OT: Official Olympic thread. Go Canada Go!!!

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Speed walking is the most ridiculous thing ever. I can't believe it's an Olympic event.

Maybe it's already been mentioned but my fun fact is that hockey was originally a Summer Olympic sport. The first time it came to the Olympics it was the summer one.

Golf being an olympic sport is pretty damned ridiculous.

ITs all rather silly though.

 

[saskriders]

Golf being an olympic sport is pretty damned ridiculous.

Why? It is a hugely popular sport that is played all around the world and has had major champions from every continent. It may be American and European dominated, but it still has popularity and potential medal contenders from many countries.

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

And Penny Oleksiak takes gold (tied with usa) in the 100m freestyle

First to take 4 medals in swimming for Canada. And Canada first gold.

She's got 4 of Canada's 7 medals

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Phelps 4 time gold medalist in the 200 meter individual medley. He's the first swimmer ever to win the same event at four straight Olympics. He also set a record with 26 Olympic medals.

Simone Manuel became the first African-American woman to win a gold medal for the United States in an individual swimming event

 

[Smash88]

And Penny Oleksiak takes gold (tied with usa) in the 100m freestyle

First to take 4 medals in swimming for Canada. And Canada first gold.

She's got 4 of Canada's 7 medals

What an impressive swim! For her to be 7th at the turn and win against the best in the world is mind boggling.

Way to go Penny! I really hope she keeps it up, because Tokyo could really be something special for her.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Freidman



https://cdn.streamable.com/video/mp4/0s9a.mp4

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

What an impressive swim! For her to be 7th at the turn and win against the best in the world is mind boggling.

Way to go Penny! I really hope she keeps it up, because Tokyo could really be something special for her.

I totally agree. It was just amazing.

At the turn, I was like oh crap! But then at about 75M I was like holy crap she might even medal! It was really incredible.

Also read a lot about her the last few days and most people say even though she wasn't expected to do this no one is surprised. She's got the genetics for it (long strong and lean) plus the mental drive for it too.

And also I'm a freaking emotional girl. I'm tearing up at like every medal ceremony for Canada. The girls this year have been impressive thus far

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

And a silver for Canada rowing (women doubles skulls).

Go women go!!!

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

And a silver for Canada rowing (women doubles skulls).

Go women go!!!

My 11 year old daughter is loving the fact that all our medals have been won by the women. Girl power!

 

[DrunkUncleDenis]

My 11 year old daughter is loving the fact that all our medals have been won by the women. Girl power!

It is absolutely great.

I do wonder how much the lopsided results based on gender have to do with other nations spending (or not spending) the money required in their female development programs? No research on my part here, but I'm just thinking that, since our men aren't getting much done, maybe there is higher quality competition across the globe for male athletes than for female athletes, especially from under- or less developed countries?

I mean, money put into development should have a direct result on medals totals, so if other nations, developed or not, are not putting the money required into women's programs to compete, the talent pool Canadian women are up against will be lesser than what the men are facing. Like in Women's hockey but on a braoder scale. Some well-funded programs, then the rest.

Just a thought. Absolutely feel free to correct me.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Why? It is a hugely popular sport that is played all around the world and has had major champions from every continent. It may be American and European dominated, but it still has popularity and potential medal contenders from many countries.

It's about as much of a sport as darts is. A very difficult game, but calling it a sport is silly.

 

[ChocolateLeclaire]

It's about as much of a sport as darts is. A very difficult game, but calling it a sport is silly.

This is about the dumbest assessment of a sport that I have ever read...

Have you ever golfed? I seems like you haven't as the sport is insanely difficult to be good at. You also have to be athletic enough to master a swing and walk 18 holes in varying degrees of heat. That's not to take into account the mental fortitude that's required to make shots under pressure.

Golf is a sport. It's not my sport of choice but if golf isn't a sport, then neither is baseball.

 

[Lenny the Lynx]

That Friedman call was funny.

It was basically the experience of watching Bob Cole call a hockey game post 2010

 

[SensBrawler]

Rosie MacLennan wins her second straight gold in trampoline.

 

[armani]

Freidman

Friedman may have connections in the NHL, so his twitter updates maybe alright, but I much rather watch paint dry than subject myself to listening to/watching him on TV. Why is he a play-by-play for the swimming events? What a boring guy.

 

[Rysto]

Why is he a play-by-play for the swimming events? What a boring guy.

Because the first stringer, Steve Armitage, had health issues just before the Olympics started and was unable to go. Friedman was a last-second replacement.

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

Rosie MacLennan wins her second straight gold in trampoline.

Been a hell of a go for Canadians these last 24 hours.

Also I'm VERY pleased that Sweden beat USA in women's soccer.

 

[Knave]

I'm just glad we have 2 golds so we won't be shut out of that.

 

[Stylizer1]

Rosie MacLennan wins her second straight gold in trampoline.

Trampoline should be cut from the Olympics.

 

[Six Assets]

It is absolutely great.

I do wonder how much the lopsided results based on gender have to do with other nations spending (or not spending) the money required in their female development programs? No research on my part here, but I'm just thinking that, since our men aren't getting much done, maybe there is higher quality competition across the globe for male athletes than for female athletes, especially from under- or less developed countries?

I mean, money put into development should have a direct result on medals totals, so if other nations, developed or not, are not putting the money required into women's programs to compete, the talent pool Canadian women are up against will be lesser than what the men are facing. Like in Women's hockey but on a braoder scale. Some well-funded programs, then the rest.

Just a thought. Absolutely feel free to correct me.

That sounds about right to me. It's pretty much the same reason why Canada's Womens basketball team is a top-3 team in the world while our Mens team didn't even qualify (granted Wiggins didn't play in the qualifiers).

Most European/South American countries do spend development and resources on Mens basketball, hence no matter how much money we put into our Mens program it might not be able to make up for the disparity in talent. However, European/South American countries don't put nearly the amount of resources that we do into Womens basketball. This gives our team an obvious advantage and given that we have been investing in Womens basketball for decades, the results are starting to show in Olympic play.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

This is about the dumbest assessment of a sport that I have ever read...

Have you ever golfed? I seems like you haven't as the sport is insanely difficult to be good at. You also have to be athletic enough to master a swing and walk 18 holes in varying degrees of heat. That's not to take into account the mental fortitude that's required to make shots under pressure.

Golf is a sport. It's not my sport of choice but if golf isn't a sport, then neither is baseball.

StarCraft and donkeykong are insanely difficult to master and competitive as hell. that doesn't mean they're sports. If walking in the heat is the only requirement for something to be a sport then there are fiftyish athletes at a time searching for Pokemon at confederation park every day.

 

[Knave]

StarCraft and donkeykong are insanely difficult to master and competitive as hell. that doesn't mean they're sports. If walking in the heat is the only requirement for something to be a sport then there are fiftyish athletes at a time searching for Pokemon at confederation park every day.

You realize you do have to hit the ball pretty far and accurately, right? It does take strength, control and other skills.

It's like saying weightlifting isn't a sport because you just squat, stand and then take a step backwards when you're done.

I also generally stick to endurance sports which is what you seem to be describing.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Trampoline should be cut from the Olympics.

don't you mean bounced?

 

[2CHAINZ]

Golf being an olympic sport is pretty damned ridiculous.

ITs all rather silly though.

Please play golf at least
10 times then come back here and say that. If you respond with I play golf we know you're lying so don't bother.

 

[Canadian Time]

It is absolutely great.

I do wonder how much the lopsided results based on gender have to do with other nations spending (or not spending) the money required in their female development programs? No research on my part here, but I'm just thinking that, since our men aren't getting much done, maybe there is higher quality competition across the globe for male athletes than for female athletes, especially from under- or less developed countries?

I mean, money put into development should have a direct result on medals totals, so if other nations, developed or not, are not putting the money required into women's programs to compete, the talent pool Canadian women are up against will be lesser than what the men are facing. Like in Women's hockey but on a braoder scale. Some well-funded programs, then the rest.

Just a thought. Absolutely feel free to correct me.

So, your explanation as to why the Canadian women are doing well is that the rest of world isn't trying? LOL, that's a pretty typical Canadian response but it seems absurd to me, I would suggest that only a few countries invest less money than Canada on their Olympians.

The Women's soccer team just beat France to get into the semis, that was a great game. Germans again, they'll be tough.