mpjmcevoy

We really need a grassroots night of 10k m PBs style event for throws, jumps and multievents to create some momentuum and opportunity in these events

Apparently the boys have suddenly hit a rich vein of form and may even be the slightly better bet. Sadly Penny 24 is not currently a patch on Penny 23, but she's young. Penny 28 might be spectacular.

Am I right in thinking if Bangladesh come through tonight, Ireland qualify as next under rankings for 2026

Hard Agree. There are ways to utilise the Full Members and Senior associates to provide real incentives tot he rest of Europe without flooding the calendar - a tiered series where Netherlands and Scotland only join in at penultimate stage (sort of QF), and Ireland and England at the ulitimate stage (sort of SF). might not sound like much, and possibly only requires literally a game or two from England, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland, but it would be epic for other European teams to at least theoretically have a one off crack at a 'big boy' - at worst, the recognised best four European teams have a quick warm up for the summer. at best, a smaller European nation gets a major publicity boost.

I understand your pessimism only too well but I think you maybe 'do down' one or two of our chances to avoid heartbreak. The reality is, if Rhys hits two routines properl, Rhys wins a medal. He wasn't the double world champ in weak fields. Wiffen will defintely not be gold favourite, but his times, rather than his medals, still suggest strong medal chances. And I wold genuinely be astonishied if a couple of our women's boxers - mostly only two fights from a medal, don't bring it home. Rowing is a bit of an enigma, though I agree chances are not fantastic, but I think Adeleke is a warm favourite for some kind of metal, especially with syd and Femke giving the indy 400 the swerve, and the likeihood Ireland will put out a first choice mixed relay when other nations will not. If Rhasidat drops a relay, I suspect it will be the women's. Outside that the men's rugby sevens cannot be discounted, not the showjumpers and eventers, not Rory McI (despite his brainfade tonight)

Would love to see Italy move the Game on - they have the climate to support it! The more competitive teams in Europe, the better - Ireland have made the leap, it's been wobbly, but we've made progress, and scared both England and Pakistan at test level. Would love Scotland and Netherlands...and Italy...to move forward. Only way to break the 'Cartel' - and it probably eventually involves a URC style 'european' equivalent of the County championship.

Are they likely to get the women's doubles teams?

Hard to imagine Dart and Boulter as a doubles squad, though...

To be fair, Mexico had pulled a worldie last two sets to win the semi. Given where GBR men are, this is little short of a miracle, a HUGE filip for the sport in gb. The women are decent, they always had a punchers chance, but thus is utterly unexpected from men. And having lost the 'winnable' semi, to beat Germany....arguably best Q results since 2023 Artistic Gymnastics.

Sorry, SLO

The lads seriously outperformed in qualifying, but begorrah the bracket has absolutely fallen in their favour!

Women's Time Trial, I'm thinking USA, NED, NED (2) or GBR. Men's toss up between ITA and BEL, favouring ITA, Bronze between GBR, SVK, favouring GBR because it is pan flat Women's 400m AUS, Men's 400 not sure Womens 4 x1 AUS, USA, CHN Men's 4x1 USA, AUS, ITA CHN, Women's 3 Syn CHN, ITA, GBR (I think this event is a bit soft under CHN, medals could go just about anywhere) Sevens FRA or ARG, probably FRA, Bronze between NZL, FJI and IRL Shooting I think maybe CHN don't know enough about Fencing to guess, assume Italy will be strong, Korea? So I think best day one will be CHN, AUS, USA in that order. ITA will show well, and GBR may unsually pick up few Day 1 medals, though they're most ly bronze or bust chances. IRL have a punchers chance in the Men's Sevens, which would be super cool. biggest nailed on gold is China in the 3m Sycnchro, utter utter shock if they fail to realise that, followed by Dyggert in the Women's TT and Titmuss in the W400. most intriguing event, apart from 7sRugby which I just love as a sport is the men's time trial - clear group of favourites on a pan flat course for specialists (as it should be) but all likely to have different back issues and stories. Ganna v Remco, Tadej v Josh T, Wout?

Hell of a result for the GBR girls. Hopeful at least one individual guy gets through for a mixed pair.

One wonders if it was about setting up 1st reserve on the women's side, with the understanding that a situation MAY arise where Franklin thinks better of it and pulls out of the CX. Unlike the men, Mallory and Kimberley are each other's reserves in the main boats. Stechell is now in place to step in.

Actual golf majors do something very, very similar. Jack Nicklaus was limping his way around Augusta for decades after he was 'done' And the thing is, every so often, miracles happen because gold is a precision, not an athletic aerobic, sport - for example, tom watson's last great run at the open Championship - or Goran's wild card miracle at wimbledon

Obviously done to preserve a bit of star power, plus reward previous Olympic heroes - given the two on the men's side are likely to be Murray and Wawrinka, I'd say it's a roaring success. As for what other sports do such a thing, have you never seen the invite criteria for the golf majors (the nearest sport to tennis in individual global appeal)? Guys get into the Masters and the US Open who are barely able to walk. I'm half shocked they don't do the same for Olympic golf.

Pretty sure it's more subjective than top 2. French won't make top 2, but she is reigning Olympic champ, and clearly still has 'it'. I'd say 'form' will play a big part.

Reigning Olympic champion Kate French doing her level best to give the GB selectors a choice and a dilemna. Olivia Green is on record as saying she thinks she's gonna miss out one way or another despite currently having a slot.

There is every chance of GBR knocking off 8-10 gold medals in cycling alone if everything fell right in MTB, Women's sprint, Women's endurance, men's endurance, time trials, bmx free men, bmx racing women....or coming away with just 1 or 2 (I can't see no golds for Archibald or Fincucane) They could literally win every Equestrian gold, even team dressage, if both Fry and Dujardin absolutely smoke....or none at all They could beat their Tokyo gold tally in the pool, especially if Peaty peaks well - or win none (though I think at least 1 is very very likely in m4x2 free) They could knock out 2, even three golds in Athletics if every god smiled. Or none (I predict, sadly, none, but a good general medal haul) Two in artistic gymnastics (M PH and M VT). Or none (both, to me, are 50/50). Three in Triathlon...or none. It's that sort of feeling - lots of possibles, in all sorts of nooks and crannies, but fewer 'nailed on' than recently the case. Ireland never has nailed on - except Katie Taylor first time around - but there are more genuine gold chances than I can ever remember between rowing, gymnastics, athletics, swimming, boxing. We may get none, we're likely to get none. Or we could win 5! gotta love sport.

The Dutch are the Australia of Europe - sports mad eternal over-achievers. Dear god they even try cricket and hockey and do it well. We're screwed if they properly discover rugby.

Nonsense, my man. "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for" We must live in hope, should we die in despair.

I think that boat has gone, thankfully. ForGBR it's a funny one - huge number of possibles - on a good day, GBR could walk away from cycling with an absolute bagfull, ditto diving, canoe slalom, swimming, athletics, equestrian, rowing and sailing, with health returns in athletics, gymnastics, and triathlon...and on a bad day, they could have a big drop in medals and an awful lot of fourth and fifth places. Rowing had a dreadful time in tokyo, but seems to have turned a corner Athletics and swimming are both a curates egg, boxing seems to be the new Tokyo rowing ... i'm gonna say 45-65, with the result likely to be in the lower end. But the golds could go down a lot. I thoroughly expect Italians to be the breakthrough nation. As for my other hat , I have a deep and unusual optimisim - I think 8 is genuinely possible.

A full strength mixed 4 x 400 from GBR will absolutely be competitive if it includes both Charlie and Matthew - BIG IF. But it looks increasingly impossible to combine mixed 4, sexed 4 and individual 4 without mega depth. Mutterings beginning already that Rhasidat Adeleke is going to be pulled from Irish relay teams to protect her individual chances (which I think is insane, not least given how strong Sharlene is as a relay runner) - feels more and more like rowing where you have to look at your pool and concentrate your crews! GBR of course has already tasted this problem in the pool itself with the workload put on Scott, Guy and Dean (and which will be put also on richards this time) As for where GBR are, there have been a handful of genuine disappointsments and setbacks, but really not many - youngsters like Keith, Dobson and Caudery may be pissed off with missing Gold, as will Neita but they have reinforced their world class credentials - a welcome multiple boost for the squad going forward. Glave's very strong international debut cannot be overshadowed by the relay debacle. Thackery, Bell and Mills were fantastic, Sember, Mitchem-Duke, Scott Lincoln, Ali Chalmers all good progress, very encouraging work from the Neilsens, Jade O'Dowda, Anna Purchase. The genuine disappointments/concerns are relatively few, albeit they are real and bad - KJT, Eilish, Men's relay, Jessie Knight, Maybe Jemma Reekie in terms of kick. I'm not sure 1, 2 and 4 are fixable, I'm sure 3 is, I'm sure 5 isn't, but not certain that matters. and of course Dina, and hopefully Keely It's been a development event for GBR, but I think it's served its purpose well, and a home non-Olympic event in Birmingham in 2026 looks more interesting from a medalling perspective. As for Paris, I think GBR were maybe a little spoilt during the golden years from Ohoruogu in 2008 to Dina/KJT in 2019. Let's keep it realistic, enjoy ANY medals and strong performances, and for god sake practice the men's relay.

By my limited calculation, GB are returning 5 individual quotas 1 M3, 1M10, 1W3 and 2 W10. Probably for the first time GB have also had to leave some serious players at home - Daniel Goodfellow's stumble at the British Champs has cost him, and Eden Cheng, European 10m champion has had to give way to Lois Toulson despite a really good showing without funding at British champs. It's an unusual and pleasant situation to be in. Flipping hats I better go an remind myself where Jake Passmore is on the list....joys of double loyalties...

The only way Reekie misses is if Keely doesn't run, and mishaps occur in the trials final. Phoebe Gill is a phenomanal talent, but she's still green, and her kick hasn't been tested (her raw speed is obviously astonishing). Frankly, if Keely got injured, Reekie would become a major favourite to medal behind Mu and Moraa. she won't be left at home unless they have to to accommodate Keely.