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Nickyc707

Totallympics Addicted
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  1. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from Makedonas in Tennis ITF US Open 2021   
    Usually I would agree but this was clearly legitimate and they are always tougher for the server whether the injured party or not. 
  2. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from Ted in Tennis ITF US Open 2021   
    Not going to be Pliskova.
  3. Like
    Nickyc707 reacted to Siddhartha Talukdar in Cricket Discussion Thread   
    Indian audience seems to be targeted by the IOC. The Olympic website was providing India specific news and updates and also had a language option of Hindi. Even in social media like Youtube and Twitter, a lot of India specific and Hindi language content was produced.
    Coming to cricket, I think ICC also believes 2032 is more realistic but want to make the groundwork by then. Australia as a host makes more sense with iconic stadiums like MCG, SCG, Adelaide Oval and Gabba
  4. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from rafalgorka in Post Games Analysis | How do you analyse your country's performance at Tokyo 2020?   
    Can't disagree with most of what you've said. Initially GB had a target of 54-92 medals which was subsequently reduced to 45-70 due to the difficulties and uncertainties caused by the pandemic. Personally I was expecting a tally in the low 50s while secretly hoping for something in the high 50s so 65 exceeded my expectations and comfortably met UK Sport's target. Indeed but for the Covid forced withdrawal of Amber Hill and injuries to one or two key athletes like KJT they might easily have surpassed Rio which would have been a remarkable achievement and worthy of a 10/10 score.
     
    Sports like boxing (+3), equestrian (+2), modern pentathlon (+2), sailing (+2) which have always been reliable contributors to GB medal hauls stood tall, while swimming (+2) has proven a growing area of strength. Cycling, diving, taekwondo and triathlon also continued with their solid contributions which was particularly satisfying in the case of the former as there were concerns about a drop off in success on two wheels. Growth in MTB and both BMX racing and freestyle helped to prevent that.
     
    The three sports that saw significant falls were rowing (-3), canoeing (-2) and gymnastics (-4). Rowing had internal problems and there were suggestions that their high altitude training had gone wrong. It was also a hugely inexperienced squad with 80% newcomers. Margins are small and if they had turned some of their six fourth places into medals they would not be facing the level of criticism they have received. Most of GB's success in canoeing has come from slalom and in Tokyo I don't believe they had their strongest men's team. The selection process used saw the elimination of then reigning Olympic champion Joe Clarke and multiple medallist David Florence both of whom would I believe have strengthened the team.
     
    Gymnastics is an increasingly competitive sport as we see the spread of medals among different countries increase every cycle. The question facing some countries is do we concentrate on winning team or individual apparatus medals. The strongest can do both while the less strong probably aren't going to challenge for team medals anyway and should target individual apparatus. I think GB managed to fall between the two choices leaving question marks about their selections. I may be wrong but I believe they are returning to five member teams in 2024 so that should help solve some of the selection quandries.
     
    GB performed at about par in athletics with six medals although we missed out on gold for the first time since Atlanta. On the downside were the injuries to KJT, DAS and Gemili. One of my biggest frustrations in sport are the apparently never ending injuries and niggles to British track & field athletes. On the upside is the revival of British middle distance running with medals in both men's and women's 1500m and women's 800m. The saddest story of this cycle from a British perspective has been the decline of the men's 400m flat and hurdles, two events in which the country has a rich history and which also applies by extension to the 4x400m relay. More support in this area and in field events should be a priority for UK Athletics.
     
    Anyway overall it's been a great games with some outstanding performances from athletes not only of GB but of many nations who have had to overcome incredibly difficult preparations. Well done Japan and well done to all the officials and helpers for delivering something to remember and lift the spirits after the traumas of the past two years.
     
  5. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from JamDH in Post Games Analysis | How do you analyse your country's performance at Tokyo 2020?   
    Can't disagree with most of what you've said. Initially GB had a target of 54-92 medals which was subsequently reduced to 45-70 due to the difficulties and uncertainties caused by the pandemic. Personally I was expecting a tally in the low 50s while secretly hoping for something in the high 50s so 65 exceeded my expectations and comfortably met UK Sport's target. Indeed but for the Covid forced withdrawal of Amber Hill and injuries to one or two key athletes like KJT they might easily have surpassed Rio which would have been a remarkable achievement and worthy of a 10/10 score.
     
    Sports like boxing (+3), equestrian (+2), modern pentathlon (+2), sailing (+2) which have always been reliable contributors to GB medal hauls stood tall, while swimming (+2) has proven a growing area of strength. Cycling, diving, taekwondo and triathlon also continued with their solid contributions which was particularly satisfying in the case of the former as there were concerns about a drop off in success on two wheels. Growth in MTB and both BMX racing and freestyle helped to prevent that.
     
    The three sports that saw significant falls were rowing (-3), canoeing (-2) and gymnastics (-4). Rowing had internal problems and there were suggestions that their high altitude training had gone wrong. It was also a hugely inexperienced squad with 80% newcomers. Margins are small and if they had turned some of their six fourth places into medals they would not be facing the level of criticism they have received. Most of GB's success in canoeing has come from slalom and in Tokyo I don't believe they had their strongest men's team. The selection process used saw the elimination of then reigning Olympic champion Joe Clarke and multiple medallist David Florence both of whom would I believe have strengthened the team.
     
    Gymnastics is an increasingly competitive sport as we see the spread of medals among different countries increase every cycle. The question facing some countries is do we concentrate on winning team or individual apparatus medals. The strongest can do both while the less strong probably aren't going to challenge for team medals anyway and should target individual apparatus. I think GB managed to fall between the two choices leaving question marks about their selections. I may be wrong but I believe they are returning to five member teams in 2024 so that should help solve some of the selection quandries.
     
    GB performed at about par in athletics with six medals although we missed out on gold for the first time since Atlanta. On the downside were the injuries to KJT, DAS and Gemili. One of my biggest frustrations in sport are the apparently never ending injuries and niggles to British track & field athletes. On the upside is the revival of British middle distance running with medals in both men's and women's 1500m and women's 800m. The saddest story of this cycle from a British perspective has been the decline of the men's 400m flat and hurdles, two events in which the country has a rich history and which also applies by extension to the 4x400m relay. More support in this area and in field events should be a priority for UK Athletics.
     
    Anyway overall it's been a great games with some outstanding performances from athletes not only of GB but of many nations who have had to overcome incredibly difficult preparations. Well done Japan and well done to all the officials and helpers for delivering something to remember and lift the spirits after the traumas of the past two years.
     
  6. Thanks
    Nickyc707 reacted to De_Gambassi in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Medal Count   
    Definitely both. Triathlon is another fine exemple of that.
     
    A sort of UK Sport has been set up a couple years ago (Agence Nationale du Sport) mainly to tackle the high performance sector of french sport. Former - very successful - handball NT coach Claude Onesta is leading it. I like his talk and I believe he has the right ideas in mind, yet he is facing an old system (a quasi socialist one tbf) that it's very difficult to move.
     
    People care, but the public discussion is mainly about funding or very long-term issues (like the already mentioned sport at school). Our system has become inefficient and doesn't know how to peak at the right time (the olympics). On that last point, we still could make a big difference by 2024. Hopefully, the right questions will be asked by the right people.
  7. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from dcro in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Medal Count   
    I don't think China have ever had a clean sweep in diving. They always fail to win 1-2 of the events.
  8. Wow!
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from konig in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Medal Count   
    I'm not so sure. This OG was in China's own backyard and they were always going to raise their game for Tokyo. I'm not convinced that they'll be quite so driven in 2024.
  9. Haha
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from pdr4332 in Modern Pentathlon at the Summer Olympic Games 2020   
    I think he resigned before he was fired.
  10. Wow!
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from Quasit in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Medal Count   
    The women's middleweight boxing final between China and GB is likely to be decisive in determining either the 1st or 4th place finishers and possibly both.
     
    Apart from Lauren Price, GB have competitors in three other events: cycling's women's omnium (Laura Kenny) and men's kierin (Jack Carlin & Jason Kenny) and the men's marathon (Callum Hawkins, Chris Thompson & Ben Connors).
  11. Like
    Nickyc707 reacted to thiago_simoes in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Medal Count   
    Yay, Lithuania!
  12. Like
    Nickyc707 reacted to dodge in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Medal Count   
    There’s been one British doomsayer who’s gone very quiet the last couple of days despite talking non stop all week about how this would be a disaster for GB
  13. Like
    Nickyc707 reacted to Quaker2001 in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Broadcasters   
    Need to see the numbers from an Olympics not tainted by a pandemic.  Only so much we can figure from the numbers here
  14. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from hckošice in Modern Pentathlon at the Summer Olympic Games 2020   
    Yep, he was born in Prague and has been head coach since 1998.
  15. Thanks
    Nickyc707 reacted to phelps in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Medal Count   
    their premier league has 15 teams (and a complicated format, ending with a single match final, a sort of local superbowl)...
     
    in the small republic there are 5 small pitches (with capacity between 500 and 700 spectators each) and the National Stadium (which normally hosts the championship's final match and all the international events and has about 5,000 seats)...
     
    their teams have never won a match (and obviously they haven't made the 2nd preliminary round as well) in the champions league early stages...but they keep trying...and that's what I like the most and why I try to follow those matches...
  16. Haha
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from thiago_simoes in Summer Olympic Games 2020 Medal Count   
    So Oceania would consist of Australasia and the Pacific Islands. No need to bother with continental qualification any more you could just insist on quotas for every event. By the way I like the way the Aussies have incorporated New Zealand into the team's name.
  17. Haha
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from vinipereira in Skateboarding at the Summer Olympic Games 2020   
    Too young to know any better? ?
  18. Like
    Nickyc707 reacted to Laraja in Skateboarding at the Summer Olympic Games 2020   
    And she saved my bet in Wumo's contest
     
  19. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from Cinnamon Bun in Great Britain National Thread   
    And yet so far GB has qualified more athletes for track & field finals in events that have completed qualification than they did in 2016. And DNA isn't out of form she has issues with her hamstring.
     
    You're very good at making claims of disaster before events actually take place.
  20. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from Cinnamon Bun in Great Britain National Thread   
    The prophet of doom and gloom wouldn't be happy if he or she couldn't find something negative to say. The swimming squad is setting all sorts of records in Tokyo but instead he/she chooses to highlight a potentially negative one.
  21. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from JamDH in Great Britain National Thread   
    Sailing latest
     
    Men
    RS:X                5th       9/12 races
    Laser              8th       6/10
    Finn                4th       4/10
    470                 4th       2/10
    49er                1st       4/12
     
    Women
    RS:X                1st        9/12
    Laser Radial    12th     6/10
    470                  3rd       3/10
    49erFX            1st        6/12
     
    Mixed
    Nacra              4th       3/12
     
    I haven't included the medal race in the race totals.
     
    Early stages in some classes but seven out of ten  "boats" are currently occupying top four places and another is in 5th. All have a chance of making the medal races.
     
    PS Another sport where we could improve on Rio's medal total.
  22. Love
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from Orangehair43 in Great Britain National Thread   
    Where are all the doom sayers today? Three gold medals so far and Lauren Williams is going for another in the final of her taekwondo category this afternoon.
     
    Just to note that Emma Wilson is also challenging strongly for gold in the windsurfing which is one of the sailing classes which has started. After six of the 12 races she's tied on pts at the top of the fleet with the French sailor
  23. Thanks
    Nickyc707 reacted to Vic Liu in Diving at the Summer Olympic Games 2020   
    Really depressed but Britain is well deserved the Gold. Congrats to  
  24. Like
    Nickyc707 reacted to heywoodu in Mountain Bike Cycling at the Summer Olympic Games 2020   
    And you think the Dutch, French and Swiss teams didn't?  
  25. Like
    Nickyc707 got a reaction from JamDH in Great Britain National Thread   
    There is a lot of nonsense being spoken about how GB is doing so far. How many likely medals have we actually missed? Jade Jones has been mentioned but she was up against an opponent who she has had problems against in the past and who won a bronze medal in Rio when competing for Iran. Basically she hasn't able to compete in international competition for three years while her refugee status is being sorted out or she would almost certainly have been seeded here. Jones's defeat was a disappointment but can't be considered a shattering shock given the quality of her opponent.
     
    Peter McGrail has also been mentioned. Again he was unlucky to draw another tough opponent. It was his loss in the resumed qualifying tournament that cost him as he would almost certainly have been one of the four seeded boxers otherwise. He was an example of an athlete who was hurt by the delayed Olympics. Others like judo's Chelsie Giles benefited from it.
     
    In terms of sports it was obvious that rowing was going to be weaker following retirements after 2016. 33 out of 41 rowing squad members are making their olympic debuts. I still believe 2-3 medals are possible starting with the men's four. The eight haven't suddenly become bad rowers overnight and will I think turn it round. The women's lightweight double sculls and maybe the pair and men's quad may also still challenge for medals.
     
    In taekwondo we only had five competitors to begin with and despite Jones's loss we could still match the three medals we won last time with Walkden still to come and both Williams and Cho capable of medalling on their day.
     
    In swimming some are suggesting that we are not doing as well as we did at the Europeans which is not surprising given that this is a global event. We have plenty of medal chances to come from Peaty, Scott (×2), Dean, Proud, Renshaw, Dawson and maybe Wood, Guy, Wilby and Greenbank. Add the men's 4x200 free, 4x100 medley and mixed medley and we still have strong reasons to believe that we can surpass the six medals we won in Rio.
     
    Overall we are going to do worse than we did in London and Rio but the period after hosting a games is always difficult as top athletes retire or in some cases go on too long. Rowing, gymnastics and cycling are all going to do less well, partly for this reason but also because other countries have seen what we have done and upped their games. Added to which many of the coaches who contributed to that success have now gone on to work for other countries. There will be some compensation from swimming and maybe boxing but all in all I'm expecting a medal haul of around 50 which I think will be surpassed only by the USA, China, Russia and Japan with their vastly greater resources.
     
    Instead of hand wringing after just two days of competition  wait until we see how the Games pan out as a whole before casting judgement. There have already been plenty of shocks as some of us were predicting after the disruptions of the past two years and there will be more to come.
     
     
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