# Summer Olympics 2021 ongoing discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [July 23, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137 "2021-07-23T12:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/542 "2021-08-03T20:03:50Z")
Mentioned above, but worth repeating: The competitor who placed second in that race, the American Rai Benjamin, broke the old world record too, by several tenths of a second. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/543 "2021-08-04T03:05:58Z")
And the same in the womens 400m hurdles final, both silver and gold beat the prior world record. 2021 seams to be a good year for jumping over things. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/544 "2021-08-04T03:34:20Z")
The decathlon is still early, but Canadian Damian Warner is having quite the start. He ran 10.12 in the 100m, and went 8.24m in the long jump, which is fairly amazing considering 8.21m won bronze in the long jump competition on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/545 "2021-08-04T05:04:40Z")
Am watching the replay of the first sport climbing event. I _love_ this event! The speed climbing is insane! At their best it looks like they’re just crawling up a slightly inclined surface. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/546 "2021-08-04T06:04:54Z")
I was happy to see the steeplechase the other night. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/547 "2021-08-04T15:32:53Z")
Before the Olympics started I read an article about the Japanese government(?)/Olympics organizers wanting the athletes to go home right after their event finished, or even when their team was eliminated even if the competition for the medals was still going on. I haven’t heard a thing about that happening (or not) since then. Did they change their minds? Did the athletes refuse to cooperate? Or are the Olympic villages gradually hollowing out? (I have seen several interviews with athletes where they’re griping about there being nothing to do, since they aren’t supposed to go out into Tokyo and do touristy things. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/548 "2021-08-04T15:52:00Z")
As usual I couldn’t sleep last night/this morning, so I turned on the live women’s basketball coverage on the NBC Sports channel. I watched two extremely entertaining, hard-fought games. Japan beat Belgium 86-85 on a late 3-pointer and a Belgian miss at the buzzer. Then France beat Spain 67-64 as Spain had a late turnover and then missed a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left. Earlier Serbia beat China 77-70 and the USA spanked Australia 79-55. USA vs Serbia and Japan vs France in the semis on Friday. Start time for the USA game is 13:40 in Tokyo. I believe that will be Thursday at 11:40 pm Central time in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/549 "2021-08-04T17:04:26Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Am watching the replay of the first sport climbing event. I _love_ this event! The speed climbing is insane! At their best it looks like they’re just crawling up a slightly inclined surface. I came here to post this! Sport climbing is a heck of a lot of fun! Watching those tall lanky folks just race up the wall in 6 seconds like they were flying! Amazing to see. The boulder climbing was interesting, but not like watching them spiderman themselves up the walls. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/550 "2021-08-04T17:53:56Z")
Not that I have any reason to think this, but if we later find out that Warholm failed his drug test, he would obviously lose his gold medal and Benjamin would rightfully get it (just like Carl Lewis did when Ben Johnson tested positive). But would Benjamin’s time count as an official world record? I don’t think that it should. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/551 "2021-08-04T18:05:09Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > But would Benjamin’s time count as an official world record? I don’t think that it should. Of course it would. What reason would you have for saying that it wouldn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/552 "2021-08-04T18:57:21Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > But would Benjamin’s time count as an official world record? I don’t think that it should. Wait. Why not? Of course it would. I can’t think of a single reason it would not. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/553 "2021-08-04T19:39:28Z")
I can’t see why it shouldn’t. If he ran the hurdles faster than anyone, and was, clean, then it would be a world record. The fact that someone else ran faster gave him no advantage. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/554 "2021-08-04T20:22:25Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Not that I have any reason to think this, but if we later find out that Warholm failed his drug test, he would obviously lose his gold medal and Benjamin would rightfully get it (just like Carl Lewis did when Ben Johnson tested positive). But would Benjamin’s time count as an official world record? I don’t think that it should. Why? Because he was “paced”? Does Roger Bannister’s first sub-4-minute mile get tossed out because he had “rabbits” for the first 2 or 3 laps? It is only “invalid” if the pacers aren’t part of the race as well. Think of it this way: suppose that, instead of a drug violation, Warholm had run outside of his lane and gained an advantage. Benjamin would be just as much the winner, and any world record would count, so why would the disqualification being drug based make it any different? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/555 "2021-08-04T20:27:25Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > I can’t see why it shouldn’t. If he ran the hurdles faster than anyone, and was, clean, then it would be a world record. **The fact that someone else ran faster gave him no advantage.** Actually there is so far as being “towed/chasing the leader” can result in a faster time. Still not a reason to deny the gold medal. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/556 "2021-08-04T22:37:41Z")
If you are not watching Richard Torres boxing, you are missing out. He has just made the gold medal match and the dude is dominating. [Here are the highlights of his semifinal match, which he landed some massive punches.](https://youtu.be/vDw8P4m0YXM) ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/557 "2021-08-05T01:39:00Z")
Because he would not have run that time without a faster runner ahead of him. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/558 "2021-08-05T01:40:16Z")
Right, I agree with that, which was hopefully clear in my post. But you can’t count that as a world record. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/559 "2021-08-05T01:48:30Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Right, I agree with that, which was hopefully clear in my post. But you can’t count that as a world record. - The guy ran a valid time and the original winner was DQ’ed. A world record is not official until it’s been ratified. Just because the “winner” ran a time under the current record does not make it official at that moment. Since he was DQ’ed, then the next runner’s time is legitimate and now awaits ratification. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/560 "2021-08-05T01:51:53Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Because he would not have run that time without a faster runner ahead of him. Drafting isn’t really much of a deal, so perhaps a small psychological advantage. But since rabbits are allowed in WR races there’s no reason to exclude his time. Besides, there’s no point in penalizing one runner for another’s cheating. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/561 "2021-08-05T02:01:55Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Drafting isn’t really much of a deal Drafting is nonexistent when they’re in separate lanes like the 400 m hurdles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137.md?page=29)