Epic Failure

Yeah, my bigger 'concern' with China is whether they perform on the very highest stage. They've always put fast times down in domestic meets but not always collectively performed on the international stage (they've always had a couple of stars who've performed, but not necessarily the team as a whole).
 
If they can solve that problem on a consistent basis, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Oh I'm definitely happy that it happened and the precautions were absolutely necessary to enable it to do so. But it just felt 10% less 'special' than some of the others, if that makes sense?

Assuming it's the same structure as last year's worlds, then the top 2 sailors at the end of the opening series of 20 races will go directly through to the final.
 
Sailors ranked 3-10 progress to the semi-finals with the top ranked sailor in each semi-final starting with 2 wins, the 2nd ranked sailor starting with 1 win. The other 2 sailors start from 0. The first sailor to get to 3 wins advances to the final so it is unlikely that they would need all 8 races. 
 
In the final, the same structure applies - the sailor who topped the opening series starts the final with 2 wins, the sailor who finished 2nd has 1 win and the qualifiers from the semi-final start with 0. The first to 3 takes gold.  

As a remote fan, I was grateful it happened at all - it seemed all too likely at one stage it wouldn't, and I'm amazed how quickly the world has all but forgotten the mayhem of that 18 months more generally - I had major health incident just prior to the first lockdown so it was quite surreal to watch it happen in real time from my own convalescent bed.

The only disappointing thing about the Kenny jump was that there wasn't a proper crowd there to see it and roar him on.
 
Obviously due to circumstances beyond anyone's control but that's why at times Tokyo just didn't feel entirely like a 'true' Games for me. Nobody's fault obviously. And it's why I'm even more hyped for this summer to see full crowds again (fingers crossed!!)
 
That and the camerawork for that final. That wasn't great either.

Worth noting that the set up of the Kite is different from some of the other races. There's 20 preliminary races I think, then an 8 series for the SF and a final 6 race series for the final, I think. Not exactly sure of the numbers, but it is more than in the other events I know that.

Gotta love technicalities... Next you'll be telling me that our 1936 ice hockey gold doesn't really count because the team was basically Canadian.

Gotta love technicalities... Next you'll be telling me that our 1936 ice hockey gold doesn't really count because the team was basically Canadian.

Gotta love technicalities... Next you'll be telling me that our 1936 ice hockey gold doesn't really count because the team was basically Canadian.

That 'gold every games' record is impressive, but it's on the shoogliest of pegs re: 1904. The single gold, won by a man who refused British money and a British uniform, insisted he represented only Ireland, and tried to tear down the Union Flag! Still, adds to the gaiety of Olympic history.
 
my own fives change daily but:
 
Ireland:
 
Katie Taylor 2012
Michael Carruth+Wayne McCullough
O'Donavons' silver (I know the gold was four years later, and better, but that first rowing medal said we'd arrived)
Pat O'Callaghan's hammer, the first
Ronnie Delaney
 
A certain ginger swimmer who rattled when shook has been expunged from memory.
 
Great Britain (entirely personal)
 
Redgrave's 5th
Murray 2012
Super Saturday
Coe v Ovett
Men's 4 x 100 gold - a team of 'failures' who became champions
 
honourable mention for Whitlock 2 gold in 2 hours, Kelly Holmes, Men's Hockey, Women's Hockey and Brad Wiggins TT

Ah yes, Mark Stone will be miraculously healed just in time for game 1 of the playoffs! What a coincidence!
 
Surely it has nothing to do with salary cap circumvention.

So I just totted up what I think are the totals for the OQT for USA, AUS, GBR, Japan, Italy, China and France, using the FINA LCM rankings from 1st March 23 to today.
 
Those were the countries I thought might have a chance of being near the top of a list like this. There are other countries which are strong in part (Canadian & Dutch women) but less so collectively. I could be doing them a disservice not including them, but I was already looking at enough to fry my brain anyway
 
Russia would likely be somewhere in there, but with their uncertain status about things, I've not included in these figures.
 
USA - Men 83, Women 98 = 181 total
Aus - Men 34, Women 60 = 94 total
Japan - Men 38, Women 27 = 65 total
China - Men 25, Women 39 = 64 total
GBR - Men 34, Women 25 = 59 total
Italy - Men 33, Women 14 = 47 total
France - Men 25, Women 14 = 39 total
 
These are qualified swims, not swimmers. So Duncan Scott - for example - is in the GBR quota 3 times (100m fr, 200m fr, 200m IM). It would take me a lot longer to work that out, at least for countries that are not GBR. GBR is 37 total swimmers with an OQT - 23 men and 14 women.
 
 

So I just totted up what I think are the totals for the OQT for USA, AUS, GBR, Japan, Italy, China and France, using the FINA LCM rankings from 1st March 23 to today.
 
Those were the countries I thought might have a chance of being near the top of a list like this. There are other countries which are strong in part (Canadian & Dutch women) but less so collectively. I could be doing them a disservice not including them, but I was already looking at enough to fry my brain anyway
 
Russia would likely be somewhere in there, but with their uncertain status about things, I've not included in these figures.
 
USA - Men 83, Women 98 = 181 total
Aus - Men 34, Women 60 = 94 total
Japan - Men 38, Women 27 = 65 total
China - Men 25, Women 39 = 64 total
GBR - Men 34, Women 25 = 59 total
Italy - Men 33, Women 14 = 47 total
France - Men 25, Women 14 = 39 total
 
These are qualified swims, not swimmers. So Duncan Scott - for example - is in the GBR quota 3 times (100m fr, 200m fr, 200m IM). It would take me a lot longer to work that out, at least for countries that are not GBR. GBR is 37 total swimmers with an OQT - 23 men and 14 women.
 
 

So I just totted up what I think are the totals for the OQT for USA, AUS, GBR, Japan, Italy, China and France, using the FINA LCM rankings from 1st March 23 to today.
 
Those were the countries I thought might have a chance of being near the top of a list like this. There are other countries which are strong in part (Canadian & Dutch women) but less so collectively. I could be doing them a disservice not including them, but I was already looking at enough to fry my brain anyway
 
Russia would likely be somewhere in there, but with their uncertain status about things, I've not included in these figures.
 
USA - Men 83, Women 98 = 181 total
Aus - Men 34, Women 60 = 94 total
Japan - Men 38, Women 27 = 65 total
China - Men 25, Women 39 = 64 total
GBR - Men 34, Women 25 = 59 total
Italy - Men 33, Women 14 = 47 total
France - Men 25, Women 14 = 39 total
 
These are qualified swims, not swimmers. So Duncan Scott - for example - is in the GBR quota 3 times (100m fr, 200m fr, 200m IM). It would take me a lot longer to work that out, at least for countries that are not GBR. GBR is 37 total swimmers with an OQT - 23 men and 14 women.
 
 

So I just totted up what I think are the totals for the OQT for USA, AUS, GBR, Japan, Italy, China and France, using the FINA LCM rankings from 1st March 23 to today.
 
Those were the countries I thought might have a chance of being near the top of a list like this. There are other countries which are strong in part (Canadian & Dutch women) but less so collectively. I could be doing them a disservice not including them, but I was already looking at enough to fry my brain anyway
 
Russia would likely be somewhere in there, but with their uncertain status about things, I've not included in these figures.
 
USA - Men 83, Women 98 = 181 total
Aus - Men 34, Women 60 = 94 total
Japan - Men 38, Women 27 = 65 total
China - Men 25, Women 39 = 64 total
GBR - Men 34, Women 25 = 59 total
Italy - Men 33, Women 14 = 47 total
France - Men 25, Women 14 = 39 total
 
These are qualified swims, not swimmers. So Duncan Scott - for example - is in the GBR quota 3 times (100m fr, 200m fr, 200m IM). It would take me a lot longer to work that out, at least for countries that are not GBR. GBR is 37 total swimmers with an OQT - 23 men and 14 women.
 
 

So I just totted up what I think are the totals for the OQT for USA, AUS, GBR, Japan, Italy, China and France, using the FINA LCM rankings from 1st March 23 to today.
 
Those were the countries I thought might have a chance of being near the top of a list like this. There are other countries which are strong in part (Canadian & Dutch women) but less so collectively. I could be doing them a disservice not including them, but I was already looking at enough to fry my brain anyway
 
Russia would likely be somewhere in there, but with their uncertain status about things, I've not included in these figures.
 
USA - Men 83, Women 98 = 181 total
Aus - Men 34, Women 60 = 94 total
Japan - Men 38, Women 27 = 65 total
China - Men 25, Women 39 = 64 total
GBR - Men 34, Women 25 = 59 total
Italy - Men 33, Women 14 = 47 total
France - Men 25, Women 14 = 39 total
 
These are qualified swims, not swimmers. So Duncan Scott - for example - is in the GBR quota 3 times (100m fr, 200m fr, 200m IM). It would take me a lot longer to work that out, at least for countries that are not GBR. GBR is 37 total swimmers with an OQT - 23 men and 14 women.
 
 

Do you have any actual evidence to back that up, or are you just guessing?
 
Because unless Freya chooses not to go or her illness gets worse again, I would be stunned if GB don't take her. Even if just as relay cover.
 
We saw in London that Freya at 90% (her description) is still good enough to be in the 4x100m free team. With the 4x200m and mixed medley as well, it would be crazy to not take her.
 
It would be utterly self defeating to not select her.

I don't think anyone doubted that Amber would have a strong year after her indoor improvements. I fully expect her to go under 50 at some point this year.
 
But keeping spring NCAA form into the summer is not guaranteed. We only have to look at Britton Wilson last year. Even Adeleke - who held her form better than Wilson did - was over half a second slower in Budapest than she was at the NCAA champs.
 
It's great overall to see Amber's progression. It just might not work out this specific summer. Obviously, I hope I'm wrong.

If you look at the press release of the team announcement, Darren Campbell specifically says that Dina and Daryll will 'join the team in the summer'. So, in theory, they are playing this as an agreed absence. We'll see later in the year if that is the case, I guess...
 
On the 4x4 women's side probably missing Jessie Knight from our strongest, as well as Yemi Mary John - although Yemi is in the same position as Amber with college commitments so you imagine that explains her absence as well.

We don't know for certain when they will announce it but the selection policy says that the athletes will be notified by Thursday at the latest.

Overall I have really enjoyed this meet, and I have enjoyed the integration of the para and able bodied swimmers. 
 
The para swimmers have put on a great show with some truly world class times. 
As a summary, I thought I'd go through the para swimming prospects for Paris, and give the times which would have won medals at last years worlds.
 
Men's 100m Freestyle S12 - Silver
Men's 200m Freestyle S14 - Gold
Men's 400m Freestyle S6 - Bronze
Men's 100m Backstroke S12 - Gold
Men's 100m Backstroke S14 - Bronze
Men's 100m Butterfly S12 - Gold
Men's 100m Butterfly S14 - Silver
Men's 200m IM S6 - Bronze
Men's 200m IM S14 - Bronze
 
Women's 50m Freestyle S8 - Silver
Women's 100m Freestyle S5 - Gold
Women's 200m Freestyle S5 - Gold
Women's 200m Freestyle S14 - Gold, Silver + Bronze
Women's 400m Freestyle S8 - Gold
Women's 400m Freestyle S10 - Bronze
Women's 50m Backstroke S3 - Gold
Women's 50m Backstroke S5 - Silver
Women's 100m Backstroke S8 - Gold
Women's 100m Backstroke S14 - Gold, Silver + Bronze
Women's 100m Butterfly S8 - Bronze
Women's 100m Butterfly S10 - Gold + Bronze
Women's 100m Butterfly S14 - Gold + Silver
Women's 100m Breaststroke S5 - Silver
Women's 100m Breaststroke S6 - Gold
Women's 100m Breaststroke S7 - Gold
Women's 100m Breaststroke S8 - Gold
Women's 100m Breaststroke S13 - Silver
Women's 100m Breaststroke S14 - Bronze
Women's 200m IM S6 - Gold
Women's 200m IM S8 - Gold
Women's 200m IM S14 - Gold + Bronze
 
Mixed 4x100m Freestyle S14 - Gold
 
Overall, that results in 19 Golds, 9 Silvers and 11 Bronzes. For comparison, we got 8 Golds, 9 Silvers and 9 Bronzes in Tokyo

With the outdoor season having kicked off and the "current form" window for UK Athletics now open, I thought I'd share this for those who are interested.
 
This is the athlete long-list that I think our ultimate Olympic squad will come from.
 
Needless to say, I don't think all or even the majority of them will be selected and some of them may not even compete this year due to injury, but these are the athletes whose performances I am going to try and track over the next few weeks/months heading into trials (although I am always happy to accommodate a few breakout performances).
 
Athletics 24.xlsx

So I drew up a draft team earlier today, and from what I saw tonight nothing changed.
 
Some of this is known, some of it is my guesswork what will happen in Paris event wise:
 
Men
 
50 free - Proud and Cohoon
100 free - Richards and Dean
200 free - Richards and Scott
400 free - Bird
1500m free - Jervis
 
100 back - Morgan and Marshall
200 back - Morgan and Greenbank
 
100 breast - Peaty and Wilby
 
100 fly - Litchfield
 
200IM - Scott and Dean
400IM - Litchfield
 
Relay extras - Guy, McMillan
 
Women
 
50 free - Hopkin
100 free - Hopkin and Anderson
200 free - Wood and Anderson
 
100 back - Dawson and Harris
200 back - Osrin and Shanahan
 
100 breast - Evans and Hanlon
 
100 fly - MacInnes
200 fly - MacInnes and Stephens
 
200IM - Wood and Colbert
400IM - Colbert and Shanahan
 
Relay extras - Okaro, Hope
 
I think they will run all 7 relays.
 
Toby Robinson could get in the 800 or 1500 but I've not counted him because he'll be there anyway and I doubt he'll risk the pool events given that the open water is after them in the program.
 
I've made some guesses based on workload and people who I think have FINA OQTs, obviously.
 
Now to see how wrong I am when the selectors make their announcement this week.

Jacob would do well to beat Bird tonight, as Jacob didn't make the A final! I suppose it is possible that he does a quicker time in the B final.

Jacob would do well to beat Bird tonight, as Jacob didn't make the A final! I suppose it is possible that he does a quicker time in the B final.