dodge

A first ever European Championship gold medal for with Lara Gillespie winning the elimination race

If some of the top athletes raced the world indoors a few months after they peaked for the Olympics, I’m certain you’d see records tumble too. It’s more like seeing 3/4 records fall there too with the make up of events too. There were a lot of “soft” world records held by swimmers who wouldn’t be in the discussion for “best ever” We’re all experienced enough sports watchers to be guarded against any “super” achievements, but I do think there are lots of extenuating circumstances here. Not least of which is the true dopers wouldn’t bother with the world short course champs

Ah, I see. World short course generally have lesser fields anyway, and post Olympics it was always going to be this way

I see Marchand is actually on the entry lists.

Every* Olympic medal swimmer from is missing this *Yes, it’s only 2 (Daniel Wiffen & Mona McSharry) but we’ve never had more than one before so I needed to use the word “every”

It’s fine for time trials but having them in same road race last year (and this year) is awful. No idea who they’re racing against

Since winning silver in the 2016 Olympics 2016 world champion (single) 2017 world champion (single) 2018 world champion (double) 2019 world champion (double) 2021 Olympic champion (double) 2022 world champion (double) 2023 world champion (double) 2024 Olympic champion (double) 2024 world champion (single) Paul O’Donovan making his case for the greatest lightweight rower of all time

Really weird that this is announced now when it seems to have been sorted before Paris

Men Women Total Gold Silver Bronze Gold Silver Bronze Gold Silver Bronze Asian Games 2022 3 0 1 4 2 3 7 2 4 European games 2023 1 2 2 1 2 0 2 4 2 2024 World Qualifier 1 2 1 4 0 1 4 2 2 8 2024 World Qualifier 2 1 3 3 0 0 3 1 3 6 African Qualifier 2023 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Pan Am Games 2023 0 1 3 0 1 1 0 2 4 Pacific Games 2023 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 Just a quick comparison of where the medalists qualified from as I was interested myself

It’s interesting that you believe the problem is with the countries that people wish to move to, and not with the countries that some are desperate to leave None of this is relevant to an English born Australian returning to represent his native country of course

OK this is getting weird but do you honestly believe those figures? Do you actually believe that the Winter Olympics is popular in countries that don’t have snow at winter? (At the same time as the IOC claims they need to include the likes of breakdancing to make the summer games more appealing) If you do, then fair enough

As we say here: “never not at it…”

Most people don’t care anyway. The Winter Olympics isn’t even shown in 3/4 of the world

This is my point about gatekeeping. The vast, vast, vast majority of the world doesn’t have ice or snow for winter. So while you think it’s a “fundamental principle”, it was only applicable to the 16 countries at the first games and their neighbours. So instead of opening up new sports to get them included in the games, you and others want to keep them out. That’s fine. That’s your choice. I’d prefer if others were included. And again, I don’t feel strongly on it (as in I’m not going to fall out with anybody over it) but I’d include cross country running and cyclo cross.

and of course that’s where it first appeared at the Olympics

It’s not about Ireland. We’re as likely to win at cross country running as we are skeleton But you can’t say “it never ceases to amaze me how much it bothers people” when the thought of cross country running in the Olympics has clearly made you angry. Ha FWIW, it doesn’t bother me if it’s included or not. I find the gatekeeping around it hysterical though

Agreed. Winter sports can include sports played at winter like cross country and cyclocross

The last world curling championship was held in April. The last mixed championship was held in October But they’re “winter” sports

Hi, idiot here, cross country running and cyclo cross should ABSOLUTELY be in the winter games but the same 20 odd countries are afraid of opening up their games to outsiders They have their rule about games being needed to be played on snow and ice but IMO that’s a far more ridiculous idea than allowing cross country running in.

Normally I’d agree, but we need to flush out flag football first

In Ireland our federation wanted to join, but a general vote last year left them 5 votes short of the 75% needed so they’re in a kind of no man’s land The executive board want to leave the IBA, but not enough of their general delegates agree

For some women of that age, they were already competing in the Olympics so missed it. Keeley Hodgkinson is an obvious one. There were also several large nations who didn’t send their best young athletes to that edition in Nairobi (for various reasons) I tend to agree that young women seem to be able to compete at a younger age than young men.

My favourite ever Irish medal. After Tokyo, to come back and give the performance of his life! Just incredible

Floods of tears in our house. I’m so so happy for Rhys

No distance runners are going to be at their best in a heat I’m not sure what you’re expecting but none of the 1,500m lads were expected to get out of the heats. Doyle and McCann didn’t even get the qualifying time Jodie McCann literally had the slowest PB in her heat The only one who can be disappointed with their day today can be Waddilove and Dickson and Cian O’Connor. Everyone else was at/above expectations