NearPup

A kendama enthusiast? Neat. Also if you’re gonna live in North Dakota you better love driving.

He doesn’t want to switch if he can avoid it.

He was born an American citizen, that’s not quite the same. A better analogy is a large part of the US long distance running teams, which has a lot if athletes who used their running ability as a means to immigrate to the US. Or Bobsleigh for Canada (fun fact: 2 of Canada’s 3 male pilots at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Olympics are Australians, one of whom actually competed for Australia in 2010). That one is kind of funny - since Calgary was arguably the best training environment in the world when it still had an operational track, a lot of athletes from warm climates moved there to train, and a few of them ended up becoming Canadian citizens and switching to representing Canada internationally since that provides better opportunities in terms of funding and available teammates.

They bought the boxer from but they couldn't buy the judges (still bitter Sotomayor lost the final in Rio 2016 totally unfairly, I never thought I'd get so upset to see an Azeri import lose at the Olympics - that was the Olympics where suddenly became the best boxing country in the world for reasons obviously unrelated to corruption)

As part of the new norm Curling is moving to a "mixed sheet" format.

Close to 50:50 on that one. Going to be optimistic and go with Canada, but I expect it will be a close battle either way.

Team Canada Men's event: Blake Enzie Women's event: Jane Channell, Mirela Rahneva

Team Canada Men Pilots: Justin Kripps Christopher Spring Taylor Austin Push athletes: Ben Coakwell Ryan Sommer Cam Stones Mike Evelyn Sam Giguere Cody Sorensen Jay Dearborn Chris Patrician Daniel Sunderland Women Pilots: Christine de Bruin Cynthia Appiah Melissa Lotholz Push athletes: Kristen Bujnowski Dawn Richardson Wilson Sara Villani Nominated coaches are Todd Hays, Jamie McCartney, Elfje Willemsen and Lyndon Rush.

This is approaching Vancouver levels of snow.

I don't think they know what they are talking about. In half-pipe and slopestyle/big air the quotas they rejected show as, well, rejected. They specifically accepted a re-allocation quota in PGS while other countries rejected them. Either they are incompetent or different factions of the organization are at war with each other...

Are you even allowed to accept a quota and them not use it?

Ya, that doesn't make any sense. If they were sending two athletes they should have accepted only two quotas. Someone must have made a mistake somewhere.

It's one thing to prioritize the World Cup when you're in contention for an overall title. It's another thing when you're not. Also Ivica Kostelić would really want everyone to think that the World Cup is what matters most given his results :P

Canada used to take this approach during the dark days, but has since relayed (still requires the FINA A cut in most cases, but nothing as drastic as Australia) and results have actually improved since loosening qualification standards. So YMMV.

I can predict with great certainty that Megan Farrell, Katrina Gerencser, Jennifer Hawkrigg and Kaylie Buck will be named to the Olympic team using one simple trick: Canada has now accepted four women's PGS quotas and Canada only has four eligible athletes for the event.

FWIW the decrease in Biathlon and Speed Skating, along with the increase in Freestyle Skiing, are entirely due to changes in the qualification system rather than due to a change in performance.

Canada isn't in line for the men's PGS quota, has first dibs. Canada also rejected the women's half-pipe reallocation.

There is a philosophy that if you only take athletes who are "contenders" it will motivate athletes to work harder. For example that's what swimming Australia subscribes to (they have very harsh selection criteria). I personally think that's sort of BS, but eh.

accepted the re-allocation quota in men's aerials :O

IIRC she had even posted on social media that the quota would be rejected. TBH I am super happy they actually accepted the quota.

I may of may not have done all the flags as an excuse to use the flag. (I would actually use the provincial flags more if they existed for more than NB and QC)

have all accepted a women's realocation quota and have accepted a men's realocation quota. and have refused realocation.

Team Canada Men Pascal Dion Steven Dubois Charles Hamelin Maxime Laoun Jordan Pierre-Gilles Women Danaé Blais Kim Boutin Florence Brunelle Alyson Charles Courtney Sarault

I have no problem with 11 as a max team size in Alpine skiing. The issues with the qualification system right now is how countries with 1-3 athletes are handled.

Just realized that it's probably good for Canada that is sending their four man team, given Ivo de Bruin is the husband of driver Christine de Bruin. Only way to get family to come along xD