dodge

Can't post but just search Olympic channel on youtube

1) Men's road race in cycling (love cycling and an Irish medalist here is my dream) Rowing (because Ireland can win multiple medals) and Handball (because I only watch the sport every 4 years) 2) None really. Always want under dogs to win. 3) Katie Taylor - the only non-tainted gold medalist for Ireland in my lifetime Paul O'Donovan - soon to change that... and a non Irish one Felix Savon - pure class as a heavyweight boxer with 3 gold in 92, 96, 2000. Would have won in 1988 too if Cuba didn't boycott

Yeah, I saw that. He was by some distance the best "pro" in the field (at any weight)

Looking through the revised draw sheets there are about 6/7 athletes who fought and won in 2020 and who haven't returned for 2021 Perhaps most interestingly the experienced professional Mateusz Masternak from hasn't returned so second seed Radoslav Pantaleev from receives his second bye (first was due to seeding) and may qualify for Olympics with only one win. He too is an experienced professional but won bronze at the 2019 AIBA World Championships

This could be *VERY* complicated for Ireland (with the whole Northern Irish thing that’s too political to get into here) but aside from athletes with Irish parentage (or grandparents!) born in the US, GB or Australia there aren’t too many. Ben Fletcher in judo represented in Rio and has switched so he’s noteworthy of those Irish family connections Rowers Sanita Puspure from (she previously represented them at junior level) and Monika Dukarska from (she has only represented Ireland) have been resident for many years (and moved for economic, not sporting reasons) Again, avoiding those from Northern Ireland, marathon runner Sinead Diver was born and raised in Ireland and moved to quite late in her career. Dublin born Sailor Saskia Tidey represented Ireland in Rio and switched to for this Olympic cycle Oh I forgot the Gadirova twins that represent were born in to parents

Just so we're crystal clear. Any nation could replace any fighter if that fighter did not fight in the 2020 tournament. Once they did, they could not be replaced.

Like the optimistic fool I am I voted for ‘others’ in show jumping and Ireland in eventing Our show jumping team could win gold, or could finish last. They are ridiculously inconsistent

Thanks for the quick reply!

A question for more experienced followers of shooting. It appears that in the Trap event, there's one quota available at the European championships running now. Is that quota only available to the winner, or will it go to the highest placed shooter/nation that doesn't already have a quota? Irish shooter Aoife Gormally is top 10 after 3 rounds and I think all those ahead of her are already qualified

Exactly. Although I’m not sure if that case exists anywhere. Most of the countries who can qualify 3 athletes in an event will probably have one in on time!

Both marathons are over subscribed through the times so there won't be any places through the rankings

Yes 38 have the standard and 60 is the limit so likely 22 from the rankings Oh and this is why I caution anyone on handing on quotas... Alex Wright (for example) has the 20km time and is in the ranks for the 50km. WIth both events happening within 24 hours of each other in Tokyo, he'll likely choose the 20km, freeing up a spot at 50km. I'd assume this is the case for multiple walkers, and multiple nations for both events

The final rankings for 50km walk will be announced tomorrow Even then there will be some who decline a spot as there will be a few who have 20km and 50km spots who will decline one

As has been said the draws are the same but if the athlete has not started, he or she can be replaced If they have started a fight, they can’t be replaced In the example, Michael Nevin won a fight at 75kg and is turning pro, so he can’t be replaced. His opponent will get a walk over At 91+ kg Dean Gardiner has retired but as he didn’t fight in London, he is being replaced

I expect several boxers who were entered in 2020 to not make the 2021 ‘resumption’. Ireland was able to replace our super heavyweight because he hadn’t fought yet. Other weights aren’t so ‘lucky’

The Irish team has been announced for the resumption of this qualifier. A change at super heavy and our middleweight Michael Nevin has to drop out

0.01 ahead of time

Almeida continues on his quest for the most top 10s ever before winning a race. Lets see if Yates can attack tomorrow. If he's within a minute tomorrow, then it's game on

Weightlifting is unbelievably complicated, and has national limits not tied to weights. Just a shitshow Boxing's is poor this year but normally everybody has one chance to win their way in

I would imagine that’s the case for nearly all medal contenders. There’s some who may be targeting Olympic qualification and for youngsters this might be their season goal but anyone who wants to medal in Tokyo will be nowhere near their peak now

Thanks for that. I was only looking at the FINA site. Must note how slow they are to update for the relays I actually care about now ?

I'm confused now. Can anyone confirm who's in?

Well has just jumped into the top 4 already. Ha And in the next heat go faster. And beats them both. All 3 into the final tonight. Likely 2 places on offer with on the outside now

In the upcoming mixed 4x100m medley relay, the European countries who are qualified are The 4 nations occupying the rankings are 3:38:41 3:44:75 3:47:92 3:48:61 Only Brazil looks possibly in danger there but even then I think nearly every country will have to swim a NR to qualify

Hmm. The federation was of the same opinion as Brazil it seems As they announced that Oliver Dingley and Tanya Watson had qualified for the games