GB Athletics

[Dragon 2,026]

1 minute ago, Orangehair43 said:

It’s quite weak but they right on they clear dislike of current UKA selection policy. 

I would agree with you.

If they qualify they deserve to go.

[Orangehair43 285]

30 minutes ago, Dragon said:

I 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 July 5, 2024 by Orangehair43

[Orangehair43 285]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/team-gb-name-strong-athletics-33175671
More press coverage. 

[RussB 189]

Very 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.

[mpjmcevoy 375]

39 minutes ago, RussB said:

Very 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.

Sadly, having seen Buckner in action with British Swimming, I knew what was coming.

 

I suspect the dead hand of UK Sport is involved here too. Because UKA is broke, I think UK Sport really get to call all the shots, in a very micro managerial way.

[Orangehair43 285]

2 hours ago, RussB said:

Very 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. 

[Orangehair43 285]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/crgmj2lylv1o
 

[Orangehair43 285]

https://athleticsweekly.com/blog/why-the-british-athletics-selection-bar-is-set-so-high-1039989238/

[RussB 189]

Unfortunately 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.

Edited July 6, 2024 by RussB

[Orangehair43 285]

41 minutes ago, RussB said:

Unfortunately 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.