dodge

Is someone genuinely asking why Eastern bloc countries fell off in terms of sporting results after the arrival of democracy? 
 
East Germany only competed in 5 Olympics in rowing, but they won 48 medals, including 33 gold. They were only overtaken by the US in 2016 in the all time medal list (and they’re still ahead of the rest)
 
In Athletics, there’s still several European records that exist since the 80s with East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the USSR all involved. 
 
This isn’t a slight on the fine people from Eastern Europe on here and the current athletes doing their best.
 
But the answer to why they were so strong in the 1980s is doping. No one disputes this. 

Is someone genuinely asking why Eastern bloc countries fell off in terms of sporting results after the arrival of democracy? 
 
East Germany only competed in 5 Olympics in rowing, but they won 48 medals, including 33 gold. They were only overtaken by the US in 2016 in the all time medal list (and they’re still ahead of the rest)
 
In Athletics, there’s still several European records that exist since the 80s with East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the USSR all involved. 
 
This isn’t a slight on the fine people from Eastern Europe on here and the current athletes doing their best.
 
But the answer to why they were so strong in the 1980s is doping. No one disputes this. 

Is someone genuinely asking why Eastern bloc countries fell off in terms of sporting results after the arrival of democracy? 
 
East Germany only competed in 5 Olympics in rowing, but they won 48 medals, including 33 gold. They were only overtaken by the US in 2016 in the all time medal list (and they’re still ahead of the rest)
 
In Athletics, there’s still several European records that exist since the 80s with East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the USSR all involved. 
 
This isn’t a slight on the fine people from Eastern Europe on here and the current athletes doing their best.
 
But the answer to why they were so strong in the 1980s is doping. No one disputes this. 

I enjoy you saying this is nonsense followed by “eastern Europeans just doped more ruthlessly”
 
So even when you agree with my point, you still have to argue. 
 
You remain unrivalled on here 

Is someone genuinely asking why Eastern bloc countries fell off in terms of sporting results after the arrival of democracy? 
 
East Germany only competed in 5 Olympics in rowing, but they won 48 medals, including 33 gold. They were only overtaken by the US in 2016 in the all time medal list (and they’re still ahead of the rest)
 
In Athletics, there’s still several European records that exist since the 80s with East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the USSR all involved. 
 
This isn’t a slight on the fine people from Eastern Europe on here and the current athletes doing their best.
 
But the answer to why they were so strong in the 1980s is doping. No one disputes this. 

Their medal predications for  
 
Gold
McCarthy/O’Donovan - Lightweight double sculls Rowing
Rhys McClenaghan - pommel gymnastics 
 
Silver
Daniel Wiffen - 800m free swimming
Cian O’Connor - showjumping
Kelly Harrington - 60kg boxing
 
Bronze
Daniel Wiffen - 1500m free swimming
Rory McIlroy - golf

Gracenote medal predictions for Ireland
 
Gold 
McCarthy/O’Donovan
McClenaghan
 
Silver
Kelly Harrington
Cian O’Connor
Wiffen 800m
 
Bronze
Rory McIlroy
Wiffen 1500m
 
 

So it seems like the dramatic announcement was all to say she is trying out a new hydration drink this year 
 
 

Thanks for everything. It’s time to try something new
 
My favourite for the 400m gold sounds like she’s retiring…

Thanks for everything. It’s time to try something new
 
My favourite for the 400m gold sounds like she’s retiring…

Joking aside, the biggest issue is that lightweights were brought in to help nations whose people just aren’t as big as the power nations 
 
Mine is one of them, so I’m biased, but the following countries have had Olympic finalists in the last 20 or so years that aren’t from “traditional” rowing countries; Japan, France, South Africa, Greece, Cuba, Finland, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland, Uruguay, Czech Republic, Belgium. 
 
Theres extra places for qualification too compared to heavyweight doubles so even more countries are brought in.
 
Obviously some of the countries above have had the odd heavyweight success too but lightweights have brought in a lot to the sport. Shame, IMO, they’re excluded from the Olympics now 

So far today in the rowing finals;
 
Keogh/Murtagh silver behind the Dutch. They looked OK so probably still in the top 4/5 but without Australia and Romania we won’t know if they’re likely to contend for a medal yet
 
Doyle/Lynch went off very slow but had an insane finish to grab bronze. They’ll need to be more consistent to challenge in Paris
 
The women’s four were miles off two GB boats and finished in 4th as the Dutch eased away. Still a good regatta for them though and I’m more confident they’ll qualify now 
 
Timoney/Corrigan win the B final and let’s hope the illness/injury is behind them 

Thanks for everything. It’s time to try something new
 
My favourite for the 400m gold sounds like she’s retiring…

No errors here. Livestream working fine 

Good start for new women's four in Varese. Sanita won her heat too.
 
Men's side didn't look as strong but they don't have to peak until July

Good start for new women's four in Varese. Sanita won her heat too.
 
Men's side didn't look as strong but they don't have to peak until July

Women’s and mixed heats are within 2 hours of each other. Smaller countries will have to prioritise IMO
 
So they might have their best runners in a heat one day, and a repechage in a different event the next day. Foregoing a final if they make it 

Then the answer will be no one, and it’s clear that some won’t accept that so around we go in circles again 

Just on Tara Hanlon, she’s no longer part of the national squad, so you can rule her out of future combinations 

They probably all should have asterisks on them saying “*pending they don’t test positive” at this stage 

There's no chance of using a women's quota for the men's events

There's no chance of using a women's quota for the men's events

They probably all should have asterisks on them saying “*pending they don’t test positive” at this stage 

Having a look through the schedule here is some of the big days for Team Ireland
Included a few outside chances here that probably unlikely to medal but not without some realistic chance. On the otherhand I have not included outside chances that may yet come to fruition, for example boxing could have more chances when the team is finalised, men's road race cycling and other outside chances in equestrian (individual jumping).
 
Overall it looks most likely we will win our first medal on Day 4 or 5 and then with a lot of chances coming on the middle weekend. Our first gold could possibly be on Day 7 in the men's lightweight double sculls.

 
 
Day 1: Saturday, 27 July
RUGBY SEVENS - Men's MEDAL MATCHES
 
 
Day 3: Monday, 29 July
SWIMMING - Women's 100m Breaststroke FINAL (Mona McSharry)
 
 
Day 4: Tuesday, 30 July
RUGBY SEVENS - Women's MEDAL MATCHES
SWIMMING - Men's 800m FINAL (Daniel Wiffen)
 
 
Day 5: Wednesday, 31 July
BOXING - Women's -60kg Quarter-Finals (Kellie Harrington)
 
 
Day 6: Thursday, 01 August
BOXING - Men's -92kg Quarter-Finals (Jack Marley)
ROWING - Women's Double Sculls FINAL
ROWING - Men's Double Sculls FINAL
 
 
Day 7: Friday, 02 August
EQUESTRIAN - Team Jumping FINAL
ROWING - Men's Pair FINAL
ROWING - Women's Pair FINAL
ROWING - Women's Lightweight Double Sculls FINAL
ROWING - Men's Lightweight Double Sculls FINAL
 

Day 8: Saturday, 03 August
BOXING - Men's -57kg Quarter-Finals (Jude Gallagher)
BOXING - Women's -60kg Semi-Finals (Kellie Harrington)
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS - Men's Pommel FINAL (Rhys McClenaghan)
 
 
Day 9: Sunday, 04 August
BOXING - Women's -57kg Quarter-Finals (Michaela Walsh)
BOXING - Women's -75kg Quarter-Finals (Aoife O'Rourke)
BOXING - Men's -92kg Semi-Finals (Jack Marley)
GOLF - Men's Individual Stroke Play FINAL (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry)
SWIMMING - Men's 1500m FINAL (Daniel Wiffen)
 
 
Day 11: Tuesday, 06 August
BOXING - Women's -60kg FINAL (Kellie Harrington)
 
 
Day 12: Wednesday, 07 August
BOXING - Women's -57kg Semi-Finals (Michaela Walsh)
TAEKWONDO - Men's -58kg (Jack Woolley)
 
 
Day 13: Thursday, 08 August
BOXING - Men's -57kg Semi-Finals (Jude Gallagher)
BOXING - Women's -75kg Semi-Finals (Aoife O'Rourke)
 
 
Day 14: Friday, 09 August
ATHLETICS - Women's 400m Final (Rhasidat Adeleke)
 
 
Day 15: Saturday, 10 August
ATHLETICS - Women's 1500m FINAL (Ciara Mageean)
BOXING - Women's -75kg FINAL (Aoife O'Rourke)
GOLF - Women's Individual Stroke Play FINAL (Leona Maguire)
 
 

Remember all those posts by me defending judging and saying 99% of complaints about robberies were just moaning
 
DISREGARD ALL OF THAT
 
Poor Grainne Walsh