Games of the XXX Olympiad - London 2012

[old git]

old git, I certainly didn't tarnish her, however it is unfair and incorrect to compare her achievements to other more settled sports, or to other competitors. There was so much hype spoken about her before and during the Olympics, much of it by talking heads with zero knowledge of boxing (or indeed reality, ie sports) that her achievements hae somehow propelled her onto the pantheon of greats. She did well, she qualified easily, is the best in her division and won what amounts to a trial run sport. It cannot be taken away from her or any other female fighter who took part that they don't have ability, however since the depth of talent is very, very shallow (when was Katie's last Irish title fight?) it has to be viewed objectively.

fair enough points, but going on above posts then would paddy barnes 2 bronze medals at the last two olympics then not better both john joe & katies achievements

[OwlsFan]

Belarussian found guilty of doping and has been DQ'ed - New Zealand girl awarded gold.

Amazing (GB Olympics catch word) that I should pick her out as one of my highlights on the podium and then she is stripped of her medal. She certainly has something to cry about now.

A lot of insinuations from the Beeb and RTE about the Algerian runner who won the 1500 meters at a canter. Could drugs really make such a difference in an event like that? If so I'll have some of that. If he can do with without being detected, how do we know that they're not all at it, even those who haven't made the big improvement he did? I thought it was unfair of both stations. Innocent until proven otherwise surely?

[OwlsFan]

At the risk of going off topic but would Team UK have covered everyone? calling us "Team GB + NI + Crown Dependencies" probably wouldn't fit on the jerseys!

Why not Team UK ? Is the UK not just GB and NI?

[Mr A]

Amazing (GB Olympics catch word) that I should pick her out as one of my highlights on the podium and then she is stripped of her medal. She certainly has something to cry about now.

A lot of insinuations from the Beeb and RTE about the Algerian runner who won the 1500 meters at a canter. Could drugs really make such a difference in an event like that? If so I'll have some of that. If he can do with without being detected, how do we know that they're not all at it, even those who haven't made the big improvement he did? I thought it was unfair of both stations. Innocent until proven otherwise surely?

Actually, I think the commentators on both channels should generally have been way more cynical rather than less. But of course that wouldn't really make for good TV so it's unlikely we'll ever see that.

[passinginterest]

Slow day in work and came across this article. Raises some intereseting points and the idea of performance profiling seems a solid enough one. Probably worth a read if you have a few minutes to kill.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2012...mpian-doubts/1

[bennocelt]

A lot of insinuations from the Beeb and RTE about the Algerian runner who won the 1500 meters at a canter. Could drugs really make such a difference in an event like that? If so I'll have some of that. If he can do with without being detected, how do we know that they're not all at it, even those who haven't made the big improvement he did? I thought it was unfair of both stations. Innocent until proven otherwise surely?

Exactly considering the record of both nations -Millar, Chambers, Smith and (cough) O Connors horse

[BonnieShels]

Can we not just let everyone take everything and leave it at that.

Best doctor wins.

[horton]

Why not Team UK ? Is the UK not just GB and NI?

The UK is the UK of GB and NI, but the Channel Islands and Isle of Man athletes would also compete under the Team GB banner, even though they wouldn't be classed as part of either GB or NI.

[DannyInvincible]

The UK is the UK of GB and NI, but the Channel Islands and Isle of Man athletes would also compete under the Team GB banner, even though they wouldn't be classed as part of either GB or NI.

Team GB also covers the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the following British Overseas territories: Anguilla; the British Antarctic Territory; the British Indian Ocean Territory; the Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; the Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

[samhaydenjr]

First of all, congratulations to all our Olympic athletes for their fantastic and of course in particular to those who brought home more medals than we have won since 1956 - you were awesome to watch, even on the online world feeds here in Canada. We came in 41st out of 204 on the medal table and can be more then happy to be in the company of countries like Mexico and Argentina. But I want to look forward four (or even eight years) and try to figure out just what Ireland is capable of achieving at future Olympics. And with five medals at this Olympics and another nine top-ten finishes (including three top-five performances) I don't think it's pie-in-the-sky thinking to aim for double figures. So where could we achieve this?

1. Boxing - It seems that the IABA took the disappointment of the Athens Olympics particularly hard and has really focused on improvement and determining what it takes to become an Olympic Medalist and to great success. Right now it appears that boxing is the one sport capable of churning out multiple medal contenders in the near future - they have the drive and the belief to take on all-comers (having a sports psychologist has been crucial to this, I feel). And with Katie Taylor's spellbinding performance, more young women can be expected to take up the sport and if the women's side is expanded in future Olympics, it could provide a fertile ground for even more (BTW 19-year-old Ceire Smith was only one fight away from joining Katie Taylor in London) - I think the IABA should aim to increase the number of Irish boxers qualifying for the next two Olympics from six to eight or nine with an aim of bringing home five medals per Games.

2. Equestrian events - finally, after so much controversy and under-performing over the years, our riders delivered this time around with Cian O'Connor's bronze and also with excellent performances from the eventing team and, in particular Aoife Clark. For the future, the aim should be to qualify a full team for showjumping with a couple of medal contenders (and also practice jumping against the clock in a less hell-for-leather manner - while the bronze was great, O'Connor could easily have taken a couple of extra strides before the last, cleared it and claimed silver). The eventing team needs to improve on dressage and they will become serious medal contenders.

3. Sailing - Firstly, Annalise Murphy needs to be financially backed so that sailing becomes her job for the next eight years. And she needs to believe fully that she is the best sailor in the world in her class because for two days at the end of July she was. So she would do well to do some training with the boxers and Katie Taylor in particular and maybe have a few sessions with their psychologist. Her inspirational performance along with couple of other creditable efforts should be built on to provide multiple medal contenders in future years.

4. Athletics - Next time you see someone walking frantically down the road frantically, wiggling their bum, don't snigger - rather applaud and shout words of encouragement because, since I left, apparently Ireland has become a serious competitor in racewalking, with Robert Heffernan's two top-ten finishes and Aoife Loughnane's world championship silver medal. While both these stars may be nearing the end of their careers, they will hopefully inspire a new generation to take our new-found love of the event to new heights. And with the development of sprinting in Ireland (through the likes of Derval O'Rourke, David Gillick, Paul Hession, Jason Smyth and latterly Steven Colvert) we should have the infrastructure in place to produce a world-beating sprinter or two over the next decade and, without wishing to spark a controversial race debate, it is possible that Ireland's new community from West Africa may produce someone capable of sprint medals, given appropriate levels of support.

5. Swimming - Unfortunately Grainne Murphy was unable to show just what she is capable of but as she is only 19, she may again be a medal contender for the next two Olympics. And with Ireland now having three Olympic standard pools, she may be the first of a batch of potential medal-winners to emerge over the next few years.

6. Cycling - After Britain's poor performance in Atlanta it was their track cycling team who were at the forefront of their revival as a major sporting power, culminating in them winning sixteen gold medals. Undoubtedly, the building of the National Cycling Centre for the Manchester Commonwealth Games (for a modest 10 million pounds) was a major catalyst for this turnaround. So with a velodrome planned for Tallaght, Ireland could combine its great tradition in cycling with this brand new facility to develop a number of track cyclists into serious medal contenders. Martyn Irvine should also be supported through the next Olympic Games because, while he may have slightly underperformed in London, on his day he may be capable of challenging for a medal.

7. Canoeing - Give Andrzej Jezierski the support he didn't receive from Poland so that he can challenge again in Rio. Give him and Eoin Rheinisch coaching jobs to develop multiple medal contenders in canoeing. Support Hannah Craig so she can focus full-time on canoeing and give it one more shot in Rio to build on her creditable ninth at London - but get her to see a sports psychologist as she looked a little tentative in the final run.

8. Minor Sports
- Natalya Coyle should be helped to build on her top-ten finish in modern pentathlon so that she can contend for a medal in Rio and beyond
- Fencing, Judo, Shooting, Taekwondo and weightlifting offer 186 medals - why not develop these sports in Ireland and try to contend for a few?

[pineapple stu]

- Fencing, Judo, Shooting, Taekwondo and weightlifting offer 186 medals

Really?! Wow, but the Olympics are ridiculously biased against the status quo.

[osarusan]

8. Minor Sports
- Fencing, Judo, Shooting, Taekwondo and weightlifting offer 186 medals - why not develop these sports in Ireland and try to contend for a few?

Can't comment on the others, but judo isn't really a minor sport anymore. The near-total domination by the Japanese historically has ended as more countries take it seriously as an Olympic sport, with Japan getting only 1 gold medal this time round.

I'd guess that a problem with your idea in general is that lots of other countries will have already had the idea of finding sports that aren't taken seriously and investing in those hoping for Olympic medals.

[samhaydenjr]

Really?! Wow, but the Olympics are ridiculously biased against the status quo.

Aw come on now, it's not like I'm saying that we can suddenly pick up 20 of these medals - it was, after all, Part 8(b) of my Grand Plan to double our medal tally (which I might add, took me an hour to put together and was intended to inspire people to think big for the future) and was just added because I thought if such countries as Afghanistan and Gabon can pick up Taekwondo medals, there may be a possibility that, with a bit of support, our competitors could go further - we had at least one competitor who came close to qualification.

[ArdeeBhoy]

If I was a Nordie I'd be really pi**ed that they didn't even get a mention in the name Team GB or in the closing ceremony. Bagpipes, welsh choirs but nothing for the "wee country" or did I miss something?

To be fair, Alba & Cymru have been 'countries' in their own right.

Didn't notice myself, but not a problem really. We medalled disproportionately, remember we are less than 3% of the population. And of course a few of us ain't so keen on Team UK

Medals in 2 events? And thought a majority of a transplanted populace, as you are so quick to remind us, are in favour of 'team Ugly K.'...

[horton]

Team GB also covers the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the following British Overseas territories: Anguilla; the British Antarctic Territory; the British Indian Ocean Territory; the Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; the Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I forgot about them. Don't think any of them got included in the torch relay procession did they?

[Gather round]

I don't think it's pie-in-the-sky thinking to aim for double figures. So where could we achieve this?

Good post Sam, but surprised you didn't mention rowing- Ireland as a whole's second most successful sport at the 2012 Games. There must be a chance that three guys from the same small town school and club will inspire others across the island. Even if potential stars have to train in England or Germany.

without wishing to spark a controversial race debate, it is possible that Ireland's new community from West Africa may produce someone capable of sprint medals, given appropriate levels of support

West Africa got one medal in the whole games.

[Gather round]

Medals in 2 events?

Even if you only count those representing Britain, two medals is reasonable. Four (ie those for all the competitors from NI) is quite good, don't ye think?

Of the six NI competitors in the GB team, all bar table tennis's Na Liu were expected to win medals or get close. Cyclist Houvenaghel was reserve on the gold winning team and for all her flounces was probably a bit unlucky. Hockey defender Lewers came fourth.

And thought a majority of a transplanted populace, as you are so quick to remind us, are in favour of 'team Ugly K.'...

Did you miss the bit where I made clear I was happy to be in the minority? I'd just call the team Britain, but GB is better than UK or any other clunking alternative.

[OwlsFan]

A Van Morrison song perhaps instead of George Michael's new release?

Nice to see that Katie T was one of the 10 competitors picked to make presentations to the volunteer helpers.

[Gather round]

A Van Morrison song perhaps instead of George Michael's new release?

Sic transit Gloria?

[samhaydenjr]

Good post Sam, but surprised you didn't mention rowing- Ireland as a whole's second most successful sport at the 2012 Games. There must be a chance that three guys from the same small town school and club will inspire others across the island. Even if potential stars have to train in England or Germany.

You're absolutely right - I had thought about including rowing based on historical performances (Niall O'Toole, men's fours in '96) but chose to focus mainly on sports where there are current performances that give hope for the future. I was not aware of the medals picked up by rowers from the North for Team GB. So let's remedy that:

9. Rowing - if rowers from Northern Ireland can pick up two medals for Team GB, then there's no reason why rowing in The Republic can't work to produce competitive rowers (as it has in the recent past) - or perhaps we can poach the best from the Six Counties!

West Africa got one medal in the whole games.

True, but there were some very respectable track sprint performances with Cote d'Ivoire's Murielle Ahoure qualifying for the women's 100m and 200m finals and Nigeria's women qualifying for four sprint finals, including a fourth place finish in the 4x100m relay (and historically, Nigeria has picked up a fair smattering of sprint medals). And of course, sprinting nowadays is dominated by athletes from the Caribbean and US (and to a lesser extent Britain and Canada) who are of West African heritage (I know, I'm doing a Nik Wallenda here but I think I'm OK) and have the coaching and technological infrastructure to capitalise fully on their genetic predisposition for sprinting (Oh, oh no, waaahhhh!!!!!)