Team Ireland Daily Diary at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

[Cosmo Kramer 24]

One of the best performances we've ever had from an Irish team in an Olympic final, followed an hour later by one of the worst. Based on their three goes at the medal race across the last two days the only thing I can say, from my admittedly limited sailing knowledge, is that I have absolutely no idea how those two got into a medal position to begin with. Desperately poor again there.

[OlympicIRL 5,803]

The fact they then got passed by Uruguay and Poland and were way behind everyone at the end, baffling really. Ireland at the Olympics is just the most frustrating thing. We have/had 4 outside medal chances today with sailing and the women’s lightweight double and men’s pair and team jumping later and looking like we will come with nothing in those. The rowers were outside chances but the sailing medal was more than an outside chance given we started ahead of others. So really you would expect one of those 4 to garner a medal. That’s Ireland in the Olympics in a nutshell. Takes about 6 medal chances to get a medal.

Anyway, rant over now, don’t like being so critical but hope you understand my emotions and just need to get it out of my system.

Edited August 2, 2024 by OlympicIRL

[Ogreman 379]

Look at the replay of the start lads. For me the Brits and the Americans are also over the line early. No idea how they don't restart a race where four boats are called back and for me it looks like at least 2 more are also over the line early.

 

They slipped back because they took risks on the second and third leg which they didn't actually need to take. If they had just followed the Poles on the third leg, they would have medalled but they tacked early and try to go up the right hand side and it didnt work. Don't discredit their performance based on the medal race. They have been great all week and deserved a medal.

[Oldira 88]

3 minutes ago, OlympicIRL said:

The fact they then got passed by Uruguay and Poland and were way behind everyone at the end, baffling really. Ireland at the Olympics is just the most frustrating thing. We have/had 4 outside medal chances today with sailing and the women’s lightweight double and men’s pair and team jumping later and looking like we will come with nothing in those. The rowers were outside chances but the sailing medal was more than an outside chance given we started ahead of others. So really you would expect one of those 4 to garner a medal. That’s Ireland in the Olympics in a nutshell. Takes about 6 medal chances to get a medal.

Anyway, rant over now, don’t like being so critical but hope you understand my emotions and just need to get it out of my system.

Even finishing 7th would have got them a medal. I am so frustrated at that. Show jumpers will now knock everything in sight and Rhys’s will fall again. From Monday on medal chances are few and far between. We need both Wiffen and Rhys to both medal to break a new medal record.

[Cosmo Kramer 24]

They didn't really deserve it though. They messed the start and then started taking risks they didn't need to take, when a clean, sensible middle of the field race would have been fine. We'll get nowhere as a country making excuses for poor performance on the big day.

 

On that note, I watched an interview with Jon Rudd, where he was talking about the high performance goals in Irish swimming. Before the games I thought it was an unnecessary burden to require our swimmers to swim their qualifying times at big events, when other sports and other swim teams would accept the times at any event. But he changed my mind on it by pointing out that it got competitors into the mindset of performing on the big day. Shane Ryan didn't get the 50 free time on the big day so wasn't allowed to compete in the event at the games. Fannon did and therefore was, and he swam two PBs in the Olympics. That's the difference.

 

This is the exception in Irish sport though, there's been far too much "happy to be there" stuff again this week. We should be happy to win, or if that's impossible at least be happy that we performed to our best when it mattered. We often don't though, and that's why I was amazed at all the journos buying into the 9,10,11 medals stuff ahead of the games. That was never on, my prediction was six, right now I'd say we might get to seven, but we are absolutely leaving medals behind us again unnecessarily this year.

[duineeile 5]

That sailing is very frustrating. As I predicted the DSQ from thr Spanish objection on day 2 has ultimately cost them a medal, even if it was still in their own hands today. All they really had to do was follow the Americans and be within 3 places of them. They have a history of being over the start line previously which cost them a lot in the past and they seemed to have cut that out from their racing this regatta, until today.

 

I think after he retires from rowing they'd do well to bring Paul O'Donovan as chef d'equipe for our Olympic teams as his mentality seems second to none.

 

Hopefully the showjumpers can do something today but I'm more hopeful than expectant. Could go any way for McClenaghan and then Moorehouse got absolutely robbed last night. So only other medal I'm actually expecting now is Wiffen in 1500 free. Like I said before, we don't often get the surprise medals, which invariably go to the bigger nations, even McSharry getting a medal I was shocked and delighted with.

[Cosmo Kramer 24]

Bad start for the showjumpers anyway. Flashbacks to Liam Jegou there.

Edited August 2, 2024 by Cosmo Kramer

[duineeile 5]

7 minutes ago, Cosmo Kramer said:

Bad start for the showjumpers anyway. Flashbacks to Liam Jegou there.

Still in the mix but frustrating to knock the last fence. Is it 2 rounds each or just one?

[Cosmo Kramer 24]

One round for each rider. We are sixth after everyone's first round. Eight teams realistically with a chance out of the 10.

[OlympicIRL 5,803]

24 minutes ago, Cosmo Kramer said:

They didn't really deserve it though. They messed the start and then started taking risks they didn't need to take, when a clean, sensible middle of the field race would have been fine. We'll get nowhere as a country making excuses for poor performance on the big day.

 

On that note, I watched an interview with Jon Rudd, where he was talking about the high performance goals in Irish swimming. Before the games I thought it was an unnecessary burden to require our swimmers to swim their qualifying times at big events, when other sports and other swim teams would accept the times at any event. But he changed my mind on it by pointing out that it got competitors into the mindset of performing on the big day. Shane Ryan didn't get the 50 free time on the big day so wasn't allowed to compete in the event at the games. Fannon did and therefore was, and he swam two PBs in the Olympics. That's the difference.

 

This is the exception in Irish sport though, there's been far too much "happy to be there" stuff again this week. We should be happy to win, or if that's impossible at least be happy that we performed to our best when it mattered. We often don't though, and that's why I was amazed at all the journos buying into the 9,10,11 medals stuff ahead of the games. That was never on, my prediction was six, right now I'd say we might get to seven, but we are absolutely leaving medals behind us again unnecessarily this year.

Totally agree with your point about us not settling for mediocrity and being happy to be there. I think this is still holding us back a lot and there is too much fear to call a spade a spade and a bad performance a bad performance. You need to be ruthless to deliver medals and I think we still have a culture of settling for less when we have no reason not to dream about winning more. Put an Irish and a New Zealander on the line with similar rank and abilities and you’d nearly bet your bottom dollar that the NZ athlete will be the one who has the confidence they will come out on top. It’s a generalisation of course but it’s still a very evident trait amongst our sports stars. We are getting better and winning way more medals because we are making huge progress in terms of funding, access to facilities and having multiple more medal chances than before. But still we have to still work on our mindset and culture when it comes to where we are. Little old Ireland punching above its weight is a false perception not really serving Irish sport. 
However we are definitely getting there. The more McClenaghans, Wiffen and O’Donovans we produce who rightly exude confidence and not afraid to show it, you’d imagine we will see more and more coming through with that mindset.