XXX Olympiad - Day 4 (7/30)

[Bob Costas]

Good afternoon. Highlights and (mostly) lowlights from 7/29:

1) Dana Vollmer wins gold in world record pace in the 100m butterfly!

2) Ryan Lochte lets 300 million Americans down. The French get revenge for 2008 in the 4x100m men's freestyle relay. I'm going to binge on Freedom Fries today.

3) Jordyn Wieber gets screwed in the All-Around competition. I don't get this stupid rule; did FIG or the IOC not want another sweep like the Romanian women had in 2000 (well, before the winner was unfairly stripped of her medal because she was given cold medicine with a banned substance)? I don't even know when this rule was implemented. She beat out all but 3 people for a spot in the competition and can't compete. Ridiculous. This rule is arbitrary and it is doubtful we would see all five Americans, Chinese, Russians, etc. make the top 24 anyway, so this rule isn't preventing anything.

Tonight, the big cometitions are the men's team gymnastics final and several swim finals.

[Deleted]

Bob-what channel is archery on? My kids really want to watch it.

[womet]

Jul 30, 2012 6:39:40 GMT -5 Bob Costas said:

3) Jordyn Wieber gets screwed in the All-Around competition. I don't get this stupid rule; did FIG or the IOC not want another sweep like the Romanian women had in 2000 (well, before the winner was unfairly stripped of her medal because she was given cold medicine with a banned substance)? I don't even know when this rule was implemented. She beat out all but 3 people for a spot in the competition and can't compete. Ridiculous. This rule is arbitrary and it is doubtful we would see all five Americans, Chinese, Russians, etc. make the top 24 anyway, so this rule isn't preventing anything.

I agree with this. The only teams this rule will hurt are the Americans, Chinese and Russians. I was hoping to see some kind of protest so tht Jordyn could compete in the All-Around.

[pixy0stix]

2. Lochte - dude, seriously? You had the race handed to you on a golden platter and you blew it!

[Deleted]

Potential doping scandal

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180836/London-Olympics-2012-Chinese-swimmer-Ye-Shiwen-breaks-world-record-leads-questions.html

Chinese female swimmer faster than Lochte

[Deleted]

How come the queen didn't go watch her granddaughter compete?

[charminglife]

aww, I feel bad for Lochte. I'm surprised he was swimming in that relay at night, let alone anchoring it - he's not really a 100 freestyler. Cullen Jones would have been a better anchor.

[ringstrue]

Was watching gymnastics last night. Did anyone else notice that the US girls all had bigger and more defined arm muscles than any other countries competing? I was side-eyeing that....

[charminglife]

Jul 30, 2012 8:26:07 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jul 30, 2012 8:01:04 GMT -5 charminglife said:

aww, I feel bad for Lochte. I'm surprised he was swimming in that relay at night, let alone anchoring it - he's not really a 100 freestyler. Cullen Jones would have been a better anchor.

Cullen Jones blew the lead when he turned too early. Going into the turn he was ahead almost a full body length. After the turn, the closest guy was at his hip. The French anchor was a previous (maybe current) world record holder, so any US anchor would have been hard pressed to win with the diminished lead they had. Lesziak is also old and may not hAve had it in him.

Although having diff teams for semis and finals is weird to me, too.

Jones had a faster split than Lochte in the relay, and he's a sprinter - the 100 free is one of the two events he'll be swimming individually. He's more mentally prepared to do the 100 and that's why I think he should have anchored.

[pescalita]

Yeah I don't blame Lochte. Adrian and Phelps built an unlikely lead and France just had way more power at the end. I love how everyone is talking about this like a disappointment when we weren't even a lock for a medal.

There were four all-arounders DQ'ed by the 2/team rule - Weiber, Russia, GB (?!) and China. With only four competing on each event, you really can only put up 3 all-arounders (otherwise you're not using your fifth gymnast). How does having those four in the competition hurt anyone? While I'm sure Ashleigh Brennan of Australia is thrilled to be competing, is it really better for the sport to have her or the #4 qualifier and reigning world champ?

[earlgreyhot]

Jul 30, 2012 8:27:56 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jul 30, 2012 8:20:24 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Was watching gymnastics last night. Did anyone else notice that the US girls all had bigger and more defined arm muscles than any other countries competing? I was side-eyeing that....

I noticed that, but not sure what there is to side eye. We seem to be more about power than grace. The Aussies were built similarly and Gabby Douglas, while cut, wasn't stocky.

Jul 30, 2012 8:27:56 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jul 30, 2012 8:20:24 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Was watching gymnastics last night. Did anyone else notice that the US girls all had bigger and more defined arm muscles than any other countries competing? I was side-eyeing that....

I noticed that, but not sure what there is to side eye. We seem to be more about power than grace. The Aussies were built similarly and Gabby Douglas, while cut, wasn't stocky.

I agree. I think genetics play a role in how muscles develop. You can also look at Nastia Lukin vs. Shawn Johnson. Shannon Miller vs. Kerri Strug/Dominque Moceanu.

Am bummed for Jordyn, it is a really crappy rule that doesn't seem to really enhance the competition. I wonder if Aly will be pressured to give up her spot.

[marie427]

Jul 30, 2012 8:57:24 GMT -5 earlgreyhot said:

Am bummed for Jordyn, it is a really crappy rule that doesn't seem to really enhance the competition. I wonder if Aly will be pressured to give up her spot.

I will be LIVID if this happens. I feel terrible for Jordyn but Aly earned her spot.

[emilyj]

I am furious at the gymnastics. Furious. I can't even understand how that rule makes sense. "Let's have the top 16 compete in the finals...oh, but not really the top 16. Instead, let's have an arbitrary top 16 made up of the top two from each team. Equality instead of the best FTW!" What the fuck is that?

Why doesn't this controversy shit ever pop up with the men? If Aly has to give up her spot, I may quit watching women's gymnastics completely.

I want the men to win tonight SO BAD.

I don't understand the swimming either - I felt bad for Lochte in the interview when he was all "Well, the 100 isn't really my event". I don't get that decision. However, Rowdy said that on paper the US didn't even have a chance to medal, so a silver isn't too bad.

[emilyj]

Bob, I do have something I want to discuss.

Why does the Olympic logo look like Lisa Simpson giving a blow job?

[earlgreyhot]

Jul 30, 2012 9:41:10 GMT -5 emilyj said:

Bob, I do have something I want to discuss.

Why does the Olympic logo look like Lisa Simpson giving a blow job?

OMG I hate this logo so much! Did they plagiarize a 14-year old's trapper keeper?

[eightgoldenmedals]

Guys, this is so frustrating. It is just so frustrating. This is not how I wanted my last Olympiad to start. Ugh, now my mom it totally going to try to talk me into swimming in Rio.

I don't even know if I can really talk about it. Frustrating is the only word I can come up with.

I kind of think Ryan maybe trying to screw me over. He won the gold, good for him. He didn't need to tank the relay for the rest of us though. I mean, frustrating. He didn't just get me on that one- all of the other guys were counting on him too.

[PinkSquirrel]

People blaming Lochte is kind of ridiculous. First off, this is not one of his strongest events and frankly the coaches never should have put him in the race as there are far better 100 free swimmers. This bad decision is only compounded by the fact that they had him swimming the anchor. 3 of the 4 members of the US relay put up times within .15 seconds of each other with Lochte having the middle time of those three. Ultimately, what happened is Agnel had a phenomenal race and was the only person in the entire race to break 47 seconds.

[Deleted]

The two athlete rule doesn't bother me because tons of sports do it. Even if we have the top three breast stroke simmers in the world, we can only send two. KWIM? I mean, that is what it is. Thats part of the Olympics: making sure many countries are represented.

[eightgoldenmedals]

Whatever PinkSquirrel, I can be mad if I want to. Gah!

[charminglife]

Is this thread spoiler-free or can we talk about today's results?

[eclaires]

Here's what I think is lame about the 2 athlete rule... the gymnastics athletes compete in two ways - as a team and as individuals. It bugs me that they are limiting the # a country can send to the all around (which is individual). It should be however many they take (what, 24?) and it should be the best. Not two from each country - b/c it's the individual part of the competition.

FUCK THAT!

Also, the commentators for the 4x100 were really, really pissing me off. 1) the US wasn't even a lock for a medal - the fact that they did as well as they did is good, 2) they kept bagging on Phelps for his shitty swim at the other event, and he swam the fastest of all 4 according to the article I read. And really - are we judging a person who has eleventy billion gold medals on an event he said he'd never swim after Beijing and only started training for 9m ago? I don't like Phelps, but it seems kind of ridiculous to judge his swimming prowess based on that.

[eightgoldenmedals]

What eclaires said! Bam!

(other than the not liking me part)

[emilyj]

Jul 30, 2012 10:00:42 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

The two athlete rule doesn't bother me because tons of sports do it. Even if we have the top three breast stroke simmers in the world, we can only send two. KWIM? I mean, that is what it is. Thats part of the Olympics: making sure many countries are represented.

But that already gets fettered out in the trials before they get here. It's not like once they're here, if those top two breaststrokers both make the finals, they say say "No, sorry, only 1 person from each country can compete" and one of them gets the shaft.

When you're talking about the individual all around, it should be the top qualifying gymnasts, period, end of story.

[emilyj]

With swimming, I am fucking over the commentators and their incessant need to harp on Phelps and Lochte. Yes. I realize Phelps didn't make the medal stand the other night for the first time since Sydney. Yes. I realize Lochte has said this is his time. ENOUGH. Find another story line FFS.

I kind of feel bad for Lochte though, because even when he wins, it's still about Phelps.

[Deleted]

I guess I view that like the trials for individuals. The US nationals just picks the team. The events once you get there picks the individuals for the all around. Its not like we can field a team of 5 for the team and then bring individuals for the all around. Those are different events, and our nationals are really just about picking the team competition really.

[earlgreyhot]

Jul 30, 2012 10:15:43 GMT -5 emilyj said:

Jul 30, 2012 10:00:42 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

The two athlete rule doesn't bother me because tons of sports do it. Even if we have the top three breast stroke simmers in the world, we can only send two. KWIM? I mean, that is what it is. Thats part of the Olympics: making sure many countries are represented.

But that already gets fettered out in the trials before they get here. It's not like once they're here, if those top two breaststrokers both make the finals, they say say "No, sorry, only 1 person from each country can compete" and one of them gets the shaft.

When you're talking about the individual all around, it should be the top qualifying gymnasts, period, end of story.

Exactly. For the all around title to mean anything then you need to compete against the best. Jordyn is currently #4 overall, despite having an off day for her.

[Deleted]

If people are really that upset about the best not being able to compete, then you should be equally upset about it applying to most other sports. I get they are weeded out earlier (back in their countries) but that logic (the best should compete) still applies.

I guess I don't get the outrage in this case and not others. I think people are emotionally involved in this and weren't as much in the trials.

[eclaires]

Jul 30, 2012 10:10:37 GMT -5 eightgoldenmedals said:

What eclaires said! Bam!

(other than the not liking me part)

I just don't know you, sweetie. I don't dislike you either.

I could be made to like you if you want to be my sugar daddy. Or if you introduce me to Cullen Jones...

TBH, I feel kind of bad for you. I read somewhere that you just want to enjoy these Olympic games, but it seems like that's impossible when you're Michael Phelps.

[fluff]

Jul 30, 2012 10:17:37 GMT -5 emilyj said:

With swimming, I am fucking over the commentators and their incessant need to harp on Phelps and Lochte. Yes. I realize Phelps didn't make the medal stand the other night for the first time since Sydney. Yes. I realize Lochte has said this is his time. ENOUGH. Find another story line FFS.

I kind of feel bad for Lochte though, because even when he wins, it's still about Phelps.

I was saying this same thing to my parents last night when we were talking about it. Let the guy enjoy his moment and stop comparing him and Phelps.

[eclaires]

Jul 30, 2012 10:25:12 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

If people are really that upset about the best not being able to compete, then you should be equally upset about it applying to most other sports. I get they are weeded out earlier (back in their countries) but that logic (the best should compete) still applies.

I guess I don't get the outrage in this case and not others. I think people are emotionally involved in this and weren't as much in the trials.

I think being weeded out in the trials is fine... it's the way it's set up. I think once you make it to the Olympics, it takes away from what you win if you aren't competing against the best (of the Olympians).