Rio women's sports, starting with rugby 7s

[KanyesVest]

Disclaimer - I know nothing about sport, and less about rugby.

I've just watched the final of the women's rugby 7s and I thought it was brilliant. Strong, fit women who look like strong, fit women, playing a fast, physical game and wearing kit designed for form and function. I really enjoyed it and will put on a repeat tomorrow for dd to watch a bit. She's only 6 and loves running, jumping, climbing, football, etc, so it will be nice to show her these girls women can and do.

If anyone can suggest other highlights for me to catch, I'd appreciate it.

Really hoping that Jess Ennis-Hill and KJT can perform to the best of their abilities, and that I can stay awake to watch it all unfold.

I really can't see body shaming in this observation; these women are supreme athletes with bodies that are at their physical peak, just like the men. I just don't see that silver eyeliner enhances that. I am also uncertain that "showing off" is what the Olympic ideal is about

I don't know what the Olympic ideal might be but for me all of the activities which have no objective measure of success such as fastest, highest, furthest, heaviest, most goals scored etc seem to be entirely about showing off. I don't have a problem with that.

I find these activities are far more interesting to watch than the objectively measurable ones. They are performances in a theatrical sense.

Are top notch circus performers athletes? I'm not talking about tired old Billy Smart's style circus but modern alternative circuses. The skills are the same, the physical strength is the same (in fact often greater especially for female circus performers) and more dangerous e.g aerial performances are done at heights far exceeding Olympic equipment and with no safety harness or nets and very little, if any, floor padding.

Actually thinking of it I'm not entirely sure that "showing off " doesn't apply to most of it - "look at me, I'm better than anyone else"

I would say there is a certain degree of arrogance with all top level athletes

I'm glad to see Andy Murray speaking up for women (Serena and Venus Williams) who have won more tennis Olympic gold medals than him.

www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2016/08/15/andy-murray-gives-brilliant-response-to-john-inverdale-gaffe-abo/

Yeah, John Inverdale tends to forget that women are people too.

Just watched the final of the individual dressage. About as "showy offy" as you could get and very enjoyable it was.

Charlotte Dujardin of GB won with
Germany's Isabell Werth and Kristina Broring-Sprehe taking silver and bronze. respectively so all female winners.

I didn't rate dressage til I watched it live in 2012. Valegro is a cut above. It's incredible to watch, amazing athleticism and control in both horse and rider.
Interesting actually that women dominate in a sport where I can't see why either sex would have a competitive advantage

Felas I've heard it argued that women's hip joints are more flexible than men's and therefore more easily able to move with the horse rather than against them. It's previously been used as a counter argument to men's dominance as jockeys

4th place was a woman too. Laura Graves of US.