Winter Olympics

[Poacher]

Has anyone watched the speed skating team pursuit ? I just watched the semi-finals and finals of the women's event, and it was ...odd

Three skaters start and all must finish, but no team changed the order or their members. The same skater that started in the front lead all the way around until the end - it seemed a very strange event, two of the three skater just followed the leader, adding nothing. I assume I am missing something tactically or some subtle technique, otherwise it is simply how fast can your slowest team member go when hiding behind someone else ?Nothing like pursuit cycling; I am not saying that it is better or worse, just don't really see the point.

p.s. The winners, the Canadian team, their leader was at least 6' tall, dwarfing the other two who sheltered behind her all the way around

Unlike cycling pursuit, the other team members can, and do, push the leader. Not sure how much this helps though!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

And for all you curling fans out there (@Mad Doug Biker and even the every four year ones), you might find this article of interest.

I've been timing at events and before a game or whatever, he'll just come into our area as if he's a random guy off the street, there's no heirs and graces at all. I said previously that I have played his brother, Collin, who is a really nice guy too (even if he does play for E... E... Eng... Engl*nd! 😆).

As a timer, there was one game with Bruce where I just had to say 'wow!', because he played 2 shots within 20 seconds (20 seconds on the game clock, not it real life, but even so, he was QUICK!). That was great to watch, he was just relentless and most of his games finish before other people's because he is so efficient!

Other Curlers are also nice...
Jen Dodds once got a bit concerned for me because I was so cold when timing that I had started to shiver violently (you are largely sat still for 2 hours in an ice rink, go figure).

Other players I have developed a mild complex about, due to various reasons, but they will remain nameless.

Even Rhona Martin (now Rhona Howie), Skip of the 2002 Salt Lake City gold medal winning team, is never far away and can be seen at things. Eve Muirhead too.

 

[BrumJim]

I've been timing at events and before a game or whatever, he'll just come into our area as if he's a random guy off the street, there's no heirs and graces at all. I said previously that I have played his brother, Collin, who is a really nice guy too (even if he does play for E... E... Eng... Engl*nd! 😆).

As a timer, there was one game with Bruce where I just had to say 'wow!', because he played 2 shots within 20 seconds (20 seconds on the game clock, not it real life, but even so, he was QUICK!). That was great to watch, he was just relentless and most of his games finish before other people's because he is so efficient!

Other Curlers are also nice...
Jen Dodds once got a bit concerned for me because I was so cold when timing that I had started to shiver violently (you are largely sat still for 2 hours in an ice rink, go figure).

Other players I have developed a mild complex about, due to various reasons, but they will remain nameless.

Even Rhona Martin (now Rhona Howie), Skip of the 2002 Salt Lake City gold medal winning team, is never far away and can be seen at things. Eve Muirhead too.

There is a rumour that I am related to one of the women's curling team. My father and Sophie Sinclair's Gran were cousins (my father passed away a good few years ago). And not only cousins, but my Aunt declares that Sophie's Gran was my father's favourite cousin. Families were very large at that time (my Grandpa was the youngest of about 12? Maybe 8), but those two were very close in age.

Which makes Sophie my third cousin once removed, for those that are following this closely.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

There is a rumour that I am related to one of the women's curling team. My father and Sophie Sinclair's Gran were cousins (my father passed away a good few years ago). And not only cousins, but my Aunt declares that her Gran was my father's favourite cousin. Families were very large at that time (my Grandpa was the youngest of about 12? Maybe 8), but those two were very close in age.

Which makes Sophie my third cousin once removed, for those that are following this closely.

So, if they were to win gold or another medal, you could claim a tiny part of it for Cyclechat? 😆

 

[Legs]

The last few stones of the GBR-USA women's curling match are worth a watch!

 

[MadMalx]

Speed skating relay looks like a Madison. Quite enjoyed that.

 

[Pross]

GB women's curlers go out in about the most dramatic possible way having done all they could to salvage their chances.

 

[Poacher]

Rather than cover the deciding extra end in the curling semi final between Norway and Canada, the BBC showed the same ice dance on both channels!
Edit: judging by the shot by shot graphic coverage on the official website, it must have been a cracker.

 

[Shadow]

Rather than cover the deciding extra end in the curling semi final between Norway and Canada, the BBC showed the same ice dance on both channels!

The Beeb has been doing this all week - intensely annoying and frustrating.

 

[Beebo]

My grumpy old man complaint is that there are so many new events. They are having to compete with the X games, which is less about pure sporting excellence and more about doing cool stuff.
In Calgary, which is the first olympics I can really remember, there were 46 events. Now there are 116. That’s 250% increase in events.
Most of which are essential very similar. Doing jumps and stunts. I don’t like too many events which require judges and subjective decisions.

 

[BrumJim]

My grumpy old man complaint is that there are so many new events. They are having to compete with the X games, which is less about pure sporting excellence and more about doing cool stuff.
In Calgary, which is the first olympics I can really remember, there were 46 events. Now there are 116. That’s 250% increase in events.
Most of which are essential very similar. Doing jumps and stunts. I don’t like too many events which require judges and subjective decisions.

I'm with you, but my wife would rather watch the ice dancing or any of the tricks and stunts events (big air, etc) than any of the "how fast can you go down the hill or round the rink" events which I love. Can't get her interested in Curling, either.

 

[MadMalx]

My grumpy old man complaint is that there are so many new events. They are having to compete with the X games, which is less about pure sporting excellence and more about doing cool stuff.
In Calgary, which is the first olympics I can really remember, there were 46 events. Now there are 116. That’s 250% increase in events.
Most of which are essential very similar. Doing jumps and stunts. I don’t like too many events which require judges and subjective decisions.

A lot of the the added events look like consolation prizes. In the team events, the second fastest men's snowboarder gets a gold medal because the woman is the fastest woman (on that day), and vice versa. It's not as if they are doing it as a proper relay, that requires some added skills.
More generally, any multi-distance discipline that is routinely dominated by one individual needs looking at (this also applies to summer events like swimming and some of the atheltics).

 

[Beebo]

A lot of the the added events look like consolation prizes. In the team events, the second fastest men's snowboarder gets a gold medal because the woman is the fastest woman (on that day), and vice versa. It's not as if they are doing it as a proper relay, that requires some added skills.
More generally, any multi-distance discipline that is routinely dominated by one individual needs looking at (this also applies to summer events like swimming and some of the atheltics).

Agree 100%

Swimming is a big culprit for multiple medals but also cycling too.
When they are winning multiple medals.
It’s very rare in athletics to get more than 2 events. Some sprinters do get more.

 

[Dorset Boy]

The Beeb has been doing this all week - intensely annoying and frustrating.

Presumably the BBC think Robin Cousins and Torvil & Dean are still in with a chance of a medal

 

[Alex321]

Agree 100%

Swimming is a big culprit for multiple medals but also cycling too.
When they are winning multiple medals.
It’s very rare in athletics to get more than 2 events. Some sprinters do get more.

Yes, most sprinters will be involved in three events by the time you include a relay.

Quite a lot of runners do two distances, but it is only sprinters that also have relays.

And hardly any throwers or jumpers do more than one event.