NearPup

Apparently the Tokyo BMX track is the longest in Olympic history, which is excellent.

In chronological order: 1. Lori-Ann Muenzer winning the women's sprint in Athens 2004. Nobody gave her a real chance, Cycling Canada wasn't interested in supporting her at all, yet she became the only Canadian to ever win Olympic gold in cycling. Her semi-finals win against Anna Meares was just incredibly gritty. 2. Eric Lamaze winning individual show jumping gold in Beijing 2008. The entire show jumping competition was a dream for Canada in 2008, with long time Olympian and Canadian show jumping legend Ian Miller picking up his first medal. But it's Lamaze's gold medal that was the most amazing. The drama of the jump-off for gold (following a very long and very entertaining bronze medal jump-off) was incredibly compelling. But most impressive is the amazing redemption story for Lamaze, who's life was derailed by cocaine addiction. Cocaine also robbed him of his chance to compete in the 1996 Olympics. Unfortunately there has been tragedy since, with his beloved horse Hickstead dying in the ring a few years later, and recently Lamaze has sadly been battling brain cancer, and we all wish him the best. But that one night in Beijing was a perfect fairy-tale ending. 3. Penny Oleksiak winning gold in the 100m freestyle in Rio 2016. I almost don't feel like I have to explain that one. First gold medal for Canada in swimming or track and field (the two biggest Olympic sports) that I could remember, won by a young athlete that came out of nowhere in a huge come from behind victory. The tie with Manuel, who also made history in a bunch of ways, was pretty cool, too. Bonus: Tiësto's awesome trance set at the 2004 Olympics.

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Great picture, but really not digging the "look of the games". IMO it's the worst one (among summer games) since Atlanta.

In term of quotas one single hockey team is about a quarter of all the athletes competing in Triathlon :P

There is really not much the IOC can do about it anyway. It isn’t an IOC rule that people born in NI are eligible for both British and Irish citizenships.

I'm already traumatized by this thread and the games haven't even started.

I guess the allure of being the first man to achieve a golden slam was too strong to resist.

There were some issues with Rio, but ya the Beijing and (especially) London Tennis tournaments were huge successes.

The two biggest things the IOC could do to help make sure Olympic tennis has all the best players: Ranking point equivalent to an ATP-1000 event Have the Olympics not take place in the middle of a pandemic in a country that has unusually strict restrictions

Well if there is any silver lining there, Auger-Aliassime (who based on interviews is very much going to Tokyo) said he would probably not play mixed doubles because three events would be too much. I maintain that Dabrowski / Auger-Aliassime in mixed is Canada's best medal chance in Tennis by a wide margin, so Pospisil withdrawing might end up being a good thing.

The Q time in the 200 fly was pretty ridiculous. They need to have a minimum number of qualifier per event.

With the caveat that these are the safest, not safe - this is Canada we are talking about - here are my picks: Jenifer Abel and Mélisa Citrini-Baulieu, Diving women's 3m synchronized springboard Laurence Vincent-Lapointe and Katie Vincent, Canoeing women's C-2 500m Jessica Klimkait, Judo women's -57kg Abel and Citrini-Baulieu have been really consistent. They won't win gold but I think they are not going to have any issue picking up a minor medal. There are a lot of questions around how Vincent-Lapointe's form will be. However, LVL and Vincent were so dominant before LVL's suspension that I don't think anyone except the pair have a realistic chance of beating them. I'm picking Klimkait mostly because we know she is in form (given she just won the world championship) and she's going to be seeded in such a way that she'll very likely at least have a chance to fight for bronze. Because why not, there is only one athlete so it's an easy pick: Geneviève Lalonde, Athletics women's 3000m Steeplechase

They are the favourite but I really wouldn't consider them to be safe. Japan is absolutely capable of beating them, especially in a one game winner take all situation. Honestly even Canada or Australia have a slim but not insignificant chance of beating the US.

Artistic Swimming - Women’s Duet Artistic Swimming - Women’s Team Basketball - Women’s Team Artistic Gymnastics - Women’s Team Table Tennis - Men’s Team Because of COVID I avoided picking any individuals.

I’ll always be partial to Rio’s lime green. So far I’d uncharitably describe Tokyo’s look of the games as “discount PyeongChang”.

Here is what the venue looks like: https://twitter.com/lilimichelena/status/1415423999115366400?s=21

Lol based on what you wrote one would expect an unelected government was doing something unreasonable.

Agreed, I am extremely pessimistic about her chances, but I hope I am wrong.

Canada *really* stretched the rule by selecting Laurence Vincent-Lapointe for their women’s K1-500m quota and entering her as a double starter in her two actual events (women’s C1 and C2). I suspect she will make no effort to make it out of the quarterfinals in the K1-500, assuming she even starts (the C1 event is on the same day). I actually do like this rule change, though. If the IOC is forcing you to treat every athlete quota like a precious resource you might as well get the most use out of each one.

This is all going very well so far.

Her hometown is listed as Kamloops, but I’d be more than happy to claim her for NB. She happens to originally be from my hometown. Also, random fun fact: the entire 2013 Canada Games women’s 2000m Steeplechase podium are now Olympians.

I will be the official cheerleader for team New Brunswick Why is New Brunswick the most exciting provincial delegation? Well, three reasons: It’s my home province :D It’s one of only two provinces to have a country flag on Totallympics, and doesn’t have a boat or a lion on their flag 100% of New Brunswick’s athletes are competing in the 3000m Steeplechase, which is the best event in the Olympics. Geneviève Lalonde is following in the footsteps of fellow New Brunswick Steeplechase legend Joël Bourgeois

I’m guessing she isn’t making it out of the heats… xD

We made it bitches! Team of one for !