OLYMPICS 2021

[Star555]

Haven't found a thread for Olympic sports discussions so I'm starting one. This thread is only for discussions of the actual sporting events as they happen over the next few weeks, not the unfairness of IOC's rules/philosophy (e.g. allowing a male athlete to declare himself a woman and compete in the women's category...which is immoral, unscientific, and wholly unjust, but that topic already has multiple separate threads).

Although this will be an Olympics like no other, I'm excited for the opening ceremony tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing gymnastics and swimming especially!

@Ekofisk

It’s a shame - I’m sure in years gone by the competitors were at least competent in the equestrian phase?

Beijing was absolutely awful, proper welfare issue

I know people that do jt
The UK riders usually come through pony club tetrathlon so are decent riders
Other countries are told the riding is the least important so don't bother with it

It's fucking awful really

Some of this rising is disgusting - rank amateurs misusing Spurs, yanking on the reins of a gagged horse, and general inability to discern rider error from horse fault and blaming the horse anyway. How do the owners agree to this? Fascinating that in almost all cases, horses who’ve had a stinking first round are doing nicely with a better rider and vice versa - those with nice first rounds doing disastrously with poor riders yanking them around

(There’s also a horse with a drop nose and so low it must be illegal under fei rules - totally obstructing breathing)
Can we laugh a little at all the unravelling plaits and gloveless riders and bizarre turnout?

That grey is lovely

I remember that the Beijing horses were terrible.

I’m thing way back earlier than that though - 1970s / 1980s.

2nd Brit is in low noseband horse - why hasn’t the coach adjusted that?

The women's Madison was amazing.

I don't know enough about equestrian events to comment a lifelong love of Jill and the Perfect Pony doesn't really count but it sounds very poor from what everyone's saying.

I did just go back and watched the end of the 50km walking, which I saw some of late last night. What a great result for the Pole but wow, those guys are bonkers. I can understand a sport that demands fast bursts of intense effort but......50km? Walking? For hours and hours?

Yeah that noseband is too low

It's jabeena maslins horse

Well done Kate

Beauty. What a lovely horse

Illegal use of Spurs, horse punched by the coach. Disgusting

Oh oh, this last horse is not a happy bunny. Think he had a bad ride in the first round?

He's pretty naughty tbf

Yes - and both riders have fallen apart dealing with it. But did you see the coach punch it on its haunch? The owner of the horse will be crying more than the rider. Jesus can they not ban Spurs from this event?

@AtillatheHun

Illegal use of Spurs, horse punched by the coach. Disgusting

Yeah that was fucking awful

I can’t believe what I’m watching

Spurs not helping

Poor commentator on discovery

That horse was really naughty tbf

Horse was inappropriate for the event - needed a very strong rider which it wasn’t going to get in this event

Yes totally inappropriate
Poor rider she actually wasnt too bad

Fucking hell they need to ban this

Also, why can they get on again after falling off. Noone else in equestrianism can? It's either a safety issue or it isnt

@Antsinyourpanta

I always wonder how people get into race walking..? It looks really uncomfortable on your hips, to me.

A relative of mine does it. It was purely accidental, he went along to an Easter activity week run by a local athletics club, enjoyed it and wanted to go back the following year. That year the race walking coach noticed him and said she wanted him to join. There was a long waiting list but about six months later he joined and after a few weeks he joined her training group and has been doing it for coming up to 7 years. He gets frustrated that people take the mickey out of it as an athletics discipline. And he's never been disqualified because his coach is so good at teaching them the correct technique. He's off to uni this year, I hope he will continue it in some capacity. If he gets his first choice uni he won't be that far from the national race walking centre in Leeds.

Where has Jess Ennis-Hill gone from the athletics commentary? Michael Johnson and Denise Lewis are still there so wondering why Jess isn't there now?

I think she said yesterday that she has the day off today.

Thanks @DuncinToffee - seems odd given it's only 1 week of work! (I love her, hence missing her being there!)

Anyway, come on Laura Muir!!