SalamAkhi

Algarve 7s results :
 
    As Ireland and France are already qualified, GB-Poland in the semis was a rehearsal of a potential OQT final. GB have the edge obviously but the match against Spain in QF shows that nothing is set in stone. Belgium look a bit further, the other teams even more.
As for Ireland they look pretty toothless without Mulhall/Murphy-Crowe, but their main goal of the year has been achieved so probably some unwinding here. France on the other hand brought a really strong team, the best of the year I'd say, with key players coming back from injury.
 
Pools for Krakow :
 
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The 400m hurdles only features half of last year's WC finalists, including the bronze medallist, the 4th and the 5th + 2 of the 10 fastest men of all-time + the current n°2 in the world lists.
Besides the obvious absences, this is the best lineup we can hope for. I would have dreamt of such a DL field ten years from now. 
 

As I expected the first leg of the European Championships in Algarve this week-end will determine the seeds for the Krakow OQT. 
 
A    
B    
C    
 
Really unfortunate sequence of events for Belgium, who's probably the best up-and coming team of the tournament (having won one of the Challenger Series leg back in April), but suffer the worst draw of the lot. GB and Ireland promoted from Trophy last year, where they were relegated after missing one season of the EC. None of the two managed to qualify for the Games so they will bring full strength in Portugal. Not the case for France though (on the men's side).
 

As I expected the first leg of the European Championships in Algarve this week-end will determine the seeds for the Krakow OQT. 
 
A    
B    
C    
 
France and Ireland are not concerned, though Ireland was set to take part to the European Games. That could shake the order of those seeds.

As I expected the first leg of the European Championships in Algarve this week-end will determine the seeds for the Krakow OQT. 
 
A    
B    
C    
 
France and Ireland are not concerned, though Ireland was set to take part to the European Games. That could shake the order of those seeds.

As I expected the first leg of the European Championships in Algarve this week-end will determine the seeds for the Krakow OQT. 
 
A    
B    
C    
 
Really unfortunate sequence of events for Belgium, who's probably the best up-and coming team of the tournament (having won one of the Challenger Series leg back in April), but suffer the worst draw of the lot. GB and Ireland promoted from Trophy last year, where they were relegated after missing one season of the EC. None of the two managed to qualify for the Games so they will bring full strength in Portugal. Not the case for France though (on the men's side).
 

Yeah, I don't buy it either. The only way I would be okay with a 12 team top men's division is if they make a proper (as in 6+ events) second division.

Well, they are not bad teams (I was pleasantly surprised by Sri Lanka at the CG) but let's be honest, they won't feature. Malaysia is not even assured to take part to the OQT as they finished last in the 2022 Asian Series, but the format is not known at the moment. 
Japan's main opponents will be  Hong Kong (China ) , whose team is now fully professional, and  South Korea. We've already had a glimpse of what HK can produce these past weeks (1-1 against Japan), and shall see them in the Challenger Series later this month, along with South Korea.
Less known and established but capable of a surprise are  the United Arab Emirates, with their contingent of naturalized players.
Then  PR China could cause an upset, like  Sri Lanka and  the Philippines. 

Would be interesting to see her line up in a competitive 800, with adversity and, of course, pacing. Probably sub-2 ?
But we know she can achieve this kind of feats, heptathlon gold is not given.

Just a reminder. NATO started brutal campaign of bombing Yugoslavia in 1999, today is 24th "anniversary".
I wonder how Totallympics users would react in these days, would they condemn civilian victims and protect human rights... 
I faced those times personally, banning of Yugoslavia athletes in 1992-1995 likewise. 
Every time i will say - let the athletes compete, as long as they take neutral stance. 
I dont have simpathy for Russia but this level of xenophobia and hatred is indeed shocking. 

So no more freedom of opinion ? 
"Are you unconditionally against the invasion" ? "Yes of course (not at all in fact, what are you gonna do ? Torture me ?)".
What about non-Russians/Belarussians possibly in favor of it too ? Are we implementing a kind of "Freedom Pass" ? "I see you've not provided any position on this matter on Instagram, please proceed or we shall consider you pro-Russian". 
 

Should be the 8 from Tokyo + Ireland and Japan. 

Did (not) age well.

Same in France. No lol just kidding of course it doesn't, we rely on sheer luck to grab some talents in individual sports (like Mathilde Gros, former basket-ball player, detected when she tried a watt bike for fun). 
Paris 2024 here we come.
 
Canada does the same with the RBC Training Ground.

Same in France. No lol just kidding of course it doesn't, we rely on sheer luck to grab some talents in individual sports (like Mathilde Gros, former basket-ball player, detected when she tried a watt bike for fun). 
Paris 2024 here we come.
 
Canada does the same with the RBC Training Ground.

Same in France. No lol just kidding of course it doesn't, we rely on sheer luck to grab some talents in individual sports (like Mathilde Gros, former basket-ball player, detected when she tried a watt bike for fun). 
Paris 2024 here we come.
 
Canada does the same with the RBC Training Ground.

We know Duplantis was not there, no need to remind it every 30s.
As we say here "les absents ont toujours tort", congrats to the winner.

We know Duplantis was not there, no need to remind it every 30s.
As we say here "les absents ont toujours tort", congrats to the winner.

We know Duplantis was not there, no need to remind it every 30s.
As we say here "les absents ont toujours tort", congrats to the winner.

France in a medal position after 6 laps out of 8, who would have thought ? 4th at best but 

Filip Fjeld Andersen out of the WCH because of covid positive test... would you believe, apparently it is still a thing

Thea Lafond is a triple-jumper.
 
Unequal chances in this lot :
 
 also has Lana Pudar (Women's 100/200m Butterfly) and, though a long shot now, Amel Tuka (Men's 800m). 
 is a fair bet. Let's see how Alfred does in Budapest first. 
 is a decent one. Probably less likely now than it was a few years back but McMaster remains one of the best. Problems are : he's struggling with injuries, and the competition will not allow him any leeway.
 alright. But Gega is not that young though she's at her best at the moment. Women's 3000m steeple is usually quite open when it comes to big competitions, but she'll have a hard time getting a medal. 
 
Others are highly unlikely. 

Great showing from Maya Cloetens  nearly getting points in a sprint with 8/10 on her debut ... 

Dude, winning relay golds with Norway is like a German winning in luge, nobody cares.
Also considering how far back was Boe after Oberhof your point is off track.

Well I know it so it doesn't work