Best torch lighting ever was at Barcelona where an archer shot the cauldron with a flaming arrow.
An athlete quits the team on the eve of the biggest matchup of most of their careers, yes they deserve derision. Whatever the sport or the social, racial or ethnic background of the individual in question.
I wouldn’t have minded if they’d focused on a specific overlooked person - ‘hey, wouldn’t it be great if they had so-and-so?’ Writing a whole article about why it shouldn’t be the person it was fails both ways - it both smells like a hatchet job and simultaneously wastes a perfectly good opportunity to celebrate the achievements of an actual athlete who deserves less obscurity.
A person can legitimately earn and retain your undying respect and still be called out for a time they came up short….
It’s not too hard. Simone Biles is one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. She also had one episode where she badly let her team down. It’s very possible indeed likely in future events she leads her team to victory.
Lionel Messi is the 2nd greatest player of all time, but he has come up short in some major international finals, which cost his team.
Random Olympic pitting? How about Japan lying their asses off to get the Olympics in the first place?
Simone is 24 years old and, for a gymnast, that’s a senior citizen. Amazingly, even though she is only 24, she has had an 18 year career because it began when she was 6 years old. Not only is she markedly past her prime physically, she may be suffering mental burnout as well. I think she wanted to squeeze in one last Olympic competition before she retires, but it’s looking like that may have been a mistake.
Might want to add the IOC to the Pitting for believing it. Those clowns couldn’t check The Weather Channel?
Can we also pit the European Handball Federation for their stance on bikini bottoms?
According to the New York Times , the European Handball Federation just fined the Norwegian women’s beach team for wearing tiny little shorts rather than bikini bottoms during a championship match in Bulgaria last week.
Out of curiosity, are tiny bikinis also required for Olympic women’s beach volleyball? The disparity between that and when the men wear (tank tops and shorts) is kind of glaring.
Sometimes in baseball a pitcher finds out on that particular day he doesn’t have his curve or slider or whatever. It just isn’t happening. If he has enough other tools in his arsenal, he gets by or else he gets pulled. Maybe Biles just didn’t have her triple flip or whatever and it seems to me that in her sport, you either have complete confidence in what you’re doing or you risk doing serious damage to yourself. I’m sure the decision wasn’t made lightly.
Watching the gymnastics last night, you’d think the US and Russia were the only teams there. Maybe instead of obsessing over Biles so much, they could have shown some other teams, like the UK bronze winners.
I’ve already complained about them not showing anybody other than Americans and their immediate competition. I did not see a single UK gymnast. I also am glad that Jade will have a chance to compete in the all around. It doesn’t bother me if someone withdraws from an individual event to concentrate on their health. Now that I have actually watched the coverage, it was clear that Biles did not have it together and was at risk of injury if she competed. I don’t know how anybody can know where they are when spinning and flipping that much. It is just a shame that it came in the middle of a team event. I was glad to see how well the rest of the team stepped up, although I would be perfectly happy to never see another wolf turn.
No, they have a range of approved uniforms, including shorts and t-shirts. Most female athletes seem to choose the bikinis, but they’re not required to.
In 1999, the FIVB standardized beach volleyball uniforms, with the swimsuit becoming the required uniform for both men and women. Women were required to wear two-piece bikinis, while men were required to wear shorts that were no longer than 20 cm (7.9 in) above the knees.[74][75] This drew the ire of some athletes.[76]
According to current FIVB rules, female beach volleyball players have the option of playing in shorts or a one-piece swimsuit.[77][78] Most players, however, prefer the two-piece bikini.[79] Competitors such as Natalie Cook[80] and Holly McPeak have confirmed the FIVB’s claims that the uniforms are practical for a sport played on sand during the heat of summer, with McPeak saying that the two-piece is more comfortable and allows for a greater range of motion while the one-piece has the further problem of trapping sand.[79] British Olympian Denise Johns claimed that the regulation uniform is intended to be “sexy” and to draw attention.[81] Other players have argued that the bikini is tied to the sport’s “beach culture”.[82]
Something that pissed me off this morning on The Today Show. They interviewed the silver and bronze medal swimmers and ASKED THEM ABOUT THEMSELVES and how it felt to see the video of their families cheering for them. They interviewed Caleb Dressel and ASKED HIM ABOUT HIMSELF and what makes him tick and his family and stuff.
They interviewed two of the women gymnasts and ASKED THEM ABOUT SIMONE BILES. The smarmy “Ohhh you guys deserve a special mention because you pulled off the impossible!!!” as if Simone Biles was the only competent team member and they weren’t Olympic class gymnasts in their own right. You don’t win silver medals in the Olympics by dumb luck. ARRRRRRRRGH!!!
Athletes have been withdrawing from events for ‘mental health’ reasons since sports were invented. The only change here is the frankness. In the past, an athlete would have claimed migraines or back spasms or flu-like symptons or a dozen other vague, transient impediments. Sometimes one just isn’t fit to compete, and whether the cause is mental or physical, or both, really doesn’t matter much. Biles is a marvel to watch, but if she doesn’t win or can’t complete, she hasn’t let down her freaking country.
Hockey: Upper Body Injury.
I misread this as “she has let down her freaking country” and was all set to go off on you. But you’re exactly right. It’s unfortunate that it happened when it did, but athletes know their bodies and their heads better than any outsider. She did what she needed to do.
Another reason why everyone’s obsession with crowning someone “GOAT” is unhealthy and inappropriate.
“She’s the GOAT, how can they go on without her!?!?”
Pink has offered to pay the fine.
…I’ve read some harrowing stories of the “twisties” today. This twitter post puts it into even clearer perspective.
Just fuck the fuck right off already.