Too many events at the Olympics?
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Even for the Fern, I find it bizarre that we're debating this.
For Bradbury, sure the tactics were sound. He had no chance of challenging by skating his fastest, so he sat back maybe further than he would have normally, to clear the carnage from any potential crash. Great. He said they thought that if it came off, a bronze may be possible.
What actually happened was a skater took everyone out, and he skated through to claim Gold. Unbelievable luck! Would be good to go back through all the finals of similar events and see how often the bloke in last on the final lap actually wins because all the other skaters fall.
I'm guessing not many.
A fine strategy for Bradbury. But what is unarguable, is that it would be a ludicrous strategy for any actual gold (or other) medal hopeful. You're resigning yourself to a roll of the dice, with the odds massively against you, rather than backing your ability. To suggest that any of the actual medal chances should have done the same is just nuts.
He didn't out-think anyone. He did the only thing he could possibly do. He bought a lottery ticket and he got the winning numbers.
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@voodoo said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
Even for the Fern, I find it bizarre that we're debating this.
For Bradbury, sure the tactics were sound. He had no chance of challenging by skating his fastest, so he sat back maybe further than he would have normally, to clear the carnage from any potential crash. Great. He said they thought that if it came off, a bronze may be possible.
What actually happened was a skater took everyone out, and he skated through to claim Gold. Unbelievable luck! Would be good to go back through all the finals of similar events and see how often the bloke in last on the final lap actually wins because all the other skaters fall.
I'm guessing not many.
A fine strategy for Bradbury. But what is unarguable, is that it would be a ludicrous strategy for any actual gold (or other) medal hopeful. You're resigning yourself to a roll of the dice, with the odds massively against you, rather than backing your ability. To suggest that any of the actual medal chances should have done the same is just nuts.
He didn't out-think anyone. He did the only thing he could possibly do. He bought a lottery ticket and he got the winning numbers.
I was going to agree with you then I thought no, he knew he could not consistently keep up with the speed of the four. So he did what he had to do. Lucky, sure, but the best tactic for him, he had 10+years of international experience and a helluva lot of injuries.
It's not unbelievable if his coach predicted it could happen (as Bradbury said). Just unlikely. But possible.How good was he? He'd been better, according to him https://www.athletesvoice.com.au/steven-bradbury-medal-i-struggled-to-accept/
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@nostrildamus pretty sure you just did agree with me... 😀
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@voodoo I’m not sure about it resulting in Gold, but I found a few articles that essentially concluded the same thing that crashes are pretty common in short track speedskating.
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@act-crusader said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
@voodoo I’m not sure about it resulting in Gold, but I found a few articles that essentially concluded the same thing that crashes are pretty common in short track speedskating.
Of course they’re common. That’s the only reason anyone watches it.
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@act-crusader said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
@voodoo I’m not sure about it resulting in Gold, but I found a few articles that essentially concluded the same thing that crashes are pretty common in short track speedskating.
Absolutely they are. But that doesn't meant you make the hope for one your primary strategy if you're a contender!
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@voodoo said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
@act-crusader said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
@voodoo I’m not sure about it resulting in Gold, but I found a few articles that essentially concluded the same thing that crashes are pretty common in short track speedskating.
Absolutely they are. But that doesn't meant you make the hope for one your primary strategy if you're a contender!
Perhaps Bradbury knew a bit about the guys in his race and that they liked to be aggressive up the front? I agree that it’s a risky strategy, but it’s a sport with probably a fair more risk than other sports where you are going head to head like that, so you never know.
My own view is that given the publicity around this race, I feel like the “it was part of the strategy” narrative has taken on a life of its own. I don’t doubt that there will have been a watch and see approach, much like a runner in a longer distance track race, but I still think the stars aligned for him in that race.
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@voodoo said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
@nostrildamus pretty sure you just did agree with me... 😀
Except this bit: "But what is unarguable, is that it would be a ludicrous strategy for any actual gold (or other) medal hopeful. "
Unless you meant there, likely /feasible gold medal hopeful.
Hell, even feasible ain't the right word... -
To get into the final he needed three other skaters to fall on the last lap. This is the final:
Anyone who believes that performance was deliberate I have a bridge to sell them.
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I’m pretty sure a similar thing happened in his semi final. Given that he didn’t have the speed to get anywhere near the main contenders, what other tactics did he have? He was going to tail the field regardless.
Just checked. He only made it past the qf because someone was disqualified. He then had 3 fall in front of him in the semi. That’s not brilliant tactics that’s farking lottery win luck.
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@voodoo said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
Really strange debate. Fucking lockdown.
We’ve just joined you in Brisbane. Any tips?
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@rancid-schnitzel said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
@voodoo said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
Really strange debate. Fucking lockdown.
We’ve just joined you in Brisbane. Any tips?
Red wine and exercise. You have 50% covered, but you're going to have to go out of your comfort zone here...
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I'm willing to believe the strategy story is somewhat true if his strategy was strictly aimed at farting out a bronze rather winning.
There are only five skaters and if two take each other out then he is in the medals.
At that stage Australia had so few medals at the Winter Olympics a bronze still would have been a massive achievement.
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late to this party but yeah, too many events
i have to say im not a fan of any that require judging (subjective) and not a huge fan of those that require a tournament (uneven)
I think they should all boil down to "strongest" "fastest" "highest" "longest" etc
each country should also only be able to field one person in each event
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I think the judging sports are my second favourite behind the athletics.
Love the diving and trampolining.
I love that I can watch diving and go yip, small splash, nice synchro - then leave it up to 5 judges to mark from a criteria I don't care enough to know more about, where they then remove the two worst Oui Jeromes from the marks anyway. Brilliant.
Bit of crossover from my rant here: https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/post/613049
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Hate golf at the Olympics - but can stay just change it to
LONGEST FUCKING DRIVE.
only thing that really matters when it comes to bragging rights in golf anyway right?
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Also. Do any of you guys have youngish daughters?
They love the gymnastics, diving, especially trampolining. Good family sporting viewing.
Too many of you are in some imaginary ancient greek psuedo-gay naked manly bubbles - where apparently horses hadn't been invented yet ....
But, let me take this opportunity to diss flippin race walking ....
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@kiwiwomble said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
late to this party but yeah, too many events
i have to say im not a fan of any that require judging (subjective) and not a huge fan of those that require a tournament (uneven)
I think they should all boil down to "strongest" "fastest" "highest" "longest" etc
each country should also only be able to field one person in each event
I disagree with the last part. It seems a bit harsh that you could be second best in the world and a chance for gold but are denied because your country is only allowed one rep. I realise that’s the case in some sports (kayaking, rowing etc) but look at the women’s 100m sprint. The 2nd and 3rd fastest women on the planet wouldn’t be able to compete because their country happens to be really good at something.
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@rapido said in Too many events at the Olympics?:
Also. Do any of you guys have youngish daughters?
They love the gymnastics, diving, especially trampolining. Good family sporting viewing.
Too many of you are in some imaginary ancient greek psuedo-gay naked manly bubbles - where apparently horses hadn't been invented yet ....
But, let me take this opportunity to diss flippin race walking ....
I have an 11 year old step daughter. Can’t get her off the fecking iPad.
