Official Tokyo Olympic Games Thread

[purplepenguin7]

Hope this ok to share here via Twitter. Short video clip of Simone giving the team a pep talk before bars. This is after she left the floor and then came back out. You can hear the emotion in her voice. It was not an easy decision for her.

Adding another great thread on the mental aspect of gymnastics, if anyone is interested.

[rubytue]

Moving on…. (Edit - meaning me, not everyone.. just that I have thought about everything said about Biles, and my thoughts, and will chew on them)

TW: sexual assault
*******************************
fencer still competing after sexual assault investigation www.thelily.com/fencer-alen-hadzic-is-being-investigated-for-sexual-assault-hes-still-competing-for-team-usa/

This was my sport in college. Went to the state junior olympics (finished fourth, while I had mono - bc I couldn’t finish my last bout). And, had a brief fling with one of the women’s team coaches, which we just men’s team seniors (club sport). Even now, I don’t view it as assault, and more like a two-night stand that didn’t work out. 🤷‍♀️ It’s a small community, but I’ve been out of it for 20 years. Yet, it says he is well known in the east coast circuit, so I bet I know people who know the rumors, as I’m still in acquaintance contact with some who are still active fencers.

[laladypoet]

Jul 27, 2021 9:02:47 GMT -5 rubytue said:

purplepenguin7 , thank you for that. And that’s what I meant by hoping more information came out. I’m sure my thoughts are more tempered than many others.

But, mysteriouswife , when people are depending on you for anything in life, do they get an explanation when you don’t do it? Friends, family, work, life. Do they owe us, no. But it’s human nature to want to know what happened. Human nature to be concerned. Caring about each other is natural. 

ok but this sounds like concern trolling and you just want the dirt, based off the rest of your posts.

[gretchenindisguise]

I also want to say I'm so glad she's on a team where she is able to make health decisions and they aren't forcing her to do it, a la Strug in 96.

And that she has the confidence to say that she couldn't compete to protect her health.

Also having Simone out there and faltering may have done worse for the mentality of the team than having her on the side lines cheering.

Finally a silver medal is AWESOME! It's nothing to look down upon.

[dulcemariamar]

I hate the mentality of gold or nothing. Silver is awesome and they should be so proud of themselves. The Russians did great today so I am not surprised by their win.

I can’t imagine what her teammates must have felt when she stepped out of the competition. Great job on them that they could do so well under that pressure.

[Velar Fricative]

Jul 27, 2021 11:16:38 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I also want to say I'm so glad she's on a team where she is able to make health decisions and they aren't forcing her to do it, a la Strug in 96.

And that she has the confidence to say that she couldn't compete to protect her health.

Also having Simone out there and faltering may have done worse for the mentality of the team than having her on the side lines cheering.

Finally a silver medal is AWESOME! It's nothing to look down upon.

I'm seeing a lot about Strug on Twitter. In hindsight, as "wonderful" a moment that was for Team USA, it never should have happened. So anyone who believes "...but Strug!!!" can shut up. Especially because we now know how damaging the Karolyis were and she was fucking handed over to Larry Nassar when she was done with her vault. I for one am very happy that Biles was listened to and respected for her decision.

Another plug for the Blind Landing podcast series that partly delved into the whole idea of how gymnasts were often not listened to when they voiced concerns about things. 

[heat40]

Yes, that Simone Biles stayed and did as much as she could to help her team, even though she had withdrawn is also what being a teammate ( a veteran) is about.

The pressure on the gymnasts after she withdrew, must’ve been incredible. It must’ve taken immense strength mentally and physically to step up and continue the fight. Having her on the side cheering and giving them that “push” was absolutely amazing.

[Jalapeñomel]

Lydia Jacoby was amazing. Looking at the side by side of her swim and her family and friends in Alaska was fun!

[notreal]

Simone made the right decision. Every asshole who screams "But, But Kerri Strug..." should be forced to also hear, "but Elena Mukhina."

[morecoffeeplease]

Jul 27, 2021 11:51:47 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Lydia Jacoby was amazing. Looking at the side by side of her swim and her family and friends in Alaska was fun!

I loved watching the side by side. It made me get a lump in my throat. How exciting. 

[sparkythelawyer]

Jul 25, 2021 18:22:37 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Jul 25, 2021 13:02:19 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I only played in middle and high school, but I was always tall and while I already knew I was terrible at basketball, I hated that everyone assumed I was great at basketball so I opted for volleyball almost out of spite lol. I loved volleyball and was a pretty decent player. But maybe this guy was like me and wanted to do something that wasn't what everyone automatically expected. Or maybe only I'm the weirdo to do that.

My SIL is 6'2" and this is basically her story. She played college, too.

My roommate in college was 6'4 and a swimmer because as she put it..."height is genetic.  So is coordination."

[sparkythelawyer]

Jul 25, 2021 22:32:03 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Jul 25, 2021 20:57:18 GMT -5 erbear said:

We were watching at a bar and everyone was cracking up. They score every time they come down the court. They pull the goalie constantly then are surprised when the other team tosses the ball in. I need a rules rundown!

I miss watching in bars. I watched winter 2010 in a bar, and it was fantastic. We all got really into curling with it adult hot chocolate. I watched the last couple world cup in a bar (men and women), and it was a blast. Alas, no dining in anywhere this year. While country has been in near lockdown since June 1.

while watching the 2002 opening ceremonies in some bar, my roommate and I decided that Curling had to be our ticket to olympic fame and glory, since clearly needing an athlete body was not a problem.

alcohol was definitely involved. :-)

[docholly]

Jul 27, 2021 12:13:59 GMT -5 notreal said:

Simone made the right decision. Every asshole who screams "But, But Kerri Strug..." should be forced to also hear, "but Elena Mukhina."

Yes. She makes it look so effortless that it is easy to forget how dangerous gymnastics can be. It isn’t just a risk of a bad showing. Especially with the moves she does…

[sparkythelawyer]

My heart hurts for Simone Biles. I hope she gets what she needs to be well and healthy, whatever well and healthy look like for her.

[Wines Not Whines]

Did one of the alternates on the US team get to fill in when Simone left? Or did the US team compete with 3 athletes?

[mandymay]

Jul 27, 2021 12:38:44 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Did one of the alternates on the US team get to fill in when Simone left? Or did the US team compete with 3 athletes?

They competed with three athletes and the girls did so great! It was nerve wracking and wonderful to watch them pull together as a team and get silver.

I'm also so impressed with the team from Great Britain. Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova were a joy to watch. I'm so happy they were able to win bronze!

[BlondeSpiders]

Jul 27, 2021 9:54:01 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Jul 27, 2021 8:24:51 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Besides Simone’s withdrawal, what was some of the other weird stuff?

As an Olympic random, I’m not sure if most Americans would know this, but Svetlana Khorkina (who was always a pain in the ass) has been an entire bitch the last year.

I posted that before I actually watched - it was based on weird text updates from my friend about Simone possibly leaving the building and stuff. Now, not so weird obviously.

OMG I was listening to the Blind Landing podcast and was like "Wow, I wonder what Svetlana Khorkina is up to these days now that they mentioned her" and then I saw her comments about the USA gymnastics scandal and I was like fuuuuuuuuck her.

I didn't know this gymnast, and looked up an interview she did last year that spoke to the sexual assault case and a few others. What an absolute see you next tuesday.

[charlatti]

Jul 27, 2021 12:38:44 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Did one of the alternates on the US team get to fill in when Simone left? Or did the US team compete with 3 athletes?

This article says Jordan Chiles competed in events she had not planned to do: www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/27/1021137934/simone-biles-jordan-chiles-usa-tokyo-olympics-gymnamistics

[foundmylazybum]

Jul 27, 2021 11:20:15 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

I hate the mentality of gold or nothing. Silver is awesome and they should be so proud of themselves. The Russians did great today so I am not surprised by their win.

I can’t imagine what her teammates must have felt when she stepped out of the competition. Great job on them that they could do so well under that pressure.

I also hate the "win at all costs" mentality.

I think about how this impacts Simone Biles (and Kerry Strug). It impacts a lot of the athletes I work with too.

If they have the slightest pain (physical or mental), they won't compete bc they won't be able to do it *perfectly* perfection is a pretty narrow cup to fill and no wonder they feel fucking nervous all the time.

Excellence is a wide range, and in a sport like gymnastics they could have said something like "guys: guess what, we can score together, a range of xyz and we will get gold"

Which means the "weight of gold" is distributed amongst them all not JUST on Simone Biles having a perfect day on all events and doing her hardest move (narrow cup) it also provides the opportunity for another girl to also have an amazing day..not JUST one person.

I feel for them. The perspective we as a society put on them of all or nothing is really not true but it's really shoved down their throats and it impacts performance in a visible way

[Velar Fricative]

Jul 27, 2021 13:24:34 GMT -5 charlatti said:

Jul 27, 2021 12:38:44 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Did one of the alternates on the US team get to fill in when Simone left? Or did the US team compete with 3 athletes?

This article says Jordan Chiles competed in events she had not planned to do: www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/27/1021137934/simone-biles-jordan-chiles-usa-tokyo-olympics-gymnamistics

Yeah Jordan stepped up so so well.

[Deleted]

What is that obnoxious high putched whistle noise every few seconds during swimming? I had to turn off the games because it was setting me on edge

[cattledogkisses]

Jul 27, 2021 14:24:12 GMT -5 @darkangel said:

What is that obnoxious high putched whistle noise every few seconds during swimming? I had to turn off the games because it was setting me on edge

I've noticed this too.  It sounds like someone being utterly obnoxious with an airhorn. 

[foundmylazybum]

I think the whistles are coaches trying to keep their athletes on pace.

[gretchenindisguise]

Jul 27, 2021 14:24:12 GMT -5 @darkangel said:

What is that obnoxious high putched whistle noise every few seconds during swimming? I had to turn off the games because it was setting me on edge

It's the coaches whistling. I was joking with H the other night that being able to whistle like that is nearly a pre-requisite for being a swim coach.

You'll hear it during all strokes, but mostly and consistently during breaststroke.

[mysteriouswife]

Jul 27, 2021 14:39:05 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Jul 27, 2021 14:24:12 GMT -5 @darkangel said:

What is that obnoxious high putched whistle noise every few seconds during swimming? I had to turn off the games because it was setting me on edge

It's the coaches whistling. I was joking with H the other night that being able to whistle like that is nearly a pre-requisite for being a swim coach.

You'll hear it during all strokes, but mostly and consistently during breaststroke.

How do they know it’s their coach? I have hearing issues and there is no way I would be able to tell the difference in whistles

[gretchenindisguise]

Does anyone know what happens if Simone chooses not to compete for the individual events? Will it go to the alternatives or to the US competitor who was prevented from moving forward because of the 2 per country rule, but scored higher than the alternative?

[gretchenindisguise]

Jul 27, 2021 14:40:33 GMT -5 mysteriouswife said:

Jul 27, 2021 14:39:05 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

It's the coaches whistling. I was joking with H the other night that being able to whistle like that is nearly a pre-requisite for being a swim coach.

You'll hear it during all strokes, but mostly and consistently during breaststroke.

How do they know it’s their coach? I have hearing issues and there is no way I would be able to tell the difference in whistles

It'd be the one that is whistling with your rhythm. I guess if there are 2 swimmers with the same exact rhythm and both coaches are whistling you wouldn't know unless they are slightly different pitches.

Think of it like a metronome for stroke pacing.

[mysteriouswife]

Jul 27, 2021 14:44:51 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Jul 27, 2021 14:40:33 GMT -5 mysteriouswife said:

How do they know it’s their coach? I have hearing issues and there is no way I would be able to tell the difference in whistles

It'd be the one that is whistling with your rhythm. I guess if there are 2 swimmers with the same exact rhythm and both coaches are whistling you wouldn't know unless they are slightly different pitches.

Think of it like a metronome for stroke pacing.

Yup.. I’d be screwed. 😂 It’s absolutely amazing how much work and training goes into these sports.

[akayf]

Jul 27, 2021 14:40:47 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Does anyone know what happens if Simone chooses not to compete for the individual events? Will it go to the alternatives or to the US competitor who was prevented from moving forward because of the 2 per country rule, but scored higher than the alternative?

I assume the 3rd US highest score? I remember years ago a Russian girl crying even though the team won gold because she placed 3rd on the team and wouldn’t advance to all arounds. Then a day later, the second place girl was suddenly injured and the crying girl was in. My dad joked at the time that the Russian coach probably said you, you are injured and second place girl suddenly started limping.

[mcppalmbeach]

Jul 27, 2021 11:20:15 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

I hate the mentality of gold or nothing. Silver is awesome and they should be so proud of themselves. The Russians did great today so I am not surprised by their win.

I can’t imagine what her teammates must have felt when she stepped out of the competition. Great job on them that they could do so well under that pressure.

I watched hoda interview them and I was getting really mad the focus was so much on Simone and not their silver win. There were a few comments about what it says about them that they came back to get silver but I felt like it was way too focused on what they were missing. It takes real grit to go from a mentality of ok, we get one dropped score to Every. Score. Matters. You have to have a true mental toughness to not let that mess you up. I kind of wish they had interviewed them alone so the focus could be on them. I get why it didn’t happen that way and there is no one that can compare to Simone, but they should have gotten their time to shine.