone else who aren't allowed to have an opinion.

[James]

A stunning men's 10m diving final in progress here. GB marginally ahead of China after two rounds out of six.

[speed]

This meng is a fine boxer light heavyweight 81kg.

[jusarrived]

Did anyone catch sumit sangwans boxing match against this Brazilian guy ? how on earth did they score 15-14 in favour of the brazilian ? Sumit completely dominated there and still lost ,pretty disappointing for the youngster .

[speed]

3 out of the 5 judges have to press the button at the same time for the punch to score.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by jusarrived Did anyone catch sumit sangwans boxing match against this Brazilian guy ? how on earth did they score 15-14 in favour of the brazilian ? Sumit completely dominated there and still lost ,pretty disappointing for the youngster .

I watched the 2nd and 3rd round and he was the better boxer, I was shocked the Brazilian was given the 2nd round 5-4

The commentators on the BBC called it a daylight robbery

[jusarrived]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed I watched the 2nd and 3rd round and he was the better boxer, I was shocked the Brazilian was given the 2nd round 5-4 The commentators on the BBC called it a daylight robbery

Clear Bias , has always been against Asian boxers ..A Thai boxer lost unfairly yesterday as well.

[Alexander]

GB have thrown it away in the Diving.

[speed]

Does anyone know where that Indian boxer is the 1 that won gold in the commonwealth games?

[jusarrived]

Originally Posted by speed Does anyone know where that Indian boxer is the 1 that won gold in the commonwealth games?

I think we won 3 or 4 .

Vijender won his first round , Vikas Krishnan & Suronjay are yet to start .

[speed]

Originally Posted by jusarrived I think we won 3 or 4 . Vijender won his first round , Vikas Krishnan & Suronjay are yet to start .

The 1 that looks like Nepali/Chinese.

[shaykh1985]

I have enjoyed the gymnastics and swimming...

Even the archery final was decent to watch...BBC coverage has been top notch...really wish I wasn't doing a course this month...

[Space Cat]

Don't even bother with Olympic boxing. Its a joke most of the time.

Roy Jones Jr being robbed of a gold medal to some random Korean dude that he owned is one of the worst moments in Olympic history

[speed]

Weightlifting has been excellent so far north Korea with 2 gold medals and 2 world records, no one expected that.

[murphyslaw79]

Originally Posted by Markhor Its funny how you replied to Post 17 not Post 15, which was right above. Cold hard facts tough to swallow ? I am concerned about the £9bn of taxpayers money going towards this - well it was actually supposed to be £3bn but who cares ? Lets just throw more money at this event even though as a nation we are completely broke. The doctors and nurses losing their jobs, the lives that are being ruined by this recession, the worst since 1929 are supposed to watch some fun and games, sorry 'sport' and forget all about it ? Or the elderly who are having their winter fuel allowance cut ? Did you know that any disability charity who has sponsored or helped any disabled person to reach the Paralympics, is not allowed to use the story of that person in any way that might be construed as fundraising. This includes using the words: Paralympics or Olympics, or 2012 - or even the words bronze silver or gold. If people can look beyond the smoke and mirrors - people will be able to see what a farce this event really is, and who it really benefits - the large corporations. But no - as long as SempreSami can put his Games Maker dress on and sod everyone else who aren't allowed to have an opinion.

When was the Olympic bid won? 2005. The economy was booming then.

In 2008 when things went bad, London couldn't exactly turn round and say "sorry world, can't do this now".

They had to put on the best show possible and boy they did at the opening ceremony, which btw was mainly volunteers, and all the artists such as dizzy, Paul M were paid £1 for their services. The professional dancers were paid the market rate.

I can understand your point, but London was committed.

[cricketworm]

Olympics in any city is +ve for that city and country no matter how many - ve pop up!

It will always have more +ve than -ve. Always.

[OZGOD]

Amazing swim from 16yo Ye Shizen in the 400m individual medley, blew away the field and set a WR and beat her PB by 5 seconds! Over the last 50m she was faster than the men's champion Ryan Lochte. Who says girls can't be as good as boys eh.

Ryan Lochte knocked Olympic icon Michael Phelps off his perch on Saturday with a brilliant performance to win the men's 400m individual medley. But just minutes later, in the women's version of the event, a 16-year-old Chinese prodigy performed an even more amazing feat as she smashed the world record and left her competitors far behind. Ye Shiwen posted such a good time that her final 50m was in fact faster than Lochte's performance in the men's event, at just 28.93 seconds. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz22AbpcvjB

[Kwremb]

Originally Posted by OZGOD Amazing swim from 16yo Ye Shizen in the 400m individual medley, blew away the field and set a WR and beat her PB by 5 seconds! Over the last 50m she was faster than the men's champion Ryan Lochte. Who says girls can't be as good as boys eh.

Pathetic that US media trying to discredit her by alleging she took drugs. The young girl deserves better

[Solid Snake]

It would be suicidal to have taken performance enhancing drugs when there is going to be extensive testing carried out in this olympics.

I'm willing to stick my neck out and say that I feel confident she swam a fair race, and credit to her for an amazing achievement!

[Alexander]

What about the 15 year old Lithuanian who won Gold?

[Solid Snake]

^ Also an excellent achievement, and no doubt due to talent and handwork and not anything else

[Alexander]

Yep her coach said after the race she went to get tested straight away, like all the main athletes do. Very pleased for her, the joy and shock on her face was great.

[Shayan]

Anyone know why squash is not an olympic sport?

[in_cutter]

It's a shame the young Chinese girl has raised suspicion among some. If she was a Brit or American, she would have been the best thing since sliced bread. Meanwhile, a 15yr old girl Lithuanian (British resident) wins a gold...and not a eyebrow is raised.

The way we celebrated yestreday over a couple of Bronze medals, you would have thought we had a gold rush- Just shows the pathetic standards we set- where are we on the medals table?

These athletes are TRAINED for gold. It's better to discipline them, keep them off the streets. We would definately win gold for binge drinking.

[Markhor]

Originally Posted by Shayan Anyone know why squash is not an olympic sport?

Apparently its not 'television friendly' - in a squash court I guess its difficult to get good camera angles and things like that.

I play squash every week and its a cracking sport, should definitely be a part of the Olympics.

[James]

Bit harsh against the Chinese girl, she is probably just a top athlete.

No need to worry about Team GB, their strongest events are rowing, athletics and velodrome where they are favourites for a glut of medals, and these finals are to come.

[jusarrived]

Originally Posted by speed The 1 that looks like Nepali/Chinese.

Did you mean Davendro singh ? Just knocked out his opponent in 1 n hlf mins .

[Space Cat]

It was an amazing achievement by the young Chinese swimmer but this whole beating Lochte over the last 50m has been blown out of proportion. She was still 23 seconds slower than his overall time.

[Space Cat]

That US swim coach had no right to question her time without any facts to the contrary.

[cricketworm]

WOW Phelps missed out on his signature event. 200 M Butterfly!

He messed up in touching.

Phelps ties with all time medal winner though. 18 medals.

[shaykh1985]

Originally Posted by Space Cat That US swim coach had no right to question her time without any facts to the contrary.

Sour grapes...and action should be taken against him for such slanderous comments...

[Jo_Don]

Yay gold number 2 for us! Chad Le Clos is one to watch, he's only 20 and the way he reeled Phelps in during the last 50m was simply awesome. Swimming is our best chance of a few medals though, don't have much confidence in most of the rest of the team.

[cricketworm]

Happy for Le Clos his name will be in history for beating Phelps, one the the greatest Olympian.

[cricketworm]

Phelps is telling Le Clos to show his medal for the camera! Humble Legend.

[cricketworm]

Originally Posted by Jo_Don Yay gold number 2 for us! Chad Le Clos is one to watch, he's only 20 and the way he reeled Phelps in during the last 50m was simply awesome. Swimming is our best chance of a few medals though, don't have much confidence in most of the rest of the team.

there is no rugby I think. If there is they might have chance there I guess.

[cricketworm]

Time for Women 200M IM.

China is fav. And Also, Americans. And Australia And Conventry.

[cricketworm]

Ye Shiwen! What a beast!

[Taurus]

I don't think we should under-estimate the prevalence of drug use in all athletic sports. I am not making allegations against anybody, but illegal drugs is a multi-billion dollar business. There are 100s of undetectable performance enhancing drugs. Steroids, peptides, and lately, more complex drugs like SARMs, have completely shifted the realms of what is possible. I don't think it's any coincidence personally that the world records, since the introduction to the market of performance-enhancing mega-drugs, have dropped at even quicker rates than before. There is a limit to what is achievable.

Now, with the world moving onwards and forwards, everything is changing. The future lies in gene doping - the deliberate manipulation of somebody's genetics for the sake of gold medals. The Olympics is massive to some of these countries. I'd be amazed to find out that some of these 'athletes' aren't on drugs. Given my experiences of these things in my life, I tend to be very sceptical indeed of what's natural, and what isn't. It doesn't personally bother me because I tend to think that if one of them's at it, then they all are. You still need an awful lot of talent to be the best, irrespective.

[Jo_Don]

Phelps gets the record of 19 medals. The guy is an amazing sportsman!

[cricketworm]

Originally Posted by Taurus I don't think we should under-estimate the prevalence of drug use in all athletic sports. I am not making allegations against anybody, but illegal drugs is a multi-billion dollar business. There are 100s of undetectable performance enhancing drugs. Steroids, peptides, and lately, more complex drugs like SARMs, have completely shifted the realms of what is possible. I don't think it's any coincidence personally that the world records, since the introduction to the market of performance-enhancing mega-drugs, have dropped at even quicker rates than before. There is a limit to what is achievable. Now, with the world moving onwards and forwards, everything is changing. The future lies in gene doping - the deliberate manipulation of somebody's genetics for the sake of gold medals. The Olympics is massive to some of these countries. I'd be amazed to find out that some of these 'athletes' aren't on drugs. Given my experiences of these things in my life, I tend to be very sceptical indeed of what's natural, and what isn't. It doesn't personally bother me because I tend to think that if one of them's at it, then they all are. You still need an awful lot of talent to be the best, irrespective.

If there are drugs then there are tests to detect them. I think it's really impossible to get away with it.

The way many athletes train is so high-tech already that they mimic like they are on synthetic drugs.

[ahamedirshad123]

Over Excited Phelps' Mom finally realized that his son won silver and not the gold.

[Kwremb]

Originally Posted by ahamedirshad123 Over Excited Phelps' Mom finally realized that his son won silver and not the gold.

That's just an epic moment captured

Not to good to laugh though but guilty as charged

[James]

Brilliant performance from the GB girls at Eton! The first gold of many.

[chui_kadoo]

Originally Posted by James Brilliant performance from the GB girls at Eton! The first gold of many.

About damm time too. Hope its first of many. Andy Murray has got a great chance of Gold. Thats if he avoids facing Federer or Djokovic

[King_Rizzy]

Brazil about to kick off against New Zealand. Expecting a one sided affair, Brazil should win comfortably.

[Space Cat]

Originally Posted by cricketworm there is no rugby I think. If there is they might have chance there I guess.

Rugby sevens will be in the next Olympics. Should be 2 golds for NZ.

Will be a great chance for the likes of Samoa and Fiji to get medals also.

[King_Rizzy]

Neymar scores, but offside.

[Space Cat]

Weightlifting is such a great event to watch. So much drama and excitement.

North Korea are shocking everyone so far.

[Space Cat]

Ouch. Elbow dislocation in the weightlifting.

Meanwhile the two Chinese competitors battle for the Gold medal and world record.

[shaykh1985]

Watching some of the boxing...

I have seen some absolutely shocking refereeing this evening...I feel angry watching this...

Firstly the Azeri boxer Abdulhamidov got a gift...he was literally allowed to fall done every few seconds during the third round where he was clocked early...he should have been warned and the number of times he fell he should have got a standing 8 or a DQ...none of this happened and he squeaked to a win...

The second is involving Mazaheri who has just been victim to one of the most pathetic DQ's I have ever seen...fighters prepare years for these games and dont deserve this...Mazaheri rightly stormed off in protest...what a shocker...see it if you can...was disgusting...