[Other Sport] Paris 2024 Olympics & Paralympics ***Official Match Thread***

[Cheeky Monkey]

Just watched our synchronised swimming silver, just about as an impressive display of coordination you could ever wish to see, and such a long routine. Just amazing in so many aspects.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Really enjoyed the Handball throughout the games.

Last game (men's final) currently underway and it's a bit of an anticlimax as Denmark are absolutely hammering Germany.

 

[birthofanorange]

Did you enjoy the Clean and Jerk?

Yes, although it should be the other way around.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Women’s basketball final at 14:30, France V USA

Unless I’m mistaken, win and USA ‘win’ the Olympics, lose and China do.

No pressure.

 

[North of Robertsbridge]

Bronze confirmed.

No records in the >81Kg women’s lift. We saw 4 OR’s in the 81Kg category yesterday. The noise in the hall was amazing, loved the whole competition. Ecuador’s weightlifting fans are just crazy. We shared a hotel with the IWF jury members. It was funny seeing them at breakfast after booing them heartily after every no-lift verdict

 

[A1X]

So what’s the vibe on here as to Team GB at these games?

More medals than Tokyo, but feels like it’s been short on big moments of winning those medals (with a few exceptions, obviously). Also fell short in a few of the sports where we expected to shine (cycling, sailing) and a few big names falling short.

 

[Triggaaar]

Women’s basketball final at 14:30, France V USA

Unless I’m mistaken, win and USA ‘win’ the Olympics, lose and China do.

No pressure.

And France have just decimated America's lead

 

[Jeremiah]

So what’s the vibe on here as to Team GB at these games?

More medals than Tokyo, but feels like it’s been short on big moments of winning those medals (with a few exceptions, obviously). Also fell short in a few of the sports where we expected to shine (cycling, sailing) and a few big names falling short.

Worse showing in the medal table for position and Golds since Athens 2004. Some really disappointing showings in areas we were strong in before.

Either other nations are catching us up in the sporting field or we are not investing probably or we have a shortage of talent. Our Gen Z need to get out of bed maybe ?

 

[Triggaaar]

Incredible finish to the women's basketball. But damn the rules are stupid.

3.8 seconds on the clock, the US are winning and have the ball. The French foul them, but the US manage to keep the ball. All the US have to do is run the 3.8 seconds down and they win. But no, they're not allowed to! They have to have a couple of free shots and give the ball back to France. Daft rules.

US scored both, so France had under 4 seconds left and needed 3 point. They raced up the other end and went for a 3 pointer, which went in - but they'd stepped over the 3 point line, so got 2 points and lost.

 

[Eeyore]

Man arrested for climbing Eiffel Tower

The man was arrested for scaling the Paris icon hours before the Olympics closing ceremony.

www.bbc.co.uk

I thought it was another sport they had added

 

[nwgull]

Worse showing in the medal table for position and Golds since Athens 2004. Some really disappointing showings in areas we were strong in before.

Either other nations are catching us up in the sporting field or we are not investing probably or we have a shortage of talent. Our Gen Z need to get out of bed maybe ?

Nah, a lot of those silvers have been really close to golds. They and a number of the bronzes could well be converted to gold in 4 years. The athletics has been particularly impressive.

 

[hart's shirt]

So what’s the vibe on here as to Team GB at these games?

More medals than Tokyo, but feels like it’s been short on big moments of winning those medals (with a few exceptions, obviously). Also fell short in a few of the sports where we expected to shine (cycling, sailing) and a few big names falling short.

Positives
The rowers returned triumphantly to form in Paris. 10 boats, 9 finals, 8 medals of which 3 were gold.
Our triathletes are among the best in the world with Alex Yee the very best. Medals in all of the races.
The 4 x 200m freestyle relay swimmers were favourites going in and duly delivered the gold.
Cycling brought home the most medals (11). Finucane a rising star. Covid? Punctures? A partisan home crowd? Tom Pidcock didn't care.
Despite a history of baton failure changes in the past, all 5 of the relay squads brought home athletic medals. And Keely was just great.
No golds, but 5 medals in the diving was always going to be impressive when everyone was playing for 2nd behind the Chinese.
Canoeing brought 4 medals and redemption for Kimberley Woods.
After all the pre-Games controversy with Dujardin, the equestrian team took 5 medals, 2 of which were gold.
Golds from some events that don't get the publicity but really should now - Men's Trap shooting, Trampoline, Women's Kite and Sports Climbing.
Sky Brown's 2nd Olympic bronze. She's 16. If she keeps skating until the GB man's age, she'll have another 35 years and 8 more Olympics.

Negatives
Near-misses - Peaty in the pool and Kerr, KJT and Hudson-Smith on the track. Medals and fine efforts, so more a case of 'what if...' than anything.
Hockey was forgettable - no GB side made the SFs. Women thumped by Netherlands, Men squander a 40 minute man advantage against India.
Boxing wasn't helped by some very dubious decisions. A bronze wasn't a great return from 6 boxers, 5 of whom went out in Round 1.
With the exception of Kieran Reilly, BMX and Modern Pentathlon were ultimately disappointing when compared with Tokyo success.


So with 10 positive and only 4 negative for me, it's been both successful and enjoyable in equal measure.

Well done Team GB.

Et merci, Paris!

 

[Han Solo]

Man arrested for climbing Eiffel Tower

The man was arrested for scaling the Paris icon hours before the Olympics closing ceremony.

www.bbc.co.uk

I thought it was another sport they had added

Silly. I mean look at it, it WANTS to be climbed.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Positives
The rowers returned triumphantly to form in Paris. 10 boats, 9 finals, 8 medals of which 3 were gold.
Our triathletes are among the best in the world with Alex Yee the very best. Medals in all of the races.
The 4 x 200m freestyle relay swimmers were favourites going in and duly delivered the gold.
Cycling brought home the most medals (11). Finucane a rising star. Covid? Punctures? A partisan home crowd? Tom Pidcock didn't care.
Despite a history of baton failure changes in the past, all 5 of the relay squads brought home athletic medals. And Keely was just great.
No golds, but 5 medals in the diving was always going to be impressive when everyone was playing for 2nd behind the Chinese.
Canoeing brought 4 medals and redemption for Kimberley Woods.
After all the pre-Games controversy with Dujardin, the equestrian team took 5 medals, 2 of which were gold.
Golds from some events that don't get the publicity but really should now - Men's Trap shooting, Trampoline, Women's Kite and Sports Climbing.
Sky Brown's 2nd Olympic bronze. She's 16. If she keeps skating until the GB man's age, she'll have another 35 years and 8 more Olympics.

Negatives
Near-misses - Peaty in the pool and Kerr, KJT and Hudson-Smith on the track. Medals and fine efforts, so more a case of 'what if...' than anything.
Hockey was forgettable - no GB side made the SFs. Women thumped by Netherlands, Men squander a 40 minute man advantage against India.
Boxing wasn't helped by some very dubious decisions. A bronze wasn't a great return from 6 boxers, 5 of whom went out in Round 1.
With the exception of Kieran Reilly, BMX and Modern Pentathlon were ultimately disappointing when compared with Tokyo success.


So with 10 positive and only 4 negative for me, it's been both successful and enjoyable in equal measure.

Well done Team GB.

Et merci, Paris!

Sailing is another negative. Only Rowing and Cycling get more funding and based on recent Olympics one gold and one bronze is a poor return.

 

[hart's shirt]

Sailing is another negative. Only Rowing and Cycling get more funding and based on recent Olympics one gold and one bronze is a poor return.

Yes, good point.

Tokyo brought 5 medals including 3 golds in sailing, so definitely a poorer performance overall.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Positives
The rowers returned triumphantly to form in Paris. 10 boats, 9 finals, 8 medals of which 3 were gold.
Our triathletes are among the best in the world with Alex Yee the very best. Medals in all of the races.
The 4 x 200m freestyle relay swimmers were favourites going in and duly delivered the gold.
Cycling brought home the most medals (11). Finucane a rising star. Covid? Punctures? A partisan home crowd? Tom Pidcock didn't care.
Despite a history of baton failure changes in the past, all 5 of the relay squads brought home athletic medals. And Keely was just great.
No golds, but 5 medals in the diving was always going to be impressive when everyone was playing for 2nd behind the Chinese.
Canoeing brought 4 medals and redemption for Kimberley Woods.
After all the pre-Games controversy with Dujardin, the equestrian team took 5 medals, 2 of which were gold.
Golds from some events that don't get the publicity but really should now - Men's Trap shooting, Trampoline, Women's Kite and Sports Climbing.
Sky Brown's 2nd Olympic bronze. She's 16. If she keeps skating until the GB man's age, she'll have another 35 years and 8 more Olympics.

Negatives
Near-misses - Peaty in the pool and Kerr, KJT and Hudson-Smith on the track. Medals and fine efforts, so more a case of 'what if...' than anything.
Hockey was forgettable - no GB side made the SFs. Women thumped by Netherlands, Men squander a 40 minute man advantage against India.
Boxing wasn't helped by some very dubious decisions. A bronze wasn't a great return from 6 boxers, 5 of whom went out in Round 1.
With the exception of Kieran Reilly, BMX and Modern Pentathlon were ultimately disappointing when compared with Tokyo success.


So with 10 positive and only 4 negative for me, it's been both successful and enjoyable in equal measure.

Well done Team GB.

Et merci, Paris!

I heard the guy from British boxing on R5 last week saying that amateur boxing is struggling at the moment since as soon as anyone shows any talent, they are persuaded to turn pro. It also didn't help that those boxers that were in Paris were all drawn against the world number 1s or 2s in the first round (apparently, I hadn't checked that). He is very worried about funding going forward.

 

[Triggaaar]

Positives
The rowers returned triumphantly to form in Paris. 10 boats, 9 finals, 8 medals of which 3 were gold.
Our triathletes are among the best in the world with Alex Yee the very best. Medals in all of the races.
The 4 x 200m freestyle relay swimmers were favourites going in and duly delivered the gold.
Cycling brought home the most medals (11). Finucane a rising star. Covid? Punctures? A partisan home crowd? Tom Pidcock didn't care.
Despite a history of baton failure changes in the past, all 5 of the relay squads brought home athletic medals. And Keely was just great.
No golds, but 5 medals in the diving was always going to be impressive when everyone was playing for 2nd behind the Chinese.
Canoeing brought 4 medals and redemption for Kimberley Woods.
After all the pre-Games controversy with Dujardin, the equestrian team took 5 medals, 2 of which were gold.
Golds from some events that don't get the publicity but really should now - Men's Trap shooting, Trampoline, Women's Kite and Sports Climbing.
Sky Brown's 2nd Olympic bronze. She's 16. If she keeps skating until the GB man's age, she'll have another 35 years and 8 more Olympics.

Negatives
Near-misses - Peaty in the pool and Kerr, KJT and Hudson-Smith on the track. Medals and fine efforts, so more a case of 'what if...' than anything.
Hockey was forgettable - no GB side made the SFs. Women thumped by Netherlands, Men squander a 40 minute man advantage against India.
Boxing wasn't helped by some very dubious decisions. A bronze wasn't a great return from 6 boxers, 5 of whom went out in Round 1.
With the exception of Kieran Reilly, BMX and Modern Pentathlon were ultimately disappointing when compared with Tokyo success.


So with 10 positive and only 4 negative for me, it's been both successful and enjoyable in equal measure.

Well done Team GB.

Et merci, Paris!

Useful summary, thanks.

Because it's only golds that really count on the medal table, ultimately we've not done very well IMO.


On the subject of the medal table: A points system might be a better way of doing it - eg, 4 for gold, 2 for silver, 1 for bronze. Should a team with 1 gold and nothing else, really be higher than a team with 3 silvers and 5 bronzes (Pakistan above Turkey)?

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

The American media think they’re winning.
View attachment 186311
Going to come as quite a shock when they find out they’re 6th.

I would like to reverse my position on this and congratulate Team GB on an incredible 3rd place.

 

[tigertim68]

Worse showing in the medal table for position and Golds since Athens 2004. Some really disappointing showings in areas we were strong in before.

Either other nations are catching us up in the sporting field or we are not investing probably or we have a shortage of talent. Our Gen Z need to get out of bed maybe ?

One gold on the athletics track , one in cycling , one in sailing , boxing was poor , , we started well but then turned a bit flat ,lots of bronze and silver , but its gold that really counts, and I think we had a poor games ,

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

One gold on the athletics track , one in cycling , one in sailing , boxing was poor , , we started well but then turned a bit flat ,lots of bronze and silver , but its gold that really counts, and I think we had a poor games ,

It’s not been poor by any standards. The previous 3 games have been exceptional from a Team GB point of view (and in terms of golds won Paris is still something like the 6th best ever) but a lot of big names from those Olympics are now retired. This has been a transitional games, lots of competitors will now know what it takes to get gold next time out.

It’s been a learning experience, we lost several golds in the final moments of a race etc, that’s going to drive these athletes to go one better next time. Some sports performed worse than we expected but we found new stars in others. It’s still been an enjoyable games despite some of the disappointments.