Joshi

Lol do people not realize that it's qualifying, you really think they'll put their best runs forward? Oh puhlezze, in all honesty particularly for Zoi it looked like a training run.

Going for Danish athletes . I see Denmark a lot like my country, we have overbearing neighbours who win a ton of medals. In our case the summer games (Australia). Denmark's case their fellow Nordic giants and Germany in the winter games. Of course Australia in particular Scotty James in HP. I have a Russian grandfather . So will have a keen eye on how they go I guess. Although not a keen follower on Russia in sport coz you know 😉. But that's for another day lol.

Here I was thinking Nadal was dead and buried after the 2nd set when he blew it...

Talk that NZ won't have a flag bearer at all but an official doing it and that no athletes will be present at the ceremony. Surely that's not the case, but if so NZ's paranoia with Covid from Stalinda Ardern has filtered through to the NZOC.

NZ As with the case NZs best chance for medals are in the Freestyle and Snowboard events. We could end up with 0 in a worst case scenario, 3 medals on a somewhat expected scenario or 8 medals which would be mind-boggling. Alpine Skiing. Alice Robinson our only medal hope has got time on her hands. She's been in indifferent form but has really improved in the speed events, notably SG and is an outsider in her 2nd event. But her main event is obviously GS. So prediction 0-1 Biathlon. Campbell Wright another athlete has time on his hands and going for experience as this will become beneficial in time to come. So hopefully a top 20 finish will put him great stead for the future. So prediction 0 Freestyle Skiing. Nico Porteous has a lot of pressure on his young shoulders but he seems to be one of the only ones pushing the boundaries in the HP. I will not be surprised if his brother Miguel along with young guns Harrington (18) and Legnavsky(16) can upset the apple cart and nick a medal. I am however hoping rather than expecting Nico pulls it off and gets a gold if not a medal, but this sport has so many variables out of your hands. Finn Bilous and Ben Barclay can really cause an upset because they both have the skills to do it in both SS and BA. I expect nothing from the women as I'm surprised they've selected them, surely we have better freestylers than them next time round. Prediction 1-4 Snowboarding. Zoi Sadowski Synnott is the out and out biggest medal hope for gold for NZ and could win not 1 but 2 golds in both SS and BA. Worst case scenario for her 1 medal of the minor colour. Watching her at X Games just now. Absolutely wow she's lifted the level to a new extreme. But again another sport which has so many variables out of your control and I'm sure her rivals will send it. Cool Wakushima is an outside chance. Tiarn Collins could really send the cat amongst the pigeons in SS he's got all the ingredients and can pull it off which will come as no surprise for me at all. So prediction 2-3 Speed Skating. Peter Michael is not the same speed skater as 4 years ago so nothing from him but a Top 10 finish. Prediction 0. The good thing is regardless, Whether the good or bad scenarios NZ is finally taking winter sports a little bit more serious. Because quite often it's a bit of an after thought. All of these athletes selected come from the rural areas of the province of Otago where its the only place in NZ that often snows so makes sense. The big medal hopes come from the Queenstown-Wanaka Lakes district which has a population of around 30 odd thousand. So it really is the hotbed of winter sports in NZ.

Well thank god for that. Was scared he wouldn't make it and then we'll end up losing him. Hopefully he gets the support he needs now. It's a travesty it took this long.

What would really annoy me is that if the NZOC don't select Campbell Wright to Beijing then I hope like heck he chooses the USA for future events. 1, He'd get much better support and 2, He won't have to rely on money since he's done it all on his own with no financial assistance from NZ Sport. He's had to find his own coach, borrowed skis etc. Is practically handicapped even before the start line. There's already people in NZ demanding him he go and are putting pressure on the NZOC. If the NZOC can select a no hope Freestyle skier Margaux Hackett who struggles to make top 20 let alone top 16 most of the time and had a few fluke top 10s. Who I guarantee won't make a final of her event, well that reeks of favoritism. It sucks, and I'm not holding out hope he'll be selected. I just hope if he doesn't he goes and skis for the US in the future. At least they'll look after him. I do hope I'm wrong though.

Perhaps but she's not in the greatest form at the moment.

Sorry I had to pick my country . We have great chances in womens snowboard slopestyle, big air and mens freeski half pipe. But our winter olympics history is littered with 4ths and 5ths and these are mainly sports down to judges. A lot of the time it can be out of your hands. The great irony in this however is that on the other hand we have more gold medal favs going on current form than Australia.

Yup. Also the Australian Federal government won't give 2 hoots who you are. He won't be playing the Aussie Open anytime soon. Australian immigration is very harsh and for good reason.

Talking about depth, NZ has a total of 10 biathletes who practice this sport. I mean you can already see why the US biathlon team see him as an absolute freak with the added bonus of being a dual citizen. But you know what if he turns out to be an absolute gem in future olympics and does it for the US and not for NZ because of us snubbing him, you'd think that the NZOC will review their shortcomings. Well you'd like to think so. It's not like we have that many potential Winter Olympic medalists anyway...

What makes it worse is that he wants to represent his nation of birth as he sees himself as a Kiwi. But our committee are so short sighted, yes he most probably won't be top 16 but experience will be invaluable. He's the youngest on the scene by nearly 2 years. Team USA have been knocking on his door for ages, and he may have to bite the bullet and reluctantly fulfill his dream for the US.

Campbell Wright for the USA? https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/300488189/winter-olympics-biathlete-campbell-wright-hunts-for-place-in-new-zealand-team

Don't worry we have Jacinda, let's be kind, let's give those around you a hug lol.

A new security alliance between Australia, UK and the US, 'AUKUS' is the acronym. This effectively allows Australia to build its own Nuclear powered subs. Which has angered France as they lost a 60bn dollar deal to build diesel powered subs but Australia has canned it. Let's also be honest its also to combat China in the Indo Pacific.

Looks like we are seeing the resurgence of Australia particularly in swimming and cycling.

The Taliban taking control of Afghanistan was bound to happen once the Western powers left. It was already happening during 20 years of US led intervention. This is a country that is tribal and a country that in theory has never actually been conquered. From Alexander the Great to now. Read history, Afghanistan and her tribes are restless and that's just the way it is. The Taliban may have control of big cities but pockets in Afghanistan won't be ruled by them. What is sad is that society will regress once again we will see no Afghanistan in the Olympics and no Afghan Cricket team anymore.

Is there a reason why?

1. Rate the performance on a scale of 1-10 8/10 Far from perfect but closer to perfect obviously than above average. But you can't argue with 7 golds and 20 medals but when you consider 4 4ths and a truckload of 5ths and 93% of the team in the top 10 that's a whole load of what ifs... 10 sports won medals for the country. 2. What were the suprises and heartbreaks ? Biggest surprises were the Mens eight winning the blue ribbon event in rowing and in my opinion one of the blue ribboned events of the Olympics so much history in this event. It was our first gold in this event since 1972 and our first medalists in the eights since 76. You have to remember it was being led by a rowing legend in Hamish Bond part of the infamous Kiwi pair who were unbeaten and were never beaten from 2009-2016 who collected his 3rd gold and was leading a very novice and young group of guys to a gold. Also our first ever gymnastics medal and a surprise medal in the Mens triathlon even though we've medalled in this event before Hayden Wilde had only started in 2016 just to lose weight but was told he was good enough to represent NZ little did we know he'd be collecting a bronze already. Heartbreak, well it has to go to the Mens team pursuit in track cycling. Broke the WR along with Italy but Filippo Ganna is just a machine and won it for Italy in the final 50m and prevented us from being in the Gold/Silver medal ride off. Then no luck at all when leading Australia for the bronze with 800m to go and were increasing the deficit but then Aaron Gate hit a teammates wheel and it was all over. Burling and Tuke leading the 49ers then the Germans spoiled the party and got between us and the Brits. The latter winning the gold and NZ having to settle for silver. 3.Was your country's goal achieved? NZOC had a target of 16 medals we ended up with 20 so by their estimates yes. By the publics, yes. But the sailors had a shocking regatta and by their exceptional standards very disappointing regatta. 4. Which are the sports that will be invested more in future? Current / Upcoming sports The NZ government has pledged more funding to sport throughout NZ and the opening up of a sports institute in the South Island (finally). Since the debacle of Sydney 2000 we're now only seeing the benefits of increased funding. Obviously Rowing, Canoeing, the usual suspects will get more investment. Canoeing especially because now they want to see more investment to the burgeoning juniors coming through on the Mens side. I have a feeling Equestrian, Field Hockey Womens Football and Sailing will get a reduction. All 4 had a poor Olympics. But I do see an improvement in Sailing because NZ and Sailing go hand in hand. On a side note and one that's not related it will be interesting to see how our winter olympians go early next year. Judging from current trajectory it all points to it being very successful and may finally break our gold medal duck (touchwood). But big pressure on the freestyle skiers and snowboarders to deliver. There seems to be quite a bit of optimism around these young teenagers and young adults.

Well while the whole world is celebrating their returning olympians and medalists NZ and Australia have 2 weeks mandatory quarantine and the first lot in NZ/Aus that competed in the first week in Tokyo will be released next Monday. Some Australians who are in quarantine could face another 2 weeks when re-entering their home state. The state of Queensland which is home to many of the olympic swimmers and medalists face another 2 weeks in quarantine because the majority are in NSW state doing quarantine and this is the state where the major outbreaks have been happening. Queensland have shut their state border to NSW. Ridiculous.

I can't see it happening. League is big in Aus, Northern England, PNG and NZ but its virtually non existent everywhere else. But who knows lol

Cricket will be in the Olympics for Brisbane 2032 and dare I say it so will Netball. Baseball/Softball both gone. Australia won't let this opportunity slip for more gold medals.

Olivia Podmore aged 24 (NZ track cyclist) in the sprints who went to the olympics in 2016 died from suicide. Was a former junior medalist. Had a huge future but suffered from massive bouts of depression which ultimately claimed her. Horrible news.

I should just be pessimistic all the time. But honestly at the time it wasn't looking good at all

Australia and NZ had a great games. In saying that though NZ had a terrible Sailing regatta and questions are being asked and one reason is that lack of international sailing during COVID hurt them. They were expecting 4 medals and only garnered 1. Perhaps the one sport along with Equestrian that underperformed. Everything else expected. Gymnastics, Tennis and Triathlon were surprise medals. So that made up the offset of the poor performance of the sailors.