Tennis players don't give a monkeys? Funny, seeing as all the top players (bar Hewitt) turned up for it despite the disruption to their US Open build up. Henman gave up the defence of his Washington title.
Agree about Mal Davies. What a waste of time. Can only imagine what Iwan Thomas thought of it all. Funny old game the British Selectors. They beg athletes to turn up for Euro/World Cup etc & then promptly shaft the ones that do at a later date.
Daniel Caines however as been injured for a large portion of this year, so harsh to be critical. That kid has got heart - remember Sydney...?
Justin Chaston - 5th in his heat, ran strongly, but was never going to qualify. he should be pleased with his performance.
On the other hand, if our only representitive in the Steeplechase is a 35 year old returning to the sport after a four year layoff, it doesn't fill you with hope for the future. Likewise no representitive in the 10k, and only John Maycock in the 5k. Are we doing enough to develop the talent. The two Chris's (Thompson and Davies) aren't quite ready yet. Are they getting enough support?
He is a great guy and truly deserved to be there. He did it all off his own steam, and is very encouraging of other British talent who go out and train in the US. I know of two other steeplechasers who had funding to train in the US which is more than I got and have got. Support is an interesting one!
I think that she was obviously injured, and this was seriously affecting her performances. I guess she didn't want the embarrassment of getting gold at one Games, and bombing badly at the next. It clearly upset her, and I guess that her retirement announcement will shortly be aired.
A shame that Saif Saaeed Shaheen (aka Stephen Chrono) can not been seen in the 3000 s/c, due to some political reasons. He starts for QAT, but is still a fantastic athlete. Always a bit sad when the best athletes are not part of the Olympics. Same applies to Evans Rutto, he should be really there.
i wonder why GB are relatively good at cycling and rowing at present ?
better coaching and training systems than other sports, facilities or a combination of success breeding success and some luck in the timing of the athletes peaking?
athletics despite lottery funding to the top individuals still lacks good facilities, and swimming too -is that the difference ?
Maybe because cycling, rowing are smaller sports it is easier to target the funding. That said, apart from the men's coxless 4s the men didn't make any finals but the funding situation may be what's helping the women. Steve Redgrave was winning medals before the Lottery though, so an example of the "one off" exceptional athlete. Same probably goes for the cycling.
Comments
Shawn Crawford's been running the 100m.
Wow! Kelly Holmes was fantastic today.
She finished strongly, and if I'd been her, I'd have smacked the girl who shoved her - after the race obviously!
( In a dark alley beside stadium!)
Agree about Mal Davies. What a waste of time. Can only imagine what Iwan Thomas thought of it all. Funny old game the British Selectors. They beg athletes to turn up for Euro/World Cup etc & then promptly shaft the ones that do at a later date.
Daniel Caines however as been injured for a large portion of this year, so harsh to be critical. That kid has got heart - remember Sydney...?
Ok, I'll give Danny Caines the benefit, not Malachi Davis though!!
At least Zola Budd could run!!!
( Yeah, I know, he can run obviously, just that he was supposedly going to blaze a trail, and, ehm, didn't.!
On the other hand, if our only representitive in the Steeplechase is a 35 year old returning to the sport after a four year layoff, it doesn't fill you with hope for the future. Likewise no representitive in the 10k, and only John Maycock in the 5k.
Are we doing enough to develop the talent. The two Chris's (Thompson and Davies) aren't quite ready yet. Are they getting enough support?
and what did Zola Budd do for us exactly/
What do you think of Denise pulling out just because she didn't want to be beat. Sporting or not?
Do you really prepare for the olympic games and then decide half way through that your heart is not in it??
i wonder why GB are relatively good at cycling and rowing at present ?
better coaching and training systems than other sports, facilities or a combination of success breeding success and some luck in the timing of the athletes peaking?
athletics despite lottery funding to the top individuals still lacks good facilities, and swimming too -is that the difference ?
Cycling - In the last years they always had top riders, but just missed out on the medals. Now they got a bit closer.
Seems Dwain Chambers is off to play American football at a college, so that he can learn the game...
Chambers to play American football