Cinnamon Bun

Overall a very good squad and near enough what I expected. Glad we actually stayed true to the 30 athlete limit, was worried we might go under. Surprised we took both Whittle and McMillan as I didn't think we'd needed both for relay cover and felt we had good enough cover in other areas for both the 4x1 and 4x2. This has led to Cox harshly being left off as I felt she could've contended for a final spot, just shows how much 1 bad swim at the wrong time can mess up your whole season. I think this also means we see Dawson swimming all relay heats as I doubt that Osrin and Harris will be able to go under the minute mark for the medley and the mixed medley.

Exactly, hopefully we can start doing the same in handball and start capitalising off the back of this.

So the athletes only qualify through this by getting top 5 and not by achieving the time but finishing outside top 5?

We could still go for both as realistically basketball doesn't need too much development in this country compared to handball which needs tons. Either way we need to improve our performances in a lot of Olympic team sports.

I'm not sure it does as there's apparently too many downhill sections for it to be counted as a qualification event. @Josh has commented on this before, I reckon he'll have the answers.

Not really as the group would've had more time to gel as a team compared to as they'd have played an entire 3 week tournament together. Also a week's rest is a long time in football.

Does today's Boston Marathon count towards Olympic qualification or not, it's listed on the World Athletics calendar as a platinum event but I've heard people on here say it doesn't count due to it having too many downhill sections.

Despite getting thrashed in all 3 of our games, I'm quite pleased with our performance this week. We got into double figures against Hungary and Japan and created some good opportunities for ourselves that we unfortunately couldn't convert, which is more than I expected us to do. This is a sport that needs a lot of development in our country, and this is certainly a start to seeing us become competitive whilst trying to qualify for major championships. Just like with our Water Polo teams, this could be the boost we need to go on and qualify for Brisbane and 2036 - which should be our target off the back of this.

Very unlucky not to score another 45 points and win the game.

I think we can also add the men's double sculls to that list too as we stormed the B final but where still a fair bit behind unqualified Australia who were last in the A final and should qualify along with us. As for the other 3 events, we won't qualify anyone in the men's lightweight but I'm still optimistic for us in the women's singles and doubles sculls despite not entering anyone here. The Europeans in two weeks will give us the biggest guide as to what shape the team is in.

We may still have Thomas racing for the quota at the LCR and have Bourne race it at the games, who I thought looked really good today. But regardless who it is, it's pretty safe to say we'll get the quota along with Italy.

Christ the Americans weren't half Burning Down The House with their performances, Tom would be proud.

Just the one athlete for in the men's 20km race walk. Really shows the sorry state of affairs we're in that we don't even want to attempt to qualify for this at Paris.

Easy win for Hungary as expected, but I felt we gave a decent account of ourselves. A lot of work needs doing though, as we missed quite a few clear cut chances due to our throws being too weak.

That's very true, but I believe the likes of basketball and handball can capitalise on the recent downfall of rugby, particularly rugby league, in the UK and Ireland. The less opportunities there are for young players to enter rugby, the easier it will be for basketball and handball to pick up talented, athletic throwers which should help get the ball rolling and enable us to qualify for more continental and global tournaments.

Not really, as hockey, ice hockey and skating are more different compared to football, rugby and handball. I was more coming at from a youth development perspective, as the stark similarities with rugby and football should make handball more appealing to kids at a young age.

Handball's one of those sports where it should be successful over here as it's a solid blend of football and a little bit of rugby. And I think if they can get more people playing it at school and university level and get some sort of competitive league over here similar to the BBL then I believe we have a chance to make ourselves successful in this over the next couple decades.

Puts the open water events in massive jeopardy too. Realistically the organisers should've come up with an alternative to the Seine as backup as cleaning it up was always gonna be a big ask.

Is the top one dedicated to the one and only Welsh sexbomb or someone completely different?

Just found out that have been handed a very surprising wildcard to this tournament. We're going to the Olympics baby!! The others team's don't stand a chance now that the mighty British Women's handball team have entered the fray.

Part 2: Men Solomon Timo Stephen Kiptoo Kennedy Kimutai Alphonce Felix Simbu Ben Chelimo Somikwo Titus Kimutai Kipkosgei Raymond Kipchumba Choge Andrew Rotich Kwemoi Mulugeta Asefa Una Titus Kipruto Elisha Rotich Bethwell Kipkemboi Cosmas Matolo Muteti Chalu Deso Matthias Kyburz Women Veronica Maina Rodah Jepkorir Monica Chebet Mare Dibaba Pauline Chemming Korikwiang Ruth Jebet Ruti Aga Angela Tanui Evaline Chirchir Jessica Stenson Tigist Gashaw Tigist Memuye Mestawut Fekir Enatnesh Alamrew Tirusew Vivian Jepkemei Cheruiyot Valentine Chepkwemoi Mateiko Rahma Tusa Yenenesh Tilahun Dinkesa Medina Deme Armino Ethlemahu Sintayehu Emily Chepkemoi Arusio

The Following Athletes Have Hit The Marathon Qualification Standard Since My Last Update On 25th February: Men Benson Kipruto Timothy Kiplagat Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich Hailemaryom Kiros Tsegaye Getachew Haimro Alame Simon Kariuki Eliud Kipchoge Victor Kiplangat Bedan Karoki Tadesse Abraham Collins Kipkirui Kipkorir Edmond Kipngetich Ilass Aouani Asbel Rutto Brian Kipsang Sila Kiptoo Jemal Mekonen Rhonzas Lokitam Kilimo Edwin Kiptoo Mike Kiptum Boit Balew Yihunle Solomon Kirwa Yego Derseh Kinde Ashenafi Moges Laban Kipngetich Korir Timothy Kipkorir Josphat Boit Tadu Abate Abay Alemu Nicholas Kirwa Jie He Shaohui Yang Women Sutume Asda Kebede Rosemary Wanjiru Amane Beriso Shankule Sifan Hassan Besty Saina Meseret Abebayahau Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh Degitu Azimeraw Shuko Genemo Meseret Dinke Zinah Senbeta Kaoutar Boulaid Eunice Chebichii Chumba Yuya Xia Delvine Relin Meringor Stacey Chepkemboi Ndiwa () Volka Mazuronka Atsede Bayisha Ivyne Jeruto Lydia Naliaka Smith Emebet Niguse Fikrte Wereta Desi Jisa Mokonin Visiline Jepkesho Betelihem Afenigus Yebrgual Melese Sifa Mekalu Munkhzaya Bayartsogt Celestine Chepchirchir Sintayehu Tilahun Jackline Sakilu The Following Athletes Have Hit The Marathon Qualification Standard But Their NOC Have Already Confirmed Their Olympic Participants: Men Yusuke Nishiyama Kenya Sonota Kyohei Hosoya Shungo Yokota Shin Kimura Women Hitomi Niiya Yuka Ando Ayuko Suzuki Rika Kaseda Hikari Ohnishi Part 1

The meeting is tomorrow, so we'll most likely find out by Tuesday at the latest.

This is a pretty accurate prediction. I expect Robinson to swim the 800 and 1500, they're very far apart in the schedule and he can use them as a good warm up for the open water. I also expect Jervis to swim the 800. I think if we're taking Wilby, he'll most likely also do the 200 breast despite only hitting the OCT - same applies to Hanlon. I also expect Guy to do the 100 fly as well as Litchfield as he won't have as many relays to do this time. Lastly, I don't think McMillan makes the team. He would only do the 200 free relay and we already have decent backups in that in Bird and J Litchfield. Whittle for me is a better option as we need a strong reserve in the 100 relay.

Based off of tonight I think the following come in as discretionary picks: Anderson Okoro Evans Bird Whittle Wilby Cox I believe the first 6 are pretty much safe, but Whittle can count himself lucky. In terms of the last spot, I was torn between Cox and Hanlon. But given Cox is a finalist candidate I reckon she'll get the nod over Kara. I also think Guy will swim the individual 100 fly in Paris, and only do the 200 free relay.