# 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:** 6
**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 10, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/101 "2016-08-10T00:57:45Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > … Her coach is the former coach of Aly Raisman who is part of this Olympics Fierce Five team and won Gold in London in 2012… Nitpick: they have christened themselves “The Final Five.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/102 "2016-08-10T01:40:46Z")
20 gold medals. 20. Jeez, the boy Phelps can swim. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/103 "2016-08-10T02:09:32Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > And the Olympics somehow manage to screw up a pool of water. > > [Rio 2016: 'I've never dived in anything like it' - Olympic pool turns green - BBC Sport](http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37029833) I don’t see how that’s possible unless someone dumped dye in it like the Chicago river on St Patrick’s day. A thought about Michael Phelps. How many competitors could use their gold medals as furniture coasters for a 5 piece livingroom set?. Possible a 6 piece this year. ---
**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 10, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/104 "2016-08-10T02:18:15Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Nitpick: they have christened themselves “The Final Five.” 😉 Kind of a slap in the face to the 2020 team, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/105 "2016-08-10T02:32:42Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > A thought about Michael Phelps. How many competitors could use their gold medals as furniture coasters for a 5 piece livingroom set?. Possible a 6 piece this year. I wonder if he’d be able to quickly remember all of his medals, if asked. Many countries participating this year haven’t ever won that many medals. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/106 "2016-08-10T02:35:24Z")
Balance beam, man. That is the craziest thing in the Olympics. Flip up in the air and land on this 4" board. Several times. Jeez. These athletes are nothing short of amazing, from the bottom to the top! ---
**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 10, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/107 "2016-08-10T03:35:24Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Subtle? Don’t flatter yourself. > > Problem is, with too many American sports fans, there’s a sort of Poe’s law in effect, where you can never really be sure whether those sorts of complaints are ironic or genuine. And this is especially true around Olympics time, when the national masturbation, abetted by NBC hero-porn, reaches peak orgasm. Just so I’m clear, you misinterpreted my fairly straightforward post, attacked my post based on your misinterpretation, then when called out on it you redoubled your attack and then threw in a bonus attack on Americans in general. Stay classy, San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![Novalyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@Novalyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novalyne)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/108 "2016-08-10T03:40:19Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Kind of a slap in the face to the 2020 team, isn’t it? I read somewhere that it’s because starting in 2020, the teams will be reduced to 4 instead of 5. ---
**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 10, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/109 "2016-08-10T05:21:23Z")
A couple of questions occurred to me today; many thanks to anyone who knows the answers. 1. What happens to the guys who take part in a relay event in the preliminary rounds, but aren’t part of the final? There was at least one swimmer on a U.S. team in the semi-final of one of the swimming relays, and then Michael Phelps came on to the team for the final, and the U.S. won. Does the guy who swam in the semi get a medal too? I know this has happened before, but I don’t remember ever seeing more than four guys on the podium during the medal ceremony. 2. Why do divers go over to a smaller pool after their dives? Some get in the pool, some just dip a washcloth (that’s what it looks like) and rub it on themselves. What’s that all about? ---
**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 10, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/110 "2016-08-10T12:49:14Z")
I only know the answer to your second question, because they were talking about it on the BBC. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > 1. Why do divers go over to a smaller pool after their dives? Some get in the pool, some just dip a washcloth (that’s what it looks like) and rub it on themselves. What’s that all about? It’s simply to keep their muscles warm between dives. Same reason they shower as well - the water in the shower is warm. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/111 "2016-08-10T13:08:06Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > 1. What happens to the guys who take part in a relay event in the preliminary rounds, but aren’t part of the final? There was at least one swimmer on a U.S. team in the semi-final of one of the swimming relays, and then Michael Phelps came on to the team for the final, and the U.S. won. Does the guy who swam in the semi get a medal too? I know this has happened before, but I don’t remember ever seeing more than four guys on the podium during the medal ceremony. Yes, anyone who was on the relay team, even during the prelims, will receive a medal. There can be up to six swimmers on a relay team, I’m not sure the reasoning behind that rule though. ---
**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 10, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/112 "2016-08-10T14:28:25Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Yes, anyone who was on the relay team, even during the prelims, will receive a medal. There can be up to six swimmers on a relay team, I’m not sure the reasoning behind that rule though. I mean, I understand why the _teams_ do it… I’m not really sure why FINA _allows_ the teams to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/113 "2016-08-10T15:27:35Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > [http://www.wthr.com/article/kravitz-ius-lilly-king-talks-big-wins-gold-and-emerges-as-americas-bad](http://www.wthr.com/article/kravitz-ius-lilly-king-talks-big-wins-gold-and-emerges-as-americas-bad) > I kinda hope that Efimova was sitting right next to King, during this press conference. I think Lilly King is insufferable and self-righteous and smug. There’s more than a little bit of me that wanted to see Efimova beat her in the pool. Sure, there is cheating and doping an politics in sports, but King doesn’t need to go out of her way to be an ass about it. I realize that many top-tier athletes have huge egos, but King goes overboard. Yeah, I know, I have a minority opinion on this issue. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/114 "2016-08-10T15:42:53Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > I mean, I understand why the _teams_ do it… I’m not really sure why FINA _allows_ the teams to do it. I don’t know. I’m asking on some of the swimming forums and if I get an answer I’ll let you know. It does seem to favor the larger teams, like the US who can get six really good swimmers. ---
**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 10, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/115 "2016-08-10T15:45:35Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > It’s simply to keep their muscles warm between dives. Same reason they shower as well - the water in the shower is warm. Thanks. The washcloth still seems a bit weird; hardly seems like it would be enough to make a difference. I’ve noticed something in the swimming, too. When the athletes come out from the ready room before the race, they seem awfully bundled up. I wonder if that’s to keep their muscles warm too, or just a fashion choice. > [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > I mean, I understand why the _teams_ do it… I’m not really sure why FINA _allows_ the teams to do it. Well, scheduling all the events in the meet has got to be an absolute nightmare. The multi-medalists like Phelps can only do that if their events are spaced out over the several days the swimming takes place; put all his finals on the same night and it just doesn’t seem possible he could win eight golds. So the meet is already organized around giving the stars a chance to recover between events; why not give them a chance to sit out the relay prelims, too. Does anyone know if the swimmers in the prelims are in the medals ceremony? Six swimmers are possible, but I don’t remember ever seeing more than four. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/116 "2016-08-10T15:53:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, scheduling all the events in the meet has got to be an absolute nightmare. The multi-medalists like Phelps can only do that if their events are spaced out over the several days the swimming takes place; put all his finals on the same night and it just doesn’t seem possible he could win eight golds. I’m fairly certain they don’t schedule the swimming events around Michael Phelps. They schedule them to allow all of the participants to be able to qualify and swim the finals with some amount of rest. Swimmers who swim more than one stroke and are also in relays just have to do the best they can sometimes. But being exceptional in more than one stroke, plus perhaps the IM, plus one or more relays, isn’t that unusual for the very top swimmers. And to be honest, while competing is kind of strenuous, it doesn’t compare to swimming thousands of yards a day while practicing. ---
**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 10, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/117 "2016-08-10T16:04:01Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I wonder if he’d be able to quickly remember all of his medals, if asked. Many countries participating this year haven’t ever won that many medals. [USA TODAY](https://www.google.com/amp/ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/michael-phelps-more-olympic-medals-than-91-countries/amp?client=safari) is reporting that Michael Phelps has brought home more Olympic medals than 91 countries – and more _gold_ medals than 108. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/118 "2016-08-10T16:59:49Z")
Really pleased Spartacus is going to sign off his career with Olympic Gold in the Cycling Time Trial. I guess you’re “supposed” to support your own countrymen in this but more pleased that he won than if Thomas or Froome had done it. ---
**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 10, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/119 "2016-08-10T17:17:06Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > I’m fairly certain they don’t schedule the swimming events around Michael Phelps. Oh, not Phelps in particular, but it does seem to be planned to allow swimmers in similar events to get some rest in between. You could have the breaststroke evens the first day, then the butterfly, etc. But they don’t; it seems like they’re spread out to allow a breaststroker, or a sprint specialist, to not have multiple events on the same day. So if the goal of the organizers is to get the best swimmers in each event, and properly rested to give their best performance, why not also let them shuffle people in and out of the relay teams (within reason). ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911/120 "2016-08-10T17:29:19Z")
> [@Cumbrian](#): > > Really pleased Spartacus is going to sign off his career with Olympic Gold in the Cycling Time Trial. I guess you’re “supposed” to support your own countrymen in this but more pleased that he won than if Thomas or Froome had done it. Massive from Cancellara there - last race of a legend. Froome’s not lived a day of his life in the UK, speaking of countrymen, but I like him all the same. Did well there digging in for bronze - not sure if he’d take gold on a course like that even at peak form. Wouldn’t have medalled at all today but for Dennis’s snapped tribar - his mechanic needs a clip round the ear with a torque-wrench. Although he was pretty cool about it when interviewed by the BBC - shit happens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-a-thread-about-the-2016-summer-olympics/761911.md?page=7)