screw TDF and the Velodrome....

[nick.b]

if you thought cycling was exciting, dont miss this...

http://www.london2012.com/athletics/event=athletics-men-50km-walk/

yes, seriously, its an actual sport...

 

[Andy84]

Power Walking 30 miles, why should it not be a sport?

 

[Ajay]

It's the only Olympic sport to have its own government minister....

 

[accountantpete]

Here's an extract from the Wiki entry for the great Don Thompson

He practised to compete at the Olympics Games in Rome in 1960 by exercising in a steam-filled bathroom at home, with the heating turned up and wearing a heavy tracksuit. After exercising for about half an hour, he would feel faint. At the time, he attributed his light-headedness to the effects of heat and humidity, but later realised that it was carbon monoxide fumes from the paraffin heater. His mother made him a hat like a képi to keep the sun off his head and neck during the race; together with his sunglasses, he was nicknamed "Il Topolino" (Italian: "Mickey Mouse", literally "little mouse").

 

[compo]

The cameraman got a bit "arty" and did a close up of the walker's feet. The Chinaman Si was clearly running,ie, had both feet off the ground at the same time. I see the judges giving yellow warnings but the commentators didn't say who to.

 

[asterix]

Dressage is the one that send me to sleep. Clearly it is an event in which only the horse deserves the medal.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Race walking isn't a sport, it's cruising with a number.

 

[Maz]

I can imagine these walkers in earlier years, being told off by teachers for running down the corridors at school...then walking as fast as they could.

That's how they got started.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

It is as bad as running, they really have to go as quickly as possible without actually running whilst putting their feet down properly with every step.

Try it for any sort of distance and you'll appreciate that it is more difficult than it seems .

Clearly it is an event in which only the horse deserves the medal.

It is event where they BOTH deserve a medal, it actually is a true partnership between man and animal.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Isn't that illegal in the UK?

Not like that Rocky. How is the probation going anyway?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Two more meetings with my probation officer and I'm done

You'll know for future, won't you?

 

[albion]

Walkings quite funny.
When it is a close race they all get competitive resulting in loads of disqualifications.

The winner is certainly the one who can hide his run best.

 

[cyberknight]

It is as bad as running, they really have to go as quickly as possible without actually running whilst putting their feet down properly with every step.

Try it for any sort of distance and you'll appreciate that it is more difficult than it seems .


It is event where they BOTH deserve a medal, it actually is a true partnership between man and animal.

Harder to walk at that speed than jog, i have tried it on treadmills so i could monitor speed for a direct comparison.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

That said, I thought the young Russian woman who won the gold was rather tasty. Maybe that was just me though.