Games of the XXX Olympiad - London 2012

[Spudulika]

How come RTE aren't showing it? I'm watching on eurosport (channel) and a 3rd just went clear. Could be good for Cian.

[osarusan]

Any links for Katie's fight?

[Charlie Darwin]

Should be on here: http://www.coolsport.tv/stream6.php

[Spudulika]

Osarusan, it's on rte live (radio).

[Spudulika]

If she keeps this up Moscow won't be such a friendly place for Irish people today - packs of cleaners and shelf-stackers will be out for our blood!

[Real ale Madrid]

However bad Jimmy Magee is on the telly, Marty Morrissey is really deplorable on the radio. We can hear the crowd Marty just describe the action.

[peadar1987]

If she keeps this up Moscow won't be such a friendly place for Irish people today - packs of cleaners and shelf-stackers will be out for our blood!

Sure it's grand, if you can't out-box them, you can always jump over them on a horse!

[Real ale Madrid]

BRONZE for Cian O'Connor - was 0.02 away from getting in a jump-off for Gold. Still, well done to him.

If Paddy Barnes can win tonight we will equal our best ever medals haul of 5.

[SkStu]

delighted for Cian O'Connor to be honest. Wrongly took a lot of the heat for his horse's stupidity in taking drugs. Nah, seriously though, flippin delighted for him.

Did anyone see this bit in Taylors fight - i think her opponents brain exited her nose briefly.

http://ballsdot.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/taylorsnot.gif

[peadar1987]

BRONZE for Cian O'Connor - was 0.02 away from getting in a jump-off for Gold. Still, well done to him.

If Paddy Barnes can win tonight we will equal our best ever medals haul of 5.

Fantastic for Cian O'Connor, I've always felt 2004 was very harsh on him. Sure, illegal substances were found in the horse, but they weren't performance enhancing, so even though he was fairly stripped of the gold, he now has the Olympic medal his own performance probably deserved.

[bennocelt]

I dont agree with the sentiment, sorry guys - a cheat is a cheat (T Henry?)
Anyway great for the boxers - pity i decided to come for a few football matches - maybe should have stayed in London!:o

[NeverFeltBetter]

Wasn't O'Connor cleared of personal wrongdoing in that whole incident? Something (that didnt improve performance) that was prescribed to the horse without his input?

[SkStu]

Wasn't O'Connor cleared of personal wrongdoing in that whole incident?

Yes, he was.

[bennocelt]

Prohibited substances none the less, and what about the stolen documents from the Irish Eq Fed going missing. Friends in high places.

One side of Ireland do well, while another do even better (boxing). I know who I'm celebrating.

(but any links will be nice Skstu?)

[SkStu]

(but any links will be nice Skstu?)

it is common knowledge at this stage as a quick google would confirm. This short independent.ie article from 2011 verifies it but i cant find any releases from the time.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cians-ready-for-the-show-2809676.html

[tricky_colour]

Fantastic for Cian O'Connor, I've always felt 2004 was very harsh on him. Sure, illegal substances were found in the horse, but they weren't performance enhancing, so even though he was fairly stripped of the gold, he now has the Olympic medal his own performance probably deserved.

I am trying to think why they woudl prohibit something which was not performance enhancing.

[tricky_colour]

Wasn't O'Connor cleared of personal wrongdoing in that whole incident? Something (that didnt improve performance) that was prescribed to the horse without his input?

You can't blame the rider if the horse chooses to do drugs!!

[geysir]

It was the follow-up covert actions to subvert the wheels of drug cheat justice, that added a truly bizarre episode to that story.

[bennocelt]

it is common knowledge at this stage as a quick google would confirm. This short independent.ie article from 2011 verifies it but i cant find any releases from the time.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cians-ready-for-the-show-2809676.html

So no links then? So who took the fall for it, I'm guessing no one?
Sometimes they use stuff that can calm the nerves of a horse - questionable if its a performance enhancer

[tricky_colour]

Women's volley ball is on now if you are interested in women err... I mean volleyball ;)

[tricky_colour]

So no links then? So who took the fall for it, I'm guessing no one?
Sometimes they use stuff that can calm the nerves of a horse - questionable if its a performance enhancer

Yes this is the thing depends what you mean by performance enhancer, most people think of things
which enhance strength and stamina but then there is also the mental stuff. Things which calm or stimulate
the mind can enhance performance too.


It could also be that a masking agent was found, which does not enhance performance in any but does
enhance your chances of passing a dope test!!

[bennocelt]

That horse was clever, wasnt it:p

[DannyInvincible]

Nice surprise to come home from work and find Cian O'Connor won an unexpected bronze after sneaking into the show-jumping final as a reserve.

Great stuff from Katie Taylor once again also to guarantee us at least a silver medal. She's just so dominant. Two women trying to bate the **** out of each other or not, she's a joy to watch.

I'm in England, but I got to see repeat footage of the fight here on RTÉ's apparently-island-of-Ireland-only 'Olympics on Demand' facility: http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/player/332622/?autoplay=1

Jimmy Magee's rambling, stream-of-conscience commentary style is never a let-down. Raging I won't be able to watch the gold medal fight tomorrow live.


Great news that Conlon is through to the last 4

Just for you (https://twitter.com/McDonnellDan/status/232935791188398080), geysir. :)


Daniel McDonnell: Excellent from Conlan. Another win and people might start spelling your surname correctly. #notconlon

[DannyInvincible]

Yes this is the thing depends what you mean by performance enhancer, most people think of things
which enhance strength and stamina but then there is also the mental stuff. Things which calm or stimulate
the mind can enhance performance too.

What exactly constitutes a "performance-enhancing" substance? On a very basic level, wouldn't the consumption of something like Lucozade Sport enhance performance in a way that, say, water couldn't? Why aren't sports drinks deemed to be "performance-enhancing"? In fact, what's stopping water or all food from being classified as "performance-enhancing"? Without them, performance would be impossible.

[SkStu]

So no links then? So who took the fall for it, I'm guessing no one?
Sometimes they use stuff that can calm the nerves of a horse - questionable if its a performance enhancer

i provided a link to a reputable publisher. Not sure what you are looking for?

heres a link to the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/mar/29/athensolympics2004.equestrianism

and below is an extract from horseandhound.co.uk describing the events and that the vet administered the drugs.


Irish show jumper Cian O’Connor looks increasingly likely to lose his Olympic gold medal, following the unofficial news that tiny traces of prohibited substances have also been found in Waterford Crystal’s “B” blood sample.

The sample was tested in New York on Monday, following the disappearance of a quantity of the “B” urine sample last week, and was found to contain miniscule amounts of Fluphenazine and Zuclophenthixol.


However, O’Connor is adamant that he did not use drugs to try to enhance the performance of Waterford Crystal in Athens. He has maintained throughout this saga that they were in the horse’s system as a result of treatment some period before the competition.


In a statement from his lawyer, O’Connor says: “I have been unofficially informed that the B blood sample taken from my Olympic horse has been tested. Minute traces of the medications fluphenazine and zuclopenthixol have been found.


“I have always maintained that the “B” analysis would confirm that my horse was given a medication by my vet during a therapy session well in advance of the Games.


“The preliminary readings seem to suggest a figure of 120 picograms of Fluphenazine which amounts to 0.00012 millionth of a gram in 1 millilitre of blood and also that the quantity of concentration of Zuclopenthixol amounts to 0.0005 millionth of a gram in 1 millilitre of blood.


“These readings are so minute that they confirm that they had absolutely no therapeutic or performance enhancing effect on my horse at the Games.


“This corroborates my explanation that the horse had been given a sedative by my vet well in advance of the Olympic Games in Athens.”


O’Connor’s vet James Sheeran has admitted that he administered the drugs, which are usually used in human psychiatric patients, to Waterford Crystal during a hydrotherapy session prior to the Games.


Sheeran explains: “Waterford Crystal was in full fitness, but needed treatment in a hydrotherapy unit for one week. This entails standing in an enclosed space and I did not want him to injure himself. I chose these drugs because I wanted a calming effect without making him sleepy or unsteady on his feet, as equine medicines would.”


The Irish Equestrian Federation is currently awaiting official confirmation of the test results from the FEI.

[Spudulika]

Isn't Lord Lieutenant O'Reilly the godfather of Cian? Wasn't there a suggestion that he had used some sort of gear to de-sensitise the front legs of the horse?

[DannyInvincible]

Paddy Barnes up now: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/live-video/p00w32df

[Spudulika]

Medal number 5. Two sports we're best at, fighting and riding.

[DannyInvincible]

Guaranteed another bronze. Good second round from Barnes but the third made for a nervy finish. Racking the medals up now though. Easy! :)

[SkStu]

Frida Pinto! Mahatma Gandhi! Indira Gandhi! Mother Teresa! Sachin Tendulkar! Cornershop! Dev from Coronation Street! Can you hear me? Dev from Coronations Street!? Your boy took one hell of a beating! Your boy took one hell of a beating!

[DannyInvincible]

Medal number 5. Two sports we're best at, fighting and riding.

And drinkin'! Wasn't there an Irish boy hoping for gold in the triathlon? Only he pulled out as soon as he realised Athlin wasn't a Scotch whiskey.

[bennocelt]

i provided a link to a reputable publisher. Not sure what you are looking for?

heres a link to the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/mar/29/athensolympics2004.equestrianism

and below is an extract from horseandhound.co.uk describing the events and that the vet administered the drugs.

The Indo one just stated that he was cleared or whatever and left it at that.
Yeah the other two are interesting enough. Still a few unanswered questions - if innocent why not try and get it overturned (I dont really buy the reasons given), and there was still traces of this substance -no matter how minute.
As mentioned previously - what about the b sample - was that the thing that went missing in Dublin?
Anyway it doesnt really matter.

[Spudulika]

Just in case anyone has seen the tripe regurgitated out of certain hacks (step forward Vincent Hogan of the Indo for one) - Katie Taylor's opponent DIDN'T say that Ireland is in debt because of paying for Katie's wins. She DIDN'T say that the IOC want to give her a gold medal. She DID say that to beat Katie means to take it beyond judges and referees as she's the best boxer in the world and always outpunches her opponents, so to beat her an opponent has to beat her out of sight. http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/olympics-2012/irish-news/vincent-hogan-ireland-is-in-financial-crisis-because-theyve-spent-money-on-taylors-referees-claims-final-foe-3195135.html

Just in case anyone asks for a link.

[geysir]

The Indo one just stated that he was cleared or whatever and left it at that.
Yeah the other two are interesting enough. Still a few unanswered questions - if innocent why not try and get it overturned (I dont really buy the reasons given), and there was still traces of this substance -no matter how minute.
As mentioned previously - what about the b sample - was that the thing that went missing in Dublin?
Anyway it doesnt really matter.
He wasn't innocent as he was found guilty, but found innocent of deliberate performance enhancing doping. Afair, he didn't claim that the horse had no traces of drugs, just that it was not deliberate, in that he was cleared by the inquiry. Most probably he didn't take the case to CAS because according to the rules he was 100% guilty regardless of intent.
His punishment was mild (medal stripping apart).
I think we can give the lad the benefit of the doubt because of the manner in which he has dedicated himself to representing Irish equestrian sport, if you can call it a sport.

[Roberto]

Just 2 quick questions and apologies if these matters have been raised previously.

1) Why was Cian O'Connor first reserve when two riders that didn't qualify after round 3 had better records. As you know the top 35 qualified for the finals but Cian finished joint 37th?

2) Why in some sports like football and beach volleyball do the semi finalists have to play off for the bronze but in boxing they dont'?

[osarusan]

Answer to 2) is that there is a danger of one beaten semi-finalist being knocked out or hurt so badly it would be impossible/dangerous for them to compete. So I'd guess that there are play-offs for other sports because they're always in condition to have a playoff (though there could be exceptions in sports like judo, for example).

[geysir]

2) Why in some sports like football and beach volleyball do the semi finalists have to play off for the bronze but in boxing they dont'?
The boxers have a tough schedule, the fights especially in the latter stages can be totally draining, it's an act of humanity not to subject 2 losing semi finalists though another battering.

[Roberto]

The boxers have a tough schedule, the fights especially in the latter stages can be totally draining, it's an act of humanity not to subject 2 losing semi finalists though another battering.

It might be an idea to apply this principle to soccer in which case we wouldn't have had to play Italy after the battering Spain gave us :)

[Spudulika]

Back up what Osarusan and Geysir said, because of the old style amateur sensitivity and results, a semi meant bronze. If a fighter is knocked out they will normally get a 28 day suspension. Likewise a boxer who loses on a serious cut cannot be allowed risk damage in a box off. One fair way, of course, is to let the last person standing win the medal, though it's nice to get the medal.

[Spudulika]

Answer to 2) is that there is a danger of one beaten semi-finalist being knocked out or hurt so badly it would be impossible/dangerous for them to compete. So I'd guess that there are play-offs for other sports because they're always in condition to have a playoff (though there could be exceptions in sports like judo, for example).

Osarusan, just trying to remember correctly, did you win silver or bronze in Portsmouth? I have it on my record as silver.

[Schumi]

1) Why was Cian O'Connor first reserve when two riders that didn't qualify after round 3 had better records. As you know the top 35 qualified for the finals but Cian finished joint 37th?
Joint 38th according to the official olympic site (http://www.london2012.com/equestrian/event/jumping-individual/phase=eqx002202/index.html). There are two in joint 33rd who didn't qualify though. Not sure what's going on there, maybe they pulled out straight away or something.

[Roberto]

Joint 38th according to the official olympic site (http://www.london2012.com/equestrian/event/jumping-individual/phase=eqx002202/index.html). There are two in joint 33rd who didn't qualify though. Not sure what's going on there, maybe they pulled out straight away or something.

Perhaps we better say no more in case they made a mistake and Cian would lose another medal ;)

[Roberto]

Joint 38th according to the official olympic site (http://www.london2012.com/equestrian/event/jumping-individual/phase=eqx002202/index.html). There are two in joint 33rd who didn't qualify though. Not sure what's going on there, maybe they pulled out straight away or something.

I found out answer to my question re Cian O'Connor i.e. 'The Meath man collected 12 faults to share 38th place, but with two of those ahead of him not entitled to compete because only three riders from any nation can take part in the closing stages, he is first reserve along with Belgium (http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Belgium)'s Dirk Demeersman and Argentina's Jose Larocca'

[osarusan]

Osarusan, just trying to remember correctly, did you win silver or bronze in Portsmouth? I have it on my record as silver.

Silver, which I paid for in blood.

[osarusan]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427295_506896222660456_1232273272_n.jpg

[Spudulika]

Silver, which I paid for in blood.

And a shaved head. I seem to remember 4 of us getting our photos taken with cops outside Buckingham Palace looking like neo-nazis!

[NeverFeltBetter]

That tweet, It's fake.

[osarusan]

That tweet, It's fake.

Booooooooooo.

[Macy]

The tweet isn't fake, but it wasn't by Wiggins.

[OwlsFan]

My LaughingBillophobia reached new heights last night following Barnes' opponent head butting him and getting a warning. Bill "the referee missed that...." Luckily there was a panel of 52 ex-boxers to correct him.

Very nervous about Katie's fight. We know Irish sport. Seldom is anything plain sailing (the Estonia qualification game aside). I will watch it with the sound turned down as Jimmy Magee awards her the fight before she even gets in to the ring. Fighting a Russian soldier. God.