# Here is a thread about the 2016 Summer Olympics **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 6, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911 "2016-08-06T05:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/361 "2016-08-17T01:42:34Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I wanted to see an epic fail in this Olympics and by George, a Russian diver gave it to me! A perfect score of zero and likely a sore belly. I think this [Haitian hurdler](http://deadspin.com/haitian-hurdler-just-forgets-to-jump-over-his-hurdle-a-1785372034) has the diver beat. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/362 "2016-08-17T02:55:13Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I think this [Haitian hurdler](http://deadspin.com/haitian-hurdler-just-forgets-to-jump-over-his-hurdle-a-1785372034) has the diver beat. I know that feeling well, when you tell you leg “Jump” and your leg says " Ummmmm Nope". Although more specifically I know that feeling in front of a few friends on the basketball court, not on Global TV. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/363 "2016-08-17T03:57:57Z")
My favorite Olympic story so far. I love stories about good sportsmanship. Both of these athletes are class acts. > **[D'Agostino, Hamblin the epitome of Olympic spirit](https://www.si.com/olympics/2016/08/16/rio-olympics-5000-meters-abbey-dagostino-nikki-hamblin)** > > After tripping in the heats of the 5,000 meters at the Rio Olympics, USA's Abbey D'Agostino and New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin helped each other up before finishing the race. > [@](#): > > “When I went down, I was like ‘What’s happening, why am I on the ground?’” Hamblin says. > > But Hamblin does remember a stranger touching her shoulder—U.S.’s Abbey D’Agostino, an accomplished professional distance runner out of Dartmouth who had also fallen as part of the collision, extended her help to the fallen Kiwi. > > “Suddenly there’s this hand on my shoulder like ‘Get up. Get up. We have to finish this.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, yep, yep, you’re right. It’s the Olympic Games, we have to finish this.’ I’m so grateful for Abbey for doing that for me. I mean, that girl is the Olympic spirit right there.” ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/364 "2016-08-17T04:01:09Z")
Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross lost in two close and exciting sets to the home favorites… all of those graphics and stats NBC came up with about what it would mean if they’d managed to win, all for naught. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/365 "2016-08-17T04:06:55Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > You failed to mention that Beach Volleyball is played at COPACABANA BEACH!!! Drink! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/366 "2016-08-17T04:16:52Z")
The runner who dove across the line - did she get road rash? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/367 "2016-08-17T04:42:13Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross lost in two close and exciting sets to the home favorites… all of those graphics and stats NBC came up with about what it would mean if they’d managed to win, all for naught. The local news here just described losing to the world champions as an upset. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/368 "2016-08-17T04:56:50Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Thing is, Almaz Ayana broke - smashed, really - the world record … _only second time she’s run this distance._ She’s previously been a 5,000 meter runner. She completed the second 5,000 meters of the race 10 seconds faster than the world record for that distance. > > And aside from her, seven other runners set national records in that race, and eighteen set personal bests. Before this race, there had only been five women to finish this distance in under 30 minutes. Four did it in this race alone. > > Last night, the 400 meter record was shattered by a South African runner. But the race featured the first time three men had run it under 44 seconds. > > I’d say either this is a crazy fast track, or … sump’n wonky’s goin’ on. My original point was based on the world record set by the South African runner that you mention. It was one of the most amazing feats that you’ll see - winning that race from the outside lane happens almost never; for a world record to be made there is near miraculous. I am saying that this Rio track is _not_ fast, and that if he ran at a different venue, he would have been under 43 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/369 "2016-08-17T05:11:13Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The local news here just described losing to the world champions as an upset. Eh, I’ll give them a bit of a pass on that, Walsh is a defending gold medalist who never lost a match in the Olympics. Psychological upset certainty–the unbeatable just got beaten. Finally, someone realized that people have been serving Walsh’s partner for over a decade and gotten nowhere, maybe they should actually try serving Walsh for once. Kinda of a bad day for Brazil despite that, though–as the Beach event was happening, their women’s indoor team was losing to China (which most definitely was an upset), the other beach women’s team got crushed in the other semi, and their women’s soccer team lost as well. And if I may rant a bit–NBC. I understand the commercials, you think it’s the best way to get your money back. I don’t whine about all the profiles/interviews/etc. But for God’s sake, can you please stick to your listed programs? I’m setting what I want to record for the next day based on your listings. If you list handball for the afternoon on MSNBC, I don’t want to come home and find I recorded 4 hours of water polo. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/370 "2016-08-17T06:27:52Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > And if I may rant a bit–NBC. I understand the commercials, you think it’s the best way to get your money back. I don’t whine about all the profiles/interviews/etc. > > But for God’s sake, can you please stick to your listed programs? I’m setting what I want to record for the next day based on your listings. If you list handball for the afternoon on MSNBC, I don’t want to come home and find I recorded 4 hours of water polo. Agreed. I wanted to see women’s diving and all the kayake events, and set my DVR to record everything that mentioned either of them. I have so far not seen a single minute of either on any of my recordings. EDIT: Actually, I did see the finals for women’s 3m springboard, but meh. That’s not the diving wanted to see. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/371 "2016-08-17T07:05:40Z")
Track cycling finished last night an I doubt too many national tv carriers showed it - Team GB currently does in cycling what the US does in swimming. 6 Golds out of 14 available: BOOM! > **[Tokyo Olympics - BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics)** > > The home of Tokyo Olympics on BBC Sport online. Includes the latest news stories, results, fixtures, video and audio. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/372 "2016-08-17T12:15:49Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Track cycling finished last night an I doubt too many national tv carriers showed it - Team GB currently does in cycling what the US does in swimming. > > 6 Golds out of 14 available: BOOM! > > [Paris Olympics 2024 - Latest news, updates & highlights - BBC Sport](http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/rio-2016/medals/sports/cycling#cycling) And every single cyclist in the team went home with at least one medal! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/373 "2016-08-17T12:31:28Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Track cycling finished last night an I doubt too many national tv carriers showed it - Team GB currently does in cycling what the US does in swimming. > > 6 Golds out of 14 available: BOOM! > > [Paris Olympics 2024 - Latest news, updates & highlights - BBC Sport](http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/rio-2016/medals/sports/cycling#cycling) They’re also pretty good at the rowing. Three gold and two silver tops the leader board for those events. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/374 "2016-08-17T12:37:30Z")
::sighs:: Okay, fine; you’ve passed the audition, you can be the 51st state. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/375 "2016-08-17T13:34:35Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Track cycling finished last night an I doubt too many national tv carriers showed it - Team GB currently does in cycling what the US does in swimming. > > 6 Golds out of 14 available: BOOM! > > [Paris Olympics 2024 - Latest news, updates & highlights - BBC Sport](http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/rio-2016/medals/sports/cycling#cycling) Just curious, why is it team GB and not team UK? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/376 "2016-08-17T13:59:01Z")
It’s short for “The Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team.” It’s silly, but it’s been called that for so long they’re sticking with that brand. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/377 "2016-08-17T14:15:05Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > They’re also pretty good at the rowing. Three gold and two silver tops the leader board for those events. Yep, pretty much anything that involves sitting down! ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/378 "2016-08-17T14:37:22Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Yep, pretty much anything that involves sitting down! The 10,000m Silly Walkers take issue with you and would like to have a word! ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/379 "2016-08-17T14:51:24Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Yep, pretty much anything that involves sitting down! That is the commonly accepted meme but GB have actually won medals across 15 different sports, second only the the USA (with 16) ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/380 "2016-08-17T15:11:29Z")
Yes, and half the Golds have come from sitting down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911.md?page=20)