The Gold, Silver and Bronze pro-Olympics Thread

[Anna]

A very hard race for the mens lightweight fours resulting in a silver, the first medal of any kind for the Chambers brothers, Williams and Bartley. But oh dear, why cannot they let athletes walk around and get their breath back before sticking a microphone under their noses? Chris Bartley got off the boat in a state of collapse and had to have medical attention yet the BBC went ahead and interviewed the other three and none of them could hardly breathe, let alone utter anything coherent and they all seemed near to tears, not from elation but exhaustion and frustration through missing out on the gold, and the interviewer seemed determined to press that point.

The gold went to South Africa, their first Olympic rowing gold, which was rather nice I think. Another two days left of rowing. It's all been very exciting.

Edit: GOLD to GB in mens double trap shooting! Peter Wilson, 25 year old farmer's son from Dorset.
And a gold and a silver for GB in canoe slalom!! Silver in womens judo

[amateur51]

Can one of our technical experts please add Mr Wiggins to the gallery on the Wikipedia sideburns page?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideburns

Originally I said sideboards. That was in the 1960s. Is sideboards English rather than American?

If it's English it's a sideboard, if it's Welsh it's a dresser, and if it's a junior surgeon it's a dresser and if the junior dresser is from Wales s/he's a Welsh dresser too!

[mercia]

strange harmonisation of the GB national anthem at olympics
don't know who's done that
[trying to inject a bit of musical relevance to the thread]

[Anna]

strange harmonisation of the GB national anthem at olympics
don't know who's done that[trying to inject a bit of musical relevance to the thread]

That's terribly sweet of you mercs! But this thread is really about winning and smashing the opposition, not serenading them !!

[amateur51]

strange harmonisation of the GB national anthem at olympics
don't know who's done that
[trying to inject a bit of musical relevance to the thread]

I do agree re stange harmonies, mercs - not unpleasant, just strange

[gurnemanz]

strange harmonisation of the GB national anthem at olympics
don't know who's done that
[trying to inject a bit of musical relevance to the thread]

The Hungarians weren't happy with the version of their anthem:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/anthem-issues-tarnish-hungary-olympic-glory-153235830.html

[mercia]

The Hungarians weren't happy with the version of their anthem:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/a...153235830.html

good lord !
the LPO played 205 anthems in a 6-day recording session
that must have been exciting

[Northender]

Shock horror! Pendleton and Varnish relegated and can't win a medal.

[Flosshilde]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/a...153235830.html

Are the Russians trying to defeat their opponents by giving them migraines? They must win the gold for the worst-dressed team.

[Anna]

Shock horror! Pendleton and Varnish relegated and can't win a medal.

They knew the rules: Rob Hayles, Double Olympic medallist and BBC cycling commentator at the Velodrome"I believe it was Victoria Pendleton taking over too early. There are two points on the straight, and like athletics where you have to hand over the baton, you have to change over within a certain place on the track. Vicky must not take over before a certain point or after a certain point and they have changed over outside the allocated area on the track."
Gutted. Now going to sulk!

[salymap]

I think I read that the tennis finals were today. Have we won anything, fingers crossed for Andy Murray.?

[Anna]

I think I read that the tennis finals were today. Have we won anything, fingers crossed for Andy Murray.?

saly, I don't follow tennis but Andy Murray beat Nicolas Almagro 6-4 6-1 to reach the Olympic singles semi-finals, where he will play Novak Djokovic on Friday

[salymap]

saly, I don't follow tennis but Andy Murray beat Nicolas Almagro 6-4 6-1 to reach the Olympic singles semi-finals, where he will play Novak Djokovic on Friday

Oh thanks Anna, that will be a struggle to beat ND.

[Pegleg]

More on the Pendelton and Varnish story here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012...?newsfeed=true

No evidence presented to viewers as the size (time or distance) of the infringement. Chris Boardman talked about the warnings following the fastidious judgements imposed in the World Championships in Melbourne earlier in the year in April. There's been comment floating around that the knives have been out for Team GB ever since Beijing.

But I feel better after seeing young 19 year old Philip Hindes post an amazing 17.265 for the first 250 of the team sprint and a WR for the team.

Wait a minute, are the Chinese pair about to suffer the same DQ fate? It's turned into a bit of a farce.

[mangerton]

saly, I don't follow tennis but Andy Murray beat Nicolas Almagro 6-4 6-1 to reach the Olympic singles semi-finals, where he will play Novak Djokovic on Friday

Man on R4 an hour ago said Murray's guaranteed a bronze. Not sure why, but what do I know? I suppose losing semi finalists both get bronzes?