OT: 2024 Olympics (non basketball)

[Umami Zen]

You do know that the floor has springs in it right? Not sure what that adds... 2 ft given that best running verticals ever are 50"-ish?
It would be interesting to measure gymnasts vertical jumps vs basketball players (maybe volleyball too).

If they could really jump 11'8" they'd all walk over to the track after the gymnastics and cruise to high jump medals

I do know that the floors have springs in them-primarily for the safety of the athletes on their landings vs performance enhancing benefits. I'm sure there are those benefits as well.To what degree? Don't know.

Per @Kitaman's original post/comments- I was looking forward to Biles return and her performance(s). I find it quite amazing that someone 4'8'' can reach a running vertical measured at around 12'6''(telecast estimate last night) with or without floors with springs. As a matter of fact-The commentators last night referenced the Biles vertical of 12'6'' as compared to a LeBron James break away dunk where his vertical would have to be measured at 14'5'' to be the equivalent (with or without springy court) of hers. Their math-not mine. Maybe that's why quite a few of the NBA players participating in the Olympics were in the stands videotaping Biles floor exercise on their cell phones. (Curry/Holliday/Durant/James to name a few)

Looking forward to track and field in the next few days.

 

[awy]

He shattered the world record in a poorly constructed pool that has provided no other world records (although some Olympic records). It could be for real, but until China starts real drug enforcement any accomplishment by a China swimmer should be taken with more than a single grain of salt.

It is the cost of shady business.

I am a big Tadej Pogacar fan. He seems like a great guy and he makes the sport fun to watch. But when a cyclist does "unbelievable" things, there is a track record of those accomplishment being unnatural. Then again, maybe he is great talent in an era when nutritionists finally made the shocking discovery that if you are going to burn 3000 calories climbing a mountain, you should eat 3000 calories before you climb the mountain -- and now you get all-time great results.

pogacar's performance can be explained by a combination of talent of a particular type and his training/fueling situation, which was badly out of date. he stagnated on climbing performance under the bad training under inigo san millan for a few years, so when he switched to a program that actually has the intensity level, he had a lot of catch up performance to gain. it looks otherworldly because of the long stagnation beforehand. the other thing is heat training which gives a temporary performance boost similar to altitude, on the order of 5-8% in some cases. he'll probably keep improving at the rate of the visma trendline after his catchup growth is done with, as he's still young enough.

the fueling is also extremely big for endurance sports. it affects recovery a great deal as well. the lack of recovery for pogacar in 2022-2023 didn't fit with his level of recovery in 2021, and it's probably just fueling and intensity related. he was underfueled for key stages in both years and the difference can be 1-2 minutes per 10km of climbing.

 

[Chin Diesel]

He shattered the world record in a poorly constructed pool that has provided no other world records (although some Olympic records). It could be for real, but until China starts real drug enforcement any accomplishment by a China swimmer should be taken with more than a single grain of salt.

It is the cost of shady business.

I am a big Tadej Pogacar fan. He seems like a great guy and he makes the sport fun to watch. But when a cyclist does "unbelievable" things, there is a track record of those accomplishment being unnatural. Then again, maybe he is great talent in an era when nutritionists finally made the shocking discovery that if you are going to burn 3000 calories climbing a mountain, you should eat 3000 calories before you climb the mountain -- and now you get all-time great results.

The thing with swimmers and moden technology is it should he relatively easy to see what he is doing relative to the rest of the field.
Is he moving his arms faster and getting more strokes per second? Look at his kick for differences. Is he just moving more water with his hands as he pulls through the water? How does he porpoise through the water when he starts the race? What is his reaction time off the block? How far does he push off the block?
Since he is of "normal" proportions he has to be doing something different.
They do the overlap of 40 yard sprints at the NFL combine to show how to players' runs compare to each other.
Doing it for swimming shouldn't be hard to do.

 

[ctbro1999]

He shattered the world record in a poorly constructed pool that has provided no other world records (although some Olympic records). It could be for real, but until China starts real drug enforcement any accomplishment by a China swimmer should be taken with more than a single grain of salt.

It is the cost of shady business.

Maybe he ate a steroid-loaded baguette before his swim. Chinese athletes seem to have a recurring problem of accidentally ingesting foods laced with anabolic steroids.

 

[awy]

the drug they tested positive for is for heart failure patients not cows. it's for aerobic/cardio performance

 

[gsmooth]

I just shut off my TV in frustration 40 minutes ago after Morocco just made the score 3-0 vs the USA men in the quarterfinals in soccer, SMH. Morocco was picking apart USA and piecing them up.

My summer has been fun and enjoyable when I remove USA men's soccer from it.

I just hope USA does not embarrass themselves in 2026 in the World Cup here on home soil. Nothing this summer gave me excitement for 2026, in fact, in terms of soccer I hope time moves very slowly towards the World Cup.

 

[superjohn]

I just shut off my TV in frustration 40 minutes ago after Morocco just made the score 3-0 vs the USA men in the quarterfinals in soccer, SMH. Morocco was picking apart USA and piecing them up.

My summer has been fun and enjoyable when I remove USA men's soccer from it.

I just hope USA does not embarrass themselves in 2026 in the World Cup here on home soil. Nothing this summer gave me excitement for 2026, in fact, in terms of soccer I hope time moves very slowly towards the World Cup.

4-0 final.

Were you actually expecting something different? It's US men's soccer.

 

[Waquoit]

I find myself enjoying all of the velodrome events. It's one of those sports I only watch every 4 years.

 

[HooperScooper]

4-0 final.

Were you actually expecting something different? It's US men's soccer.

And the Olympic team was not the real USMNT. The USMNT team can't even do well so how were the 2nd tier guys they sent to the Olympics expected to do well?

 

[gsmooth]

4-0 final.

Were you actually expecting something different? It's US men's soccer.

Yeah I was expecting something different. Was I expecting a win? Maybe, but not really. I definitely was not expecting Morocco to demolish and crush them.

 

[gsmooth]

And the Olympic team was not the real USMNT. The USMNT team can't even do well so how were the 2nd tier guys they sent to the Olympics expected to do well?

Every country sends it's U23 players (3 senior exceptions allowed) for the Olympics because it's considered a non-FIFA event. For any non-FIFA events the players for senior ball clubs in leagues around the world have to be given approval by their clubs to play in that non-FIFA international event.

 

[HooperScooper]

Every country sends it's U23 players (3 senior exceptions allowed) for the Olympics because it's considered a non-FIFA event. For any non-FIFA events the players for senior ball clubs in leagues around the world have to be given approval by their clubs to play in that non-FIFA international event.

And the U.S.'s depth of good players is much more shallow than most of the world. It still boggles my mind how that is now. We have a very large population compared to South American (well Brazil is large also) and European countries and it seems the last few years the U.S. has put an emphasis on soccer with great training programs and still can't produce enough talent to do well against the rest of the world. Someone more knowledgable than me about the U.S. developmental soccer program needs to explain to me why that is.

 

[prankster]

Irish media commentary on Olympic Sailing...

 

[awy]

they've got 11 year olds competing in skateboarding because kids rotate better in the air. what are we even doing.

 

[alexd]

And the Olympic team was not the real USMNT. The USMNT team can't even do well so how were the 2nd tier guys they sent to the Olympics expected to do well?

Well they made it to the quarters for the first time since 2000.

 

[superjohn]

Incredible performance from Djokovic.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/08/04/novak-djokovic-carlos-alcaraz-paris-olympic-tennis/

 

[WhereistheDove?]

The men’s 100 M lived up to the hype and more. 5 thousands of a second and Lyles pulled it off after being behind the whole way.

 

[uconngb]

P

The men’s 100 M lived up to the hype and more. 5 thousands of a second and Lyles pulled it off after being behind the whole way.

Amazing race. Guy is a bit too much of a showboat for me but that was sick.

 

[ec33]

P

Amazing race. Guy is a bit too much of a showboat for me but that was sick.

Agree that he is a bit much but it is "good natured." He also seems to genuinely have a good heart.

While I have preferred the humility of Christian Coleman over the years, you have to admit that Lyles is making it work for himself. He got the biggest roar upon being introduced and he is now only behind a handful of NBA players (if that) in international marketability among American athletes. And Noah has long had his head straight when it comes to the financial side of things (and makes a point of educating the up-and-comers).

 

[Travelman6]

The men’s 100 M lived up to the hype and more. 5 thousands of a second and Lyles pulled it off after being behind the whole way.

What seems insane is saying Lewis' first place finish from 1984 would have been last place in this race as a slight towards him. Yes, on the surface, but shoes, training, nutrition, and improved technique have also advanced so with the benefit of all that he'd be challenging Lyles no doubt. Plus he wouldn't lean back in 2024.

 

[Edward Sargent]

I watch it all. Swimming, gymnastics, track and field are my favorites but actually enjoy watching some sports I've never watched like fencing. I will admit though at 73 my eyesite doesnt allow me to see what happens when someone scores!! I do have to ask what is up with the love for Snoop Dog and Martha Stewart? Is that the best we can do?

 

[temery]

Noah Lyle. He won according to the rules, but I find it odd they'd determine a winner so subjectively - first torso to cross the line.

First foot to land across the line seems like it would be a lot less subjective.

 

[husky429]

Noah Lyle. He won according to the rules, but I find it odd they'd determine a winner so subjectively - first torso to cross the line.

First foot to land across the line seems like it would be a lot less subjective.

"First torso across the finish line" is as objective as it gets, in sports or anywhere else.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Japan just pulled off one of the greatest chokes we've ever seen in men's volleyball. 3 match points in the 3rd set looking to win 3-0 and they go on to lose 3-2. Had another match point in the 5th and their pinch server hits the bottom half of the net. Just not remotely ready for the moment

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Noah Lyle. He won according to the rules, but I find it odd they'd determine a winner so subjectively - first torso to cross the line.

First foot to land across the line seems like it would be a lot less subjective.

That would bring a lot of issues with where the runner is in their stride. A stride that happens to align with that would have a big upper hand over a stride where the runner landed right before the line and then had to take a full stride before planting their foot again. The rules as they are probably the most objective way to determine pure fastest runner.