The 2016 Olympic Games

[Lizard]

The Games are only a few days away. We might as well set up that all-important "Per Capita" medal table now.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

The Games are only a few days away. We might as well set up that all-important "Per Capita" medal table now.

so we'd need roughly 15 times the medals of you lot.

Valerie Adams is hitting form again. Last I saw your track cyclists were going well. Apart from the rugby teams any other obvious sources of medals?

[Lizard]

The Games are only a few days away. We might as well set up that all-important "Per Capita" medal table now.

so we'd need roughly 15 times the medals of you lot.

Valerie Adams is hitting form again. Last I saw your track cyclists were going well. Apart from the rugby teams any other obvious sources of medals?

We are so desperate for (relative) Olympic success that our official Government statisticians are tasked with the per capita calculations. In 2012 we were fourth on gold medals (behind Grenada, Bahamas and Jamaica - GB was 10th) and also fourth on all medals (behind Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago).

http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_sta ... mpics.aspx

As well as Valerie and the 7s (men's and women's), we're good sitting down, especially on the water:

Rowing
Men's pair: Hamish Bond and Eric Murray are better than the All Blacks. Defending Olympic champions, six-time world champs. I believe they haven't ever lost as a pair with 61 straight victories at Olympic, world championship and World Cup level.

Also watch for:
Men's single scull Mahe Drysdale
Women's 8
Lightweight women's double scull
Lightweight men's 4
Women's double scull
Women's single scull Emma Twigg
Women's pair

Kayaking
Lisa Carrington (K1 200 and K1 500)

Sailing
Men's 49er: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have 26 straight wins in this class. Silver in 2012 was a disappointment.

Also watch for our men's and women's 470 duos.

cycling
Men's sprint : World Champions Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins should have won the 2015 world title but were disqualified on a technicality.

Dawkins is also a chance in the individual sprint.

Men's team pursuit is also a chance, as is Linda Villumson (Road race and time trial)

Non-sitting sports:
Lydia Ko (women's golf) - world no. 1.
Lauren Boyle (swimming 400m, 800m freestyle)
Tom Walsh (Shot put)

[Big D]

Looking forward to the cycling.

I'd love to see Cav win gold but that is more hope than expectation. Apparently Sir Brad and co have broken the pursuit WR in training so they must be looking sharp.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

The Games are only a few days away. We might as well set up that all-important "Per Capita" medal table now.

so we'd need roughly 15 times the medals of you lot.

Valerie Adams is hitting form again. Last I saw your track cyclists were going well. Apart from the rugby teams any other obvious sources of medals?

We are so desperate for (relative) Olympic success that our official Government statisticians are tasked with the per capita calculations. In 2012 we were fourth on gold medals (behind Grenada, Bahamas and Jamaica - GB was 10th) and also fourth on all medals (behind Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago).

http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_sta ... mpics.aspx

As well as Valerie and the 7s (men's and women's), we're good sitting down, especially on the water:

Rowing
Men's pair: Hamish Bond and Eric Murray are better than the All Blacks. Defending Olympic champions, six-time world champs. I believe they haven't ever lost as a pair with 61 straight victories at Olympic, world championship and World Cup level.

Also watch for:
Men's single scull Mahe Drysdale
Women's 8
Lightweight women's double scull
Lightweight men's 4
Women's double scull
Women's single scull Emma Twigg
Women's pair

Kayaking
Lisa Carrington (K1 200 and K1 500)

Sailing
Men's 49er: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have 26 straight wins in this class. Silver in 2012 was a disappointment.

Also watch for our men's and women's 470 duos.

cycling
Men's sprint : World Champions Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins should have won the 2015 world title but were disqualified on a technicality.

Dawkins is also a chance in the individual sprint.

Men's team pursuit is also a chance, as is Linda Villumson (Road race and time trial)

Non-sitting sports:
Lydia Ko (women's golf) - world no. 1.
Lauren Boyle (swimming 400m, 800m freestyle)
Tom Walsh (Shot put)

I'd assumed you had some decent rowers but I've lost touch with who's doing well. i'd completely forgotten about Ko. be great if she won gold.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Can't mention these Olympics without also the almighty mess that the OIC have made of the Russian issue. I have difficulty understanding why, with evidence of a state doping programme and a recommendation to do so by the (independent) WADA, they didn't simply ban the lot of them with the ability to apply to get in.

[Big D]

So lizzie armitsted had made a bit of a balls up. Very lucky imo.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

So lizzie armitsted had made a bit of a balls up. Very lucky imo.

A bit unlucky it seems to me. The last one was a family emergency but that's no mitigation. The first one it sounds - without yet having full details - like the UKADA offical cocked up spectacularly and couldn't be assed o try to find her. Given she was tested the next day it's almost certainly not an attempt to evade.

[Big D]

So lizzie armitsted had made a bit of a balls up. Very lucky imo.

A bit unlucky it seems to me. The last one was a family emergency but that's no mitigation. The first one it sounds - without yet having full details - like the UKADA offical cocked up spectacularly and couldn't be assed o try to find her. Given she was tested the next day it's almost certainly not an attempt to evade.

She's undoubtedly lucky. They could easily have said tough given she has
waited until now to challenge the 1st missed test. She must have accepted it at the time. Whilst it is not uncommon at all for athletes to be on one missed test, one year out from the Olympics she should have challenged it then.

Many cyclists have passed tests the day after they may have failed one if they were tested so whilst I dont think she is on drugs I don't see that as any mitigation.

Smaller matter is she has a book due out too. This may or may not help her PR.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

So lizzie armitsted had made a bit of a balls up. Very lucky imo.

A bit unlucky it seems to me. The last one was a family emergency but that's no mitigation. The first one it sounds - without yet having full details - like the UKADA offical cocked up spectacularly and couldn't be assed o try to find her. Given she was tested the next day it's almost certainly not an attempt to evade.

She's undoubtedly lucky. They could easily have said tough given she has
waited until now to challenge the 1st missed test. She must have accepted it at the time. Whilst it is not uncommon at all for athletes to be on one missed test, one year out from the Olympics she should have challenged it then.

Many cyclists have passed tests the day after they may have failed one if they were tested so whilst I dont think she is on drugs I don't see that as any mitigation.

Smaller matter is she has a book due out too. This may or may not help her PR.

I haven't read the regulations but I'd be very surprised if they require you to challenge immediately or indeed at any time before you were being breached. Even the criminal law tends not to require that. Therefore I doubt she is lucky that they didn't say "you should have challenged at the time".

[canta_brian]

So lizzie armitsted had made a bit of a balls up. Very lucky imo.

A bit unlucky it seems to me. The last one was a family emergency but that's no mitigation. The first one it sounds - without yet having full details - like the UKADA offical cocked up spectacularly and couldn't be assed o try to find her. Given she was tested the next day it's almost certainly not an attempt to evade.

She's undoubtedly lucky. They could easily have said tough given she has
waited until now to challenge the 1st missed test. She must have accepted it at the time. Whilst it is not uncommon at all for athletes to be on one missed test, one year out from the Olympics she should have challenged it then.

Many cyclists have passed tests the day after they may have failed one if they were tested so whilst I dont think she is on drugs I don't see that as any mitigation.

Smaller matter is she has a book due out too. This may or may not help her PR.

Are there performance enhancing drugs that clear the system in 24 hours?

[Big D]

A bit unlucky it seems to me. The last one was a family emergency but that's no mitigation. The first one it sounds - without yet having full details - like the UKADA offical cocked up spectacularly and couldn't be assed o try to find her. Given she was tested the next day it's almost certainly not an attempt to evade.

She's undoubtedly lucky. They could easily have said tough given she has
waited until now to challenge the 1st missed test. She must have accepted it at the time. Whilst it is not uncommon at all for athletes to be on one missed test, one year out from the Olympics she should have challenged it then.

Many cyclists have passed tests the day after they may have failed one if they were tested so whilst I dont think she is on drugs I don't see that as any mitigation.

Smaller matter is she has a book due out too. This may or may not help her PR.

Are there performance enhancing drugs that clear the system in 24 hours?

Tyler Hamilton covered micro dosing testosterone for example and timing EPO use to avoid detection. It's not a stretch to suggest a sportsperson could still be doing similar (obviously tailored to female/male needs depending on sex).

To avoid hijacking the Olympic thread and making it about drugs. I still think she is fortunate to be allowed to compete. Eugene is obviously more knowledgeable about the legal side but I would have thought the time for Lizzie and GB cycling to appeal a missed test was at the time rather than when facing conviction but I have no sight or knowledge of the procedures behind it.

To be clear I am not suggesting or trying to imply she is using drugs, nor am I on the "everyone does drugs" bandwagon. I still would not hold up a passed drugs test a day later as an example of someone being clean when they "dodged" a test the day before.

Hopefully she goes on to do one better than 2012.

[WaspInWales]

So lizzie armitsted had made a bit of a balls up. Very lucky imo.

Massively lucky! I bet she's grateful her name doesn't end with a 'ski' too!

[Sandydragon]

Can't mention these Olympics without also the almighty mess that the OIC have made of the Russian issue. I have difficulty understanding why, with evidence of a state doping programme and a recommendation to do so by the (independent) WADA, they didn't simply ban the lot of them with the ability to apply to get in.

A shocking lack of moral fibre. There should have been a blanket ban unless individual sports were happy that testing regimes were sufficient; I seem to recall that tennis authorities were content thatrussian players spent so much time it side of Russia that they were happy with the integrity of test results. Otherwise, a complete fail to show leadership.

[Lizard]

Can't mention these Olympics without also the almighty mess that the OIC have made of the Russian issue. I have difficulty understanding why, with evidence of a state doping programme and a recommendation to do so by the (independent) WADA, they didn't simply ban the lot of them with the ability to apply to get in.

A shocking lack of moral fibre. There should have been a blanket ban unless individual sports were happy that testing regimes were sufficient; I seem to recall that tennis authorities were content thatrussian players spent so much time it side of Russia that they were happy with the integrity of test results. Otherwise, a complete fail to show leadership.

Erm, like Sharapova?

[Lizard]

Can't mention these Olympics without also the almighty mess that the OIC have made of the Russian issue. I have difficulty understanding why, with evidence of a state doping programme and a recommendation to do so by the (independent) WADA, they didn't simply ban the lot of them with the ability to apply to get in.

A shocking lack of moral fibre. There should have been a blanket ban unless individual sports were happy that testing regimes were sufficient; I seem to recall that tennis authorities were content thatrussian players spent so much time it side of Russia that they were happy with the integrity of test results. Otherwise, a complete fail to show leadership.

Erm, like Sharapova?

[Lizard]

Can't mention these Olympics without also the almighty mess that the OIC have made of the Russian issue. I have difficulty understanding why, with evidence of a state doping programme and a recommendation to do so by the (independent) WADA, they didn't simply ban the lot of them with the ability to apply to get in.

A shocking lack of moral fibre. There should have been a blanket ban unless individual sports were happy that testing regimes were sufficient; I seem to recall that tennis authorities were content thatrussian players spent so much time it side of Russia that they were happy with the integrity of test results. Otherwise, a complete fail to show leadership.

Erm, like Sharapova?

[Lizard]

Can't mention these Olympics without also the almighty mess that the OIC have made of the Russian issue. I have difficulty understanding why, with evidence of a state doping programme and a recommendation to do so by the (independent) WADA, they didn't simply ban the lot of them with the ability to apply to get in.

A shocking lack of moral fibre. There should have been a blanket ban unless individual sports were happy that testing regimes were sufficient; I seem to recall that tennis authorities were content thatrussian players spent so much time it side of Russia that they were happy with the integrity of test results. Otherwise, a complete fail to show leadership.

Erm, like Sharapova?

[WaspInWales]

Can't mention these Olympics without also the almighty mess that the OIC have made of the Russian issue. I have difficulty understanding why, with evidence of a state doping programme and a recommendation to do so by the (independent) WADA, they didn't simply ban the lot of them with the ability to apply to get in.

Maybe there's political pressures from different sides and the IOC have bottled making a decision? Passing the buck to sports governing bodies is a blatant shirk.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Can't mention these Olympics without also the almighty mess that the OIC have made of the Russian issue. I have difficulty understanding why, with evidence of a state doping programme and a recommendation to do so by the (independent) WADA, they didn't simply ban the lot of them with the ability to apply to get in.

Maybe there's political pressures from different sides and the IOC have bottled making a decision? Passing the buck to sports governing bodies is a blatant shirk.

That's what i thought initially, combined with them wanting to avoid the litigation risk of a blanket ban. However then they clawed back the decision-making giving themselves the final decision meaning that they have the worst of all possible worlds.

[Numbers]

To take this back to the Olympics a bit I am shocked to see that all the media are bigging up Jessica Ennis-Hill to retain her Olympic crown, I can only see this happening if Katerina Johnson-Thompson fails to perform, the last time I saw the two, KJT outjumped Ennis by about 60cm in the long jump (one of Ennis's stronger events).

It could be close, this is perhaps the most interesting event in my opinion.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

To take this back to the Olympics a bit I am shocked to see that all the media are bigging up Jessica Ennis-Hill to retain her Olympic crown, I can only see this happening if Katerina Johnson-Thompson fails to perform, the last time I saw the two, KJT outjumped Ennis by about 60cm in the long jump (one of Ennis's stronger events).

It could be close, this is perhaps the most interesting event in my opinion.

JEH is the much more consistent heptathlete though. KJT has made a right hash of a couple of heptathlons and hasn't ever put together the totals that Jess has. Even this year Jess has had a bigger score than KJT has ever managed and has 7 in all higher than KJT's best (which was in 2014).

[Lizard]

NZ's campaign kicks off (literally) in about an hour. Ladies football v USA. Given that 8 of 12 teams make the play-offs, this probably isn't a "must win" against the #1 ranked team. Our pool of death also includes #3 France and #24 Colombia. We are #16..

[Big D]

To take this back to the Olympics a bit I am shocked to see that all the media are bigging up Jessica Ennis-Hill to retain her Olympic crown, I can only see this happening if Katerina Johnson-Thompson fails to perform, the last time I saw the two, KJT outjumped Ennis by about 60cm in the long jump (one of Ennis's stronger events).

It could be close, this is perhaps the most interesting event in my opinion.

JEH has performed better this year. KJT has demons to put to rest after totally cocking up the world championship last year. JEH has also set a new PB in the long jump this year which is around 30cm down on KJTs PB from 2 years ago. But JEH has a far bigger advantage in hurdles and the throwing (7m in the Javelin).

I think in reality they are fairly evenly matched, but the media see JEH as the golden girl but also the proven championship performer.

Don't write off the Canadian lady - Ashton Eatons wife. She is very good. He is also a fantastic decathlete.

[Lizard]

NZ's campaign kicks off (literally) in about an hour. Ladies football v USA. Given that 8 of 12 teams make the play-offs, this probably isn't a "must win" against the #1 ranked team. Our pool of death also includes #3 France and #24 Colombia. We are #16..

2-0 USA. Bugger.

Next up for NZ, Mahe Drysdale in men's single scull heats, 11.30pm Saturday (NZ time).