mpjmcevoy

Sadly, having seen Buckner in action with British Swimming, I knew what was coming. I suspect the dead hand of UK Sport is involved here too. Because UKA is broke, I think UK Sport really get to call all the shots, in a very micro managerial way.

Wher is Zoe mentioned as travelling reserve?

I asked them. No response yet. Given Anna Morris is pulling double duty, you'd think at worst one of the Pursuit team could give it a rattle. I wonder if Katie's absence kaboshed a plan.

McGing go in! And Wiffen confirms no 400m, but going for the 10k!

I have some sympathy for that, but that's a slightly different issue, the obvious cure for which is to make qualification four broad zones, all of around 50 nations - Pan-American, European, African (or African/Middle Eastern if Africa is too weak on its own), Asia-Pacific If athletics wanted to bring in an unambiguously continental element, I'm here for that too

GBR are still haunted, I think, by the twin spectres of Atlanta 1996 and Eddie the Eagle Edwards. Most cuontries didn't care how GBR did in Atlanta, but in GB it was a national humiliation at the tail end of a government that was itself a kind of by word for a national malaise, while Eddie, while popular, was also deeply cringe for a country that wanted to be taken seriously, but increasingly just wasn't. In the last few years, GB was supposed to have relaxed a bit from the frightening level of ruthlessness that the new era created - the success of GB in new sports has come at some cost in terms of ethics and athlete welfare with a series of scandals in cycling, swimming, gymnastics, bobsled etc That monomaniacal push for medals seems to have reduced a bit, and I personally expect the medal count to reduce significantly as a result, but one place it seems to continue to hold is selection policy (tight purses is also a factor ) with a series of perfectly respectable international class athletes set to miss out, including a couple of youngsters who might be world class soon (the two hammer lads spring to mind here) IMHO it is ridiculous. And it particularly annoys me when Australia and South Africa do it too.

I could live with it if it were even as generous as the old B standard, which usually meant you could only bring 1 in the event, not three - so if you get two or three invites in an event, I can see the argument for going, ok Nuttall, Norman, Purchase, Strickler, Norris, yer in - but Kenny, Verity etc, sorry but we only take one invite per event - at least then the 'leading brit' represents the country.

Tradition. I remember a wonderful point where the best men's pair in the world was Steve Redgrave and whoever he chose that afternoon to row with, while the second best boat was Matt Pinsentt and whoever he chose the same afternoon to row with - the famous "let's crush some dreams" period - one of the oddest things about the Atlanta debacle wa how absolutely certain it was that those lads would do the business. At their best Glover and Stanning came close to that level of sheer brutal mental dominance.

If I were Okoye I would be nervous on "current form" grounds. Personally I think Purchase, Norris and Ikeji make much more sense as development opportunities, while Nuttall and Norman are much better shouts on "current form". FTR, I'd still take Okoye, because he's met what was asked of him. And I'd take Lally and Strickler-Campbell, because I like 'em!

Apparently her association have ruled her out of the individual, will try and get her in some shape for relays

The Bouncing Baltic Broncos (IOC code: BBB) as a composite team. Get it done, fellas.

At this stage, I'm pretty confident Sophie and Jodie will get in (already heard/know a number of withdrawals in both events) - Tom might be in more trouble, but I understand from yourself needs fewer withdrawals.

So Moraa, Shawnie (injured) and Femke is three already, yeah? as for Jodie Megan Keith doesn't want to run it, Judd is injured (epilepsy),they almost certainly won't send Nutaal or Fry on rankings, so that's 3 Then Hussan is probably noting doing it So one more?

The only problem I forsee is that IOC may consider the period just too short since Euros, and I suppose GBR may have plans for O'Dowda - but frankly, if they've real plans for her, they'll pick her. They have a number of good young potential heirs to KJT already even without O'Dowda - so it might actually suit everyone. GBR will move forward with Holly Mills and Abi Pawlett, IRL with Kate O'Connor and Jade O'Dowda, nobody loses out, everyone's happy.

Why? They ALWAYS have in the past. ALWAYS.

Some sports are more given to 'locks' than others. Rowing is won of the 'lockiest'. I'd add the in men's team sprint in track cycling. I think one of 'em needs to actually fall off not win, and even then Harrie could probably remount and win. The in men's basketball will be a hard enough nut to crack, I suspect... After that, you're getting into 'roasting hot favourites but not quite a lock' territory - Men's 4 x 200 freestyle for can be beaten theoretically by a couple of teams, but it's gonna be pretty bloody tough - remember in Tokyo the new Olympic champ Dean had an absolute stinker of a leg, and they still won at a cantor. They are bringing an identical team back and if anything, Richards and Guy look better than last time. women's 4 x 100 in same boat...

Moraa is almost a certainty. Obviously US pull outs are no good to her, but Femke might be (is the 4th dutch ahead of her?) Was Shawnie in the list?

That can be waived if both federations agree

Given Ireland already has Newry born Kate O'Connor, there would be a certain irony there.

British qualifier Sonny Kortal has eliminated a seed, through to round 2!

I would suspect there's bound to be 1 pull out - there's about 5 in the 400 metre already

Yesterday's results seem to be in and Barr still seems to have the last spot!

Phil Norman Likewise. Not to mention one I forgot Jake Norris in men's hammer, an outstanding talent for the future, in good, good nick.

100% UKA treat a ranking invite as if it were the old 'B' standard - which only shows they don't understand the system. The ranking is actually supposed to be the main way to qualify, with the 'A' standard there to catch elite athletes who have slipped down the rankings through injury or inactivity. of course, it hasn't worked out that way in practice but the qualification for the 100m for men, for example, is 10 secs flat. That is ridiculous if you consider it the 'basic' qualification standard. I actually hope WA move on this eventually, but I'll add only this. The USA accepts ranking invites. They don't believe in excellence? The athletes who will likely miss out; Amelia Strickler-Campbell, Shot, Anna Purchase, possibly Charlotte Payne, hammer, Phil Norman Steeple chase, Hannah Nuttall and Verity Ockenden 5000

The policy document expressly states that a world medalist who competes gets their spot. That's Hudson-Smith, Hodgkinson, Kerr, KJT. They are definite now. In addition, an exemption was given to Zharnel Hughes so he is also now a definite, at least in the 100m. And I understand as there was no separate multisport event, Jade O'dowda who has both B standard and ranking is in for the Heptathlon. And I understand Lawrence Okoye's exemption also protects him. Given the need to staff relay teams, I'm confident Lansiquot is also safe. Then things get colourful...