The Gold, Silver and Bronze pro-Olympics Thread

[johncorrigan]

I was reminded tonight of something that Harry Carpenter said once about Muhammed Ali. He said 'at this point in the 70s ( I think around the time of the Rumble in the Jungle) Ali was the most famous man on the planet. You could parachute him into even the more remote corners of the Earth and people would not only recognise him but would love to see him coming. Tonight I felt that Usain Bolt picked up that mantle - what a joy to see him.

....and a great 1-2-3 for Jamaica - there'll be dancing in the streets of Kingston tonight, as a certain Rugby commentator might once have said.

[Northender]

I was reminded tonight of something that Harry Carpenter said once about Muhammed Ali. He said 'at this point in the 70s ( I think around the time of the Rumble in the Jungle) Ali was the most famous man on the planet. You could parachute him into even the more remote corners of the Earth and people would not only recognise him but would love to see him coming. Tonight I felt that Usain Bolt picked up that mantle - what a joy to see him.

....and a great 1-2-3 for Jamaica - there'll be dancing in the streets of Kingston tonight, as a certain Rugby commentator might once have said.

And I believe one or two folk are quietly celebrating in that other Thames-side hotbed of Olympic sprint fans, Richmond.

[pilamenon]

Wonderful, wonderful athletics tonight - Rudisha's world record 800m, in which almost every competitor achieved some sort of record, and Bolt's cheeky double. Shame about the impoverished guests in the studio who find everything "incredible".

Does anyone think Mo Farah can/will do the double on Saturday?

A 9-2 thrashing by the Netherlands for Team GB in the men's hockey semi-final following the women's narrow defeat by Argentina last night. The women's team were expected to do much better than the men before the tournament started, but both reached the semi-finals. However, the women held their own against a very highly-rated team, but the men proved out of their depth. They still have the bronze medal to contest against Australia, but I wonder if some of them now regret going through controversially against Spain in the last of the group matches, which would have spared them this humiliation.

[Resurrection Man]

I am struggling to understand all the hysteria around Bolt. So he can run fast. For ten seconds. Now I am the first to admit that I am not an athletic coach and so have no idea just how much improvement can be made on what nature gave him to begin with. But the other athletes have to train, improve their physique...strength, flexibility, endurance depending on their chosen sport....tactics, team-playing..which takes a heck of a lot more IMO.

And then to proclaim 'I am the greatest athlete of all time' puts Bolt up there pitching for Gold Medal for Arrogance. No, Bolt, you are not 'the greatest athlete of all time'. There are many many others who are ahead of you.

[Northender]

I am struggling to understand all the hysteria around Bolt. So he can run fast. For ten seconds. Now I am the first to admit that I am not an athletic coach and so have no idea just how much improvement can be made on what nature gave him to begin with. But the other athletes have to train, improve their physique...strength, flexibility, endurance depending on their chosen sport....tactics, team-playing..which takes a heck of a lot more IMO.

And then to proclaim 'I am the greatest athlete of all time' puts Bolt up there pitching for Gold Medal for Arrogance. No, Bolt, you are not 'the greatest athlete of all time'. There are many many others who are ahead of you.

Well said!

[mercia]

stick Mr Bolt on a bicycle and enter him in the Tour de France then I'd see what a great athlete he is

[......... which probably reveals my complete ignorance of what he has achieved]

I'm afraid I have far greater admiration for the long distance/endurance people

EDIT - The BBC helpfully informs me who arranged the national anthem

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19180559

[johncorrigan]

I'm afraid I have far greater admiration for the long distance/endurance people

Don't be afraid!

[johncorrigan]

I am struggling to understand all the hysteria around Bolt. So he can run fast. For ten seconds. Now I am the first to admit that I am not an athletic coach and so have no idea just how much improvement can be made on what nature gave him to begin with. But the other athletes have to train, improve their physique...strength, flexibility, endurance depending on their chosen sport....tactics, team-playing..which takes a heck of a lot more IMO.

And then to proclaim 'I am the greatest athlete of all time' puts Bolt up there pitching for Gold Medal for Arrogance. No, Bolt, you are not 'the greatest athlete of all time'. There are many many others who are ahead of you.

The Olympic motto is the 'Citius, Altius, Fortius', which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger". Bolt is the fastest runner ever. Don't tell Alan Wells, for example, the Scottish sprinter of the 80s, that he didn't train to run at these speeds. There is a fascination with the 100m - how fast can people eventually run has been a question that folk have asked since I was a boy. He may not be the greatest athlete of all time; he's probably the greatest sprinter (Michael Johnson said that), but he is a guy who creates huge interest. There will be better performances in this games - Rudisha in the 800m last night for example - but Bolt is something very special. After all he did defend his 100m and 200m gold medals and nobody's done that before.

[MrGongGong]

The Olympic motto is the 'Citius, Altius, Fortius', which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger". Bolt is the fastest runner ever. Don't tell Alan Wells, for example, the Scottish sprinter of the 80s, that he didn't train to run at these speeds. There is a fascination with the 100m - how fast can people eventually run has been a question that folk have asked since I was a boy. He may not be the greatest athlete of all time; he's probably the greatest sprinter (Michael Johnson said that), but he is a guy who creates huge interest. There will be better performances in this games - Rudisha in the 800m last night for example - but Bolt is something very special. After all he did defend his 100m and 200m gold medals and nobody's done that before.

not wanting to dis the man
but i'm left thinking

"and this means what ?"

i'm much happier now knowing that someone can run very fast

[Northender]

not wanting to dis the man
but i'm left thinking

"and this means what ?"

i'm much happier now knowing that someone can run very fast

..in which case, Lord Seb and his chums have not laboured in vain. Let's hope there'll be an opportunity for a new appointment to the Order of Merit. Any lesser honour would frankly reek of gross ingratitude.

[MrGongGong]

..in which case, Lord Seb and his chums have not laboured in vain. Let's hope there'll be an opportunity for a new appointment to the Order of Merit. Any lesser honour would frankly reek of gross ingratitude.

It really doesn't mean very much at all really to the rest of us at all

[johncorrigan]

i'm much happier now knowing that someone can run very fast

Them Jamaicans inspired me to catch that bus this morning....mind you I had to go for a lie down afterwards!

[Flosshilde]

I am struggling to understand all the hysteria around Bolt. So he can run fast. For ten seconds. Now I am the first to admit that I am not an athletic coach and so have no idea just how much improvement can be made on what nature gave him to begin with. But the other athletes have to train, improve their physique...strength, flexibility, endurance depending on their chosen sport....tactics, team-playing..which takes a heck of a lot more IMO.

And then to proclaim 'I am the greatest athlete of all time' puts Bolt up there pitching for Gold Medal for Arrogance. No, Bolt, you are not 'the greatest athlete of all time'. There are many many others who are ahead of you.

Absolutely.

[amateur51]

Oh dear Usain Bolt has got you (us) all chattering about athletics, performance and him, just as Mohammed Ali did about boxing in the 1960s/70s. He's a very intelligent, savvy and a naturally gifted athlete who has worked hard enough to be the best at what he does. Good for him!

[johnb]

Sure, there has been an enormous amount of hype concerning Bolt. Sure, he grandstands to the public (anyone remember Mohammed Ali?).

But he has proved himself to be a great athlete and all this carping is extremely unpleasant and distasteful.