It seems like today's been rather a bad day for the GB Olympic team - Merrien out, Radcliffe hurt, Sayers hurt, confusion over Idowu.
Does anyone think this is turning into a bit of a mind game between the athletes and the public, to lower the expectations of the public and take the heavy "home medal hopes" tag off the athletes? I don't want to be too cynical but it does seem like people are making sure they have an excuse beforehand, just in case they don't come up with good results! Usain Bolt's maybe been trying the same thing...
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Merrien out?! I hope you mean Webb, losing two marathon runners in two days would really would be a bad sign
Ah. Yes, definitely meant WEBB. My mistake!
"Happiness, happiness, the greatest gift that I possess......."
..but I know where you're coming from SR
I don't think you can lump these instances together into a lowering-expectations conspiracy. Idowu has certainly been, er, low-profile in his build-up, so this might be a conscious part of preparation given genuine concerns about injury/form, although if that's the best way he can deal with it then so be it.
As for the men's marathon - different ball game altogether. As SR says, they won't have any expectations on their shoulders at all (not medal-wise, anyway).. oh and I've just looked it up. Webb's pulled out due to a stress fracture. Poor bugger. Seems like a pretty bloody good excuse to me, unless you think he's lying??
Exactly what I was thinking
Idowu didn't turn up to training camp and was asked why?
He said he was injured and was asked for the medical papers, what's wrong with that ??
Perhaps he was trying to keep his injury a secret and then blame it on a poor performance - Chance gone now though.
I wasn't accusing these people in particular of faking injury, more a question of whether pre-event favourites make rather a big deal of relatively minor injuries to let them explain away what the public see as a "poor performance" a bit easier, if that happens. Doesn't sound like a bad idea, to be fair.
For sure Webb's a different case, he's definitely out and was never a favourite. Just seemed like the four news stories were all posted at the same time.
NLR - Name one GB endurance athlete other than those three and Radcliffe?
To be honest Radcliffe has never been a favourite for this games - agree her days are numbered - she may ultimately have been better off running a couple of higher profile big city marathons and then bow out disgracefully leaving a record that is second to none.
Pethead you confusing coincidence with conspiracy and both with causality.
These guys are injured alright. Such was their ambition it was always likely. They imagine how much training is required to do well and then double it. In Paula's case she always trains with the idea that she has to be in world record shape to stand a chance and look at who won the last womens Olympic marathon. And the time that won. When it comes to the Olympics, its not the fittest that wins but the least knackered.
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Dreamtwister, he can go on and on and on.
Do you mean Mara Yamauchi?
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