dodge

Not an injury but the world leader in the hammer event in Athletics, Brooke Andersen, had 3 no-throws in qualifying at the US Olympics trials and she's out.

Interesting weekend for thoughts of Daniel Wiffen's medal hopes. He must have been disappointed with 2 3rd places in Italy. His 14:53 time for 1,500m was 7 secs of Florian Wellbrock. Obviously we don't know where he is on his Paris training schedule but work to do. Bobby Finke won the US trials in 14:40 so confirms his status as gold medal favourite. Sam Short felt "ill" at the Australian trials and didn't swim the 1,500m. He qualified at 800m and neither of the top 2 got the Australian standard so if he's fit, he'll be in the 1,500m for Paris. No sign of Hafnoui, but he hasn't officially pulled out yet

It’s a different sport to be fair. And Canada lost their opening game to Austria Of course, flag football should 100% not be in the Olympics so don’t see this as a defence for that decision!

One way to solve the v debate…

Ridiculous post. 9th in the 2022/23 World Series, well beaten by Ireland at the European Games, 8th at the 2023/24 world series. England were 10th in 21/22 You have absolutely no basis for believing this was ever going to be a doddle and the results are consistent for 3 years now.

Ahaha. That literally changed from when I looked about 90 minutes ago! Good news for (until the inevitable appeal!)

World Athletics has T&T ahead.

The Piccolo statement from EF is so weird 1) we wanted to fire him but couldn’t 2) we picked him for the Giro after this 3) he’s fired

Lots in action today with a huge meeting in Geneva set up for those to get the last times, but it’s raining heavily so I don’t think any/many will get a time There was even relays but Dutch men and Belgian women don’t improve (Belgian women in 16th currently)

I’m not actually sure on Fannon. He might have had to move to Dublin

Their policy for Tokyo was ridiculous. Ellen Walshe swam the OQT at the trials and they initially refused to call her up because she wasn’t part of the national squad Ryan being part of the “NAC” might help him here as none of them have got the standard. Walshe and Hill still with club teams. Fannon and Wiffen in UK. Mona in Tennessee. It’s fine to try and out structure on worlds and having a trials event but who are we to refuse an Olympic place for a standard earned during a European championship?!

They’ve said they’ll accept invitations (unlike Tokyo when they said they wouldn’t, then had to for the relay to get in) I think they will, and they should. People would ask questions if they’d sen Tom Fannon but not Ryan when Ryan has gone faster

Nations Cup results mean little tbh. World Champs is the better indicator (and a track record of peaking for the big events)

Brilliant entertainment. Supporters of both sides can be very proud of their efforts!

Was watching there! Great news. Big runs in the 1,500m for Doyle and McCann too

A free and legal way to watch the US Olympic trials (and all free to air US networks) puffer.stanford.edu/player/ You need to register but no email needed. Crystal clear streams from the Stanford (Bay Area) region of NBC, CBS etc

FWIW I think Rhasidat does the women's final (if Ireland make it). The semi are the morning of the final but she'll hopefully be too busy for that. Once the individial final is over, she'll have no reason not to run the relay (even if medal chances are slim enough there) Anyway, I wouldn't really care what the Irish public thinks. It's better they're into it and hoping for the best than not caring about it. And Everyone is aware of how tough Olympic medals are to get. Even in Sports that we generally do well in.

have moved ahead of on the mixed 4x400m relay rankings. Result from yesterday in Nairobi. Current holders of the last two places for each relay and first below the line Mixed 4x400 | Men’s 4x100 | Women’s 4x100 | Men’s 4x400 | Women’s 4x400 |

It’s been a completely disjointed season for a lot of crews, including most of ours It’s good that they won and the Olympic crews of Germany, NZ and France were behind then but they were behind them last year too. womens pair were second ahead of the Danish Olympic boat that won the recent qualifier. A decent bit off the Australian pair that won silver last year (Ireland 4th)

The LW double in rowing were nailed on in Tokyo. The first and only time I’ve been confident of an Irish gold medal This year as you say we have more medal chances than ever before but even the LW double can’t be seen as favourites for gold now Athletics Chances for Rhasidat, Mageean and the relays. One medal would be huge Swimming Chances for Wiffen in 800 and 1500 free. Again, one would be great and he could even snatch gold if he continues to develop Gymnastics Rhys is a medal favourite but pommel is so technical that one error could see him leave without a medal again. GB, Kazakhstan, Japan and more think they have gold contenders Rowing LW double should medal. Gold is achievable. Other crews aren’t showing as well this year but we’ve won medals at the last few world champs so they’re contenders in Paris in at least 4 other events Boxing Luck plays a huge part but our women will be disappointed if they don’t bring back 2 medals between them. Harrington could win gold but I don’t think she will Cycling Road race is a lottery but Ben Healy could win a medal. Lara Gillespie is a top 6 cyclist in the omnium and that can produce stories medalists Equestrian Our show jumpers are all world class and could all medal. The team could win gold or could be eliminated on day one. The eventing team is always likely to finish top 5 and a surprise medalist could happen with no discard scores this year Rugby The men have a decent chance. They’re always top 5. Bounce of a ball can sometimes decide games. Women would need everything to go right 6 is our record (one added after the event) and I’m hopeful we’ll match that.

The Tour de France is a 3 week long race with multiple 21 individual stages. Vingegaard has won that because he is exceptionally good in the very high mountain stages that have traditionally decided who wins the TDF overall. He’s very good, sometimes exceptional, in the time trials too The TDF is a test of endurance, climbing and team strength The Olympic road race, like many one day races, is a test of power more than anything. Mathieu van der Poel has won one single stage in the TDF but he’s won the World Championship, 6 monument classics and dozens more of the bigger one day races.

Dates for Paris 2nd even mixed relay semi 3rd even mixed relay final 5th morn indiv heats 6th morn indiv repechage (hopefully not involved) 7th even indiv semi 9th morn women’s relay semi 9th even indiv final 10th even women’s relay final I think we’ll give the mixed relay full guns, but then hope to get to the women’s relay final without Rhasidat. Unlikely Sharlene will make the final so she will at least have a day off on the 8th!

On relays, they can’t be done domestically. Need to have at least two countries being represented. I’ve no doubt such a race can be arranged of course, I’m just pointing out that requirement

Whole new ball game for that and showjumping with no discard scores I think. We definitely have a medal chance in the showjumping (but one mistake could end it for any team)

Reviewed it myself. The worst GB relay performance I’ve seen The GB women on the other hand could win by a second!