The 2008 Olympics Thread

[Dodge]

Boxers & female badminton seem to be the only performers so far as the remainder of the results have been poor (taking rankings etc... into consideration) so far...

Bit harsh.

Canoeist is ranked top 15. He's made the top 15.
Cycling; performed as expected (and neither oof our lads would be top 100 in the world)
3 Day eventing; Team was ranked 11th coming in. Currently 8th. None of our riders ranked inside world top 40

Fencing; Lowesr ranked in her section. Lost to a woman who went on to beat 3rd seed by similar score

Rowing; Heavyweight four performed exceptionally well. 5th best time for a team ranked 10th in the world. Even the Lightweight 4s had the 5th best time overall (ahead of the British crew who win their race). Remember that they gained the 13th and last spot in the Olympics

Shooting; Performed better than he has in last two world championships. Was obviously far worse than last Olympics.

Swimming; Bree set a new IR in his 2nd event. None of the others have raced their best event yet.

Sailors; performing to the rankings

[Magicme]

My nut-job sons have switched themselves to Chinese time so that they can watch all the action live. Got a phone call bout an hour ago from them telling me to be quiet when I get home from work as they were heading to bed! Loonies. Wont see much of them over the next while and gets me out of cooking duties!

[Dodge]

Eoin Rheinisch finished 4th in the kayak Slalom.

[Torn-Ado]

Eoin Rheinisch finished 4th in the kayak Slalom.

Great effort. Very unlucky.

[Angus]

Am I going mad or did I read that yet another Irish sporting organisation has screwed up getting the right gear to the competition on time ?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics2008/2008/0811/nocher.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2008/0812/1218477341674.html

This girl apparently normally wears her goggles inside her swimming hat. It appears as if moments before the race they identified that her hat was not compliant because of a logo issue and she then had to scab one from some other bloke.

But this blokes hat does not allow for goggles to be worn inside, hence she wore them outside - result being she is totally flustered and her goggles leak.

"There was a bit of confusion," acknowledged Swim Ireland head coach Keith Bewley last night. "The Irish logo was fine but we had two Speedo logos on the hat and you are supposed to have one. We have used these hats at meets before and there has been no problem but the Olympic rules are a bit different."

Bewley said that he expected the newly-ordered hats with the Irish shamrock logo to have arrived in Beijing tomorrow and added that if necessary, they could blacken one of the illegal logos prior to the next Irish race - Andrew Bree goes in the 200 metres breast stroke this evening.

Just read this from Swim Ireland - we have used these before and they were OK - aka we did not read the rules or do anything like the kind of preparation you need to compete.

He is now contemplating blacking out the offending hat - what is this ? Black tape ? A Black felt tip pen ?

The line I love is "There was some confusion" - no, there was just the usual level of amateurish preparation.

I am sure Genesys are standing by licking lips for a hefty contract !!

[pete]

The line I love is "There was some confusion" - no, there was just the usual level of amateurish preparation.

I am sure Genesys are standing by licking lips for a hefty contract !!

Seems to me like footballer wearing incorrect boots. Credit when it is due but criticism when due also.

Great result by canoeist even if he sneaked past each cut off. I did not see the final but RTE pundit did not think he was performing well this morning in the semi final. Due canoeist take drugs? Any chance of a positive sample getting him a bronze? :D

RTE pundit seemed to be talking up Bree a lot saying he is better than his PBs. I don't think as Irish we like guys getting talked up so much ;)

Watching the rowing repechage this morning & couldn't help feel the GAA back door system inspired by rowing. :D
You have 3 heats, throw all the losers into the back door repechage & then put of those 4 into the semi final - 12 out of 13 make the semi final.

[Angus]

Seems to me like footballer wearing incorrect boots. Credit when it is due but criticism when due also.



Agree but what is the point of having anybody from Swim Ireland there if it is the swimmers responsibility ?

[pete]

Agree but what is the point of having anybody from Swim Ireland there if it is the swimmers responsibility ?

Don't know whose fault it is but a woeful mistake whatever way you look it.

AFAIK the thing about the swimming caps was discovered with the first Irish swimmer.

[ramondo]

Eoin Rheinisch finished 4th in the kayak Slalom.

Was still in the lead with 5 rowers to go, then third with the last rower to go, and the Togan went and did the third best time for the bronze - Togo's first ever Olympic medal.

Unlucky in some ways, but had he won a medal you could say it would have been one of the luckiest ever, considering how he got to the final.

Disheartening though, to sit there and watch what may have been our best chance of a medal slip away... but there was a dreadful inevitability about it.


"There was a bit of confusion," acknowledged Swim Ireland head coach Keith Bewley last night. "The Irish logo was fine but we had two Speedo logos on the hat and you are supposed to have one. We have used these hats at meets before and there has been no problem but the Olympic rules are a bit different."

Bewley said that he expected the newly-ordered hats with the Irish shamrock logo to have arrived in Beijing tomorrow and added that if necessary, they could blacken one of the illegal logos prior to the next Irish race - Andrew Bree goes in the 200 metres breast stroke this evening.

Aah, that's more like it.

[pete]

...the Togan went and did the third best time for the bronze - Togo's first ever Olympic medal..

If I had to guess Togos first Olympic medal I would not have picked canoeing. I see he is French born but picked country of his parents so maybe less of a surprise.

[Dodge]

Jokeshop about the hats, but then its being blown way out of proportion too.

Rheinisch didn't actually perform better in his secind run to his first, its just that the lads below him all messed up. He'd have needed the Togo guy to hit two gates to geta bromze. That was asking too much. His ranking from round to round went 18-15-10-4. Fabulous sport to watch. Got hooked by it with ian Wiley doing well in previous Olympics.

Bree will probably shatter his irish record today but he's till only ranked about 25th in the field, with 16 to make semis.

[Dodge]

Oh, and on the rowers. The repechage system works well in other events (World Cups etc) with laods of boats in there. As there is a limited field, it’s a bit much. BTW the Irish were ranked 5th fastest the other day. They just happened to have 3 of the faster boats in their heat.

[joe_barry80]

Bree wins 200m Breaststroke Heat

[bennocelt]

Eoin Rheinisch finished 4th in the kayak Slalom.

Pity, but to be fair 4th was about right, the Togo guy was awesome, man did he attack in the semi's
At least Eoin R will be back for another Olympics

Bree just after smashing the irish record, wow he looks half decent

[MariborKev]

Anyone see the Brits in the mixed badimton there now?

Phenomenal game.

[pete]

Bree wins 200m Breaststroke Heat

Maybe the hype is justified. I make him 12th fastest into the semi final. Genuine chance of a final place I presume...?

[Torn-Ado]

Finally get to see some Irish Olympians in action on TV. The two Irish riders in the Showjumping each racked up 12 faults and probably will be down the field.

[Dodge]

Maybe the hype is justified. I make him 12th fastest into the semi final. Genuine chance of a final place I presume...?

He was about a second off the 8th ranked.

The semi is at 3.40 in the mornign if you're interested

[boovidge]

Anyone see the Brits in the mixed badimton there now?

Phenomenal game.

Yeah I thought they were dead and buried but they just sneaked it!

[sligoman]

John Joe Nevin through:)

[red bellied]

The boxers seem the best chance of a medal. Three through to the last 16, two more yet to fight in the middleweight and flyweight divisions.

[geysir]

The boxers seem the best chance of a medal. Three through to the last 16, two more yet to fight in the middleweight and flyweight divisions.
Better than that.
All 5 are through to the last 16.
2 fights from a medal.

[pete]

The semi is at 3.40 in the mornign if you're interested

RTE.ie before I got o work me thinks...

Only seen a few minutes when getting ready for working for Pigott/Lyster partnership on RTE mornings is terrible. Possibly RTEs two worst presenters?

Funny seeing Bill O'Herlihy doing his football style questioning of performances in the evenings.

[paudie]

Best entertainment so far was Scott Evans in the badminton even though he lost.

3 Day Eventing team 10th after Dressage. I am sure they will improve but have to wonder why we bother sending them as only 11 teams in the competition.

Surely it's better to send teams to sports with very few competitors as we have a better chance of doing well:D

If we were better at the Dressage we would have a shot at a medal. Although Dressage itself just looks silly!

[paudie]

Well done Eoin Rheinisch.

Other Irish Olympians to come 4th

Sonia O'Sullivan -1992
Eamon Coghlan -1976/1980
Lord something in the skeleton (winter olympics) -2002?
Did Kevin Babington end up 4th in the showjumping after O'Connor being banned? -2004
Sean Drea - Rowing single sculls -1976

There are a few more I think. I'll have to research it a bit more.

[Torn-Ado]

Well done Eoin Rheinisch.

Other Irish Olympians to come 4th

Sonia O'Sullivan -1992
Eamon Coghlan -1976/1980
Lord something in the skeleton (winter olympics) -2002?
Did Kevin Babington end up 4th in the showjumping after O'Connor being banned? -2004
Sean Drea - Rowing single sculls -1976

There are a few more I think. I'll have to research it a bit more.

The Lightweight Fours in Rowing finished 4th in the final in Atlanta in 96.

And it was Lord Clifton Wrottesly of Abbeyknockmoy in Galway who came fourth in the skeleton. :)

[newbie]

in work from early morning til late night so missed the boxing. anyone know where i can see the highlights or replay?

thanks

[sligoman]

Bree came 5th in a time of 2:10.16, new Irish record again.

Unfortunately he finished 11th overall and hasn't qualified for the final:(.

[Dodge]

in work from early morning til late night so missed the boxing. anyone know where i can see the highlights or replay?

thanks

http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics2008/player.html

[Dodge]

Mens 470 sailors win their second race. Lie in 9th place overall.

Top 10 qualify for final medal race

[Dodge]

Mens heavy Four rowers finish 6th in semi and will race in B final

[Torn-Ado]

Kenny Egan win his second round match against his Turkish opponent 10-2 and is only one match away from a medal.

Never really in doubt after round two as he just picked him off. Great that SVT actually showed it live too.:)

[ramondo]

Mens heavy Four rowers finish 6th in semi and will race in B final

What's in it for the B Final winners?


Kenny Egan win his second round match against his Turkish opponent 10-2 and is only one match away from a medal.

Never really in doubt after round two as he just picked him off. Great that SVT actually showed it live too.

Good stuff.

[shakermaker1982]

Egan could meet Jeffries in the semi. My brother fought Jeffries a few years back in the junior ABA's. Irish boxing team have been fantastic so far - fingers crossed a few medals come our way!

[Torn-Ado]

Egan could meet Jeffries in the semi. My brother fought Jeffries a few years back in the junior ABA's. Irish boxing team have been fantastic so far - fingers crossed a few medals come our way!

Its some Brazilian who he is up against.

[shakermaker1982]

Its some Brazilian who he is up against.

if he beats Silva it's more than likely he'll meet Jeffries (assuming he beats the Hungarian) in the Semi.

[Torn-Ado]

if he beats Silva it's more than likely he'll meet Jeffries (assuming he beats the Hungarian) in the Semi.

I don't wanna tempt fate nad think that far ahead. :)

[shakermaker1982]

true - particularly in Amatuer boxing!!!

[geysir]

Bookies odds to win next bout
JJJ 4/9
JJN 10/3
Darren Sutherland 1/4
Paddy Barnes 1/14

Bronze medal bout
Ken Egan 1/6

[Schumi]

Most of those odds just reflect the money that's gone onto the Irish guys rather than an objective view of the fights. 1/6 for a quarter final is a bit daft.

[geysir]

I wouldn't know about all that.
Would you offer evens on Egan winning? :)

[pineapple stu]

I thought both beaten semi finallists got bronzes?

[pete]

Good performance by Egan this morning. Looked very comfortable.

It is a pity RTE.ie don't have a section where you can view the Irish performances without them telling you the result. Sport isn't half as good if you know the result in advance.

[Torn-Ado]

Joyce loses on countback. Awful way to go out like Andy Lee four years ago.

[superfrank]

I thought both beaten semi finallists got bronzes?
I think so. RTÉ said he needed to win one more to be guaranteed a medal.

I watched the Joyce fight earlier. I think he peaked too early. By the fourth, he seemed to be willing to run the clock out and wasn't too bothered about fighting Diaz.

[Schumi]

I wouldn't know about all that.
Would you offer evens on Egan winning? :)I wouldn't offer any odds, I'd never heard of this Brazilian guy until now!

If he's got through two rounds, he's obviously fairly good and I'd give him better than a 1 in 6 chance.

[bennocelt]

Egan did the business again, looked in control

Joyce really messed up that one, esp near the end, and in a round about way he kind of deserved the warning. I reckon the same could happen to Nevin in his fight. I think the Dom Rep boxer deserved to win. Pity but thats Olympic boxing for you. To be fair Joyce would have found it hard to get anywhere near a medal. The boxers who remained looked very strong.- The Cuban- Russian tie should be a cracker.
I am looking forward to someone giving that Thai lad a good hiding:)

[shakermaker1982]

I've not seen the bout myself but from what I hear Joyce was very unlucky.

[geysir]

JJJ looked absolutely shattered to lose at the end, had to feel for the guy.
If only he could fight that first round again.

[Metrostars]

I thought both beaten semi finallists got bronzes?

Yes:

The two boxers who lose in the semifinals do not box-off for the bronze medal; instead, each receives a bronze.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/boxing/insidethissport/format/newsid=119224.html#competition+format