ExpandThe validity of entry lists was shown by the U18 team earlier today, when we substituted someone in even later than the official start list (presuming they had a last minute injury)!
That being said, that would be the team you would put out if you were thinking "we don't really care about this". Which would be weird for a federation that seems to be prioritising results over everything these days.
And is worried about funding cuts.
ExpandWe have debated the relays quite a bit on these forums, and as we approach the games I think the problem is regarding the mixed relay that Amber and Charlie both have a realistic prospect of individual finals AND a medal in the sole sex relays. At this point I’d be really disappointed if we don’t medal in both the men’s and women’s 4x4 relays, plus an individual medal for Matt.
is it really fair for them to jeopardise that Olympic outcome by adding another 1 or 2 races (for one of them due to the 1 sub rule) for the mixed? GB will have to make a call on it, but i feel the team is leaning into preserving everyone for indiv finals shots and the sole sex relays towards the end of the meet. I shouted loudly on here we should go all in for gold on the mixed relay, but I do appreciate the significant impact this could have On the rest of the programme
Should they even have taken a spot in the mixed relay if they don’t really want to run in it.
The funding being medal based means if they follow that idea they will focus on the mixed vs individual runs.
The Mood music of the whole games matters. By that day it will be either GB doing well or GB underperforming across the board
Edited by Orangehair43ExpandBased on what exactly? The only consistent performer is Kennedy. Behind her you have Moser (whose form closely aligns with Molly), Katie Moon who this year is most definitely out of form and then a bevy of McCartney / Murta etc who have hardly been setting the world alight. Now she was 5/4 favourite when markets opened i saw this week, which I agree should be lengthened and Kennedy I'd probably have as slight favourite, but to predict her not medalling in Paris is an over reaction.
Just a sort of feeling that she while she could win gold or medal she could also crash out at a low hight.
Hodgkinson and Hudson - Smith both now going into Paris as favourite for gold in their events. Both look at their very best.
Caudrey through looks to be losing form at the worse time sadly. I’m hopefully but not particularly optimistic about her medlalimg.
To be fair we don’t know if any of our swimmers will get disciplinary action for the inevitable anti Chinese doping protests they will do like they did in 2019 at the worlds.
I wonder if they will think about changing the selection rules again so they don’t have to take anyone they don’t want to. Lichfield was a mandatory pick under the rules used.
No British Women in any freestyle event above 100m.
ExpandIn which case, UKA like British Swimming, will simply invent their own 'top 8' qualification marks.
Can’t quite do it like Swimming and base it on times and distances at trials as would have to take into account the weather which could have a big impact on if someone can get that time or distance that day.
And there has been speculation that World Atheltics might do away with qualifying times entirely.
Expand'Trust' and 'fair' ain't got nothing to do with it. It is the most fundamental of errors to confuse the verb "should" with the verb "will". Management don't need athletes trust, and have little to no interest in it - so long as Athletes won't act in co-ordinated boycott - and they never will - the powers that be can do what they like; all they need is UK Sports money, and that is the only opinions they will value.
They also need Sponsors through considering the financial mess they in and any bad publicity affects that.
I bet they cursed the day the whole current invite system and publicised rankings came in. It makes it a lot harsher to have to decline someone’s invite - particularly if they have also told that person they won’t let them switch to another nation without a three year wait as apparently they have done.
Edited by Orangehair43ExpandYou did in the past - very much so. And they were ignored time and time again, and finally they stopped talking about it because they knew it wasn't going to chaNGE.
It’s hard to see Athletes ever trusting the management because the issues go beyond the selection issues - they are other issues that are causing tensions as well.
I feel like World Athletics will come under pressure as well - is it fair for them to run an invite system and promote that when so many governing bodies don’t agree with if.
Edited by Orangehair43ExpandTo be fair to Learmouth, he wanted the opportunity to run in front of a home crowd - there's not that many opportunities for major sporting events to be held in Scotland after all. Sure he may not have exactly set the track alight but there was every chance that he could have/would have put in a decent performance.
I agree with you on your second point - nothing is going to change whilst the recognisable names of the sport speak out. That should have started earlier this year with the talking heads on the BBC - but given Denise Lewis' view of Learmouth was "he just wasn't good enough to be selected" and Ennis-Hill doesn't want to say anything that could be viewed as controversial, that's not likely to happen. I'll be interested to see if it is brought up again in Paris and whether Michael Johnson has a more forthright opinion on it (but I kind of doubt it). So, as you say, until you get the likes of DAS, Hodgkinson, Reekie, Muir, Kerr, KJT, Wightman etc. going public and criticising the sport, nothing will change and that should be worrying for everyone in the sport given we are due to host the Europeans in '26 and there is a real risk that if we carry on with the selection policy, GB will be missing from the majority of field events and have limited representation on the track.
It shows mainly there is a lack of trust and respect towards the those who make the decisions. We didn’t see this reaction from those left out from the swimming team.
Expand
Phil Norman has started a petition to hopefully try and influence things before the BOA deadline tomorrow. He's also urged people to send in complaints to the UKA to try and sway their decision.
It shows the level of non trust at the moment.
ExpandUnfortunately UK Sport’s argument expressed in the above article is fundamentally flawed.
they equate not being in the top 8 to being “eliminated from your pool or heat” which would not inspire the next generation.
Finals for field events will have at least 12; many track events will have heats, then semi finals etc. So it’s fair to say if we had representation in more field events, the visibility of British athletes making it through the first stage of qualifying and pushing to be in the top 16 or top 12, this would be beneficial.
there is a trade off for sure, but the bar has been set too high. Some of the best moments at major competitions is when an athlete sets a massive PB to claim a shock place in a final or a medal. UK policy drastically reduces the chances of witnessing that for a GB athlete.
I suspect it is only going to get stricter as well. I can see for 2025 the time or distance needed to make the top 8 in either Budapest or Paris being mandatory for being selected.
ExpandVery frustrated with the application of the policy. No common sense, no flexibility, just keeping a squad to absolute minimalist sizes for the sake of…
How do GB athletics expect to find the next generation in field events or track events with no participation at the Olympics? Feel so bad for Phil Norman particularly. I was dead wrong, I naively assumed the policy would be assessed with consideration of all factors.
It will be putting people off - it’s clear that unlike British Swimming there is very little respect between Athletes and the team management. I suspect that ineven extends to those who are going to to Paris in many cases.
ExpandI would agree with you.
If they qualify they deserve to go.
Athletes are talking about boycotting next years champs on social media at the moment.
In swimming everyone seems to respect it and no one left out complained openly as far as I can remember but clearly athletics has not earned the respect and trust to do so.
Edited by Orangehair43ExpandYou can argue about some of the other cases because the chances of them reaching a final were very small but Purchase and Norris would have gained good experience through appearing at the Olympics.
Incidentally the situation with Navratilova and Amelia had more to do with transsexual activists making comments supporting Amelia's non-selection over her support on things Martina has said on the the subjects. The activists were gloating when Amelia wasn't picked.
Someone at the Telegraph clearly doesn’t like the policy to misinterpret her support in that manner
Norris is eligible for Switzerland. I wonder if he asked to switch would GB agree to an allow an immediate switch.
Edited by Orangehair43
You do not have permission to view this content.
-
Who's Online 5 Members, 0 Anonymous, 87 Guests (See full list)
-
Latest Posts around Totallympics
-
Boxing World Cup!! I'm so excited that we finally have a proper boxing tour. Hoping to see more nations coming up soon, but so far so good! -
-
.jpg.e5b0840ef563cae48b46dc0f10a604a7.thumb.jpg.92e5e8dbc7e0d559b26d53b50a12f0b2.jpg)
I really dont have any problem to conect to the site, it is not an "Argentinian" problem at all. -
It has been circulating in Brazilian press a new regulation from World Skate that would limit the age of athletes starting LA28. Basically only athletes that were born after January 1st, 2014, will be able to compete in this Olympic cycle. On 2029 onwards only athletes with 14 yo (born on Jan 1 onwards on that year) will be able to compete on World Skate events. Apparently the document would be released on April 9, but has been leaked (I have not seen the document). Some parts were published on Demetrio Vecchioli's blog, he's a journalist that has been for years and years advocating this minimum age for skateboarding, as you find in gymnastics, etc.
-
Men’s Curling Worlds knockout stages and medal matches (qualification round/semifinals/and the bronze and gold medal match), NHL (Canucks), NBA (Warriors), Vakifbank Volleyball, maybe the Grand Slam Track League Kingston, Mount Saint Anne SBX WC, Speedo Canada Open, Elite16 Saquarema -
By Biathlonfan · Posted
Abudduaini tuergong BREAKS a 29 year old national record in the discus with 65.35 in chengdu at a throws invitational on april 2nd. he's 7th on the world list right now,already had a pb of 64.36 this year at his seasons opener at the same spot. -
By Grassmarket · Posted
If you're looking for live action this weekend, the Norwegian Nationals are on FTA. Sport - NRK TV -
By Grassmarket · Posted
There's a YT live stream here, not sure if it will work or be geoblocked. Fairly reputable site, the previous meets listed there have all been legit.
-
Posted
World athletics moving more and more towards a ranking system for the world champs next year. Very tough standards. We know how much the selectors hate world rankings so it won’t help out athletes .
Link to post
Share on other sites