[Tournament] 2008 Olympic Games discussion thread

I wouldn't say the Olympics have been epic (hell, the majority of the track and field events haven't been performed), but Phelps' performance will go down in (at the very least, American) history as the greatest athletic performance ever.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

I wouldn't say the Olympics have been epic (hell, the majority of the track and field events haven't been performed), but Phelps' performance will go down in (at the very least, American) history as the greatest athletic performance ever.

You're... joking, right?

He's a fucking swimmer. Dominant, sure, but in swimming.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

WATCH OUT DENI, PHELPS HAS RAGE!

Spoiler:

Purpose of this post: to remain strictly on-topic.

FELIPE NO

FUCKING YEAH Best thread rename of the year.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I win, Tails.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

You are mistaken sir, Phelps is the real winner here.

PHELPS DISCUSSION ONLY.

I lol'd though.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Anyone watching this 20K walk right now. I had no idea this was real. I remember seeing Hal on Malcolm in the Middle doing it hilariously, and thought it was a joke. It is pretty funny, but props to those Olympic guys. I wonder what the rules of walking are while watching it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Participants must have at least one foot on the ground at all times.

That's pretty much it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Dunno why people like knocking on Phelps. Swimming is a sport where it's "easy" to rack up a lot of medals compared to other sports, true. It also lacks the drama of team sports or more glamorous activities (gymnastics, T&F, etc), but anyone has to admit that watching Phelps being able to dominate the field is an incredible feat. Heck, just being able to maintain his schedule is intense.

It'd be much easier to hate on Phelps if he were a dick, but he's not even that. Very good-natured guy.

I will say this, though: Somewhere out there, there's an orthodontist who would really love to work on Phelps.

Originally Posted by Capo

Participants must have at least one foot on the ground at all times.

That's pretty much it.

There's also something about the supporting leg having to be straight the entire time it's on the ground, hence the mad hip swaying. Or something.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I was 20 km walk (is that what it is?), holy shit that was intense. It would SUCK to be disqualified middle of the game.

Anyways, Phelps on his 7th medal... fuck, only 1 more.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

Phelps' performance will go down in (at the very least, American) history as the greatest athletic performance ever.

Seriously, try to look beyond the hype here. Phelps has been, in every way, the best overall swimmer in the world for years. That he would win five individual golds here was expected. I think what he did in Athens was far more impressive (four individual golds and one bronze).


And the opening ceremony is just getting more and more embarrassing for every day that passes:

Originally Posted by Ethnic children at opening ceremony 'were fake'

Children from China's dominant Han population were used in a key part of the Olympics opening ceremony, not youngsters from all 56 ethnic groups as claimed, an official has said.

The 56 children who carried out the Chinese flag in a moment meant to showcase national harmony were all from the Han majority, an official with the dance troupe that they belonged to told the Asian Wall Street Journal.

The troupe is made up exclusively of children from the Han ethnic group, which accounts for more than 90 percent of China's more than 1.3 billion people, according to the paper.

Official Chinese television shows and other performances often feature the Han Chinese representing minority groups.

However Olympic organisers said directly that the children were from all 56 official ethnic groups.

"Fifty-six children from 56 Chinese ethnic groups cluster around the Chinese national flag, representing the 56 ethnic groups," read the media guide for the opening ceremony distributed on the night.

Ethnic children at opening ceremony 'were fake'


It also seems like the piano performance by Lang Lang might have been prerecorded: Epoch Times - Fake Piano Played at Opening Ceremony?

FELIPE NO

Heh, this bit of information is more inconsequential than the aforementioned voice dubbing, wouldn't you say?

On that note, I wonder how long will it take for the unpatriotic leaks intent on de-glorifying the opening ceremony to ... uh ... receive a re-education through hard work...

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Bolt might as well have moonwalked the 100m Final. That was just insane celebrating with about 15m left and jogging through the line, the 100m semi final was unbelievable he literally walked it. He could of done a flat 9.6 if he even bothered or dare I say a 9.5.

I forsee a 9.5 in the future however.

Johnson's 200m record is gone only question remains is by how much.

As good as Phelps has been that truly was the performance of the games. He squashed Powell and Gay.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

In other news, a massive scandal has erupted after it was revealed that China planted "supporters" in stadiums to conceal empty seats and create a psychological advantage for their athletes

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by El Ray Fernando

Johnson's 200m record is gone only question remains is by how much.

As good as Phelps has been that truly was the performance of the games. He squashed Powell and Gay.

About 19.32, I'm not as sure as you, but for sure we've never seen as good a 200 m runner as Bolt since Johnson, and I'm sure he has the potential to beat it.

And I'd say that Powell "squashed" himself, as usual when it comes to a big race. Not sure what happened to Gay? I was surprised not to see him in the finals.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Bigblah

In other news, a massive scandal has erupted after it was revealed that China planted "supporters" in stadiums to conceal empty seats and create a psychological advantage for their athletes

MEMO: GLOBAL NEWSAGENCIES, PRESS
FROM: ANONYMOUS BENEFICIARY

THEY'RE CALLED THE 'REDEEM TEAM' THIS OLYMPICS OKAY. BECUASE THEY'RE GOING TO WIN.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Why the fuck can't they record events and leave them online for people to watch?

They fucking expect everybody to just catch everything at any given moment. I can't go back and watch anything I missed, and none of the stations have full event replays, and only offer highlight reels from select events.

This is the 21st century. Get with the fucking times, people.

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Originally Posted by Zephyrin

Why the fuck can't they record events and leave them online for people to watch?

They fucking expect everybody to just catch everything at any given moment. I can't go back and watch anything I missed, and none of the stations have full event replays, and only offer highlight reels from select events.

This is the 21st century. Get with the fucking times, people.

If you know how to use proxies (Firefox has a great plugin) find one in the Uk and goto BBC - Homepage, it has video clips and highlights of everything.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Zephyrin

Why the fuck can't they record events and leave them online for people to watch?

They fucking expect everybody to just catch everything at any given moment. I can't go back and watch anything I missed, and none of the stations have full event replays, and only offer highlight reels from select events.

This is the 21st century. Get with the fucking times, people.

NBC didn't poor millions of dollars into covering the Olympics just so you could watch it for free ALL the time.

As for my Phelps love, maybe I appreciate what he's doing more because I couldn't swim to save my life, which is kinda the point of swimming. I understand the mechanics of swimming, but my buoyancy is sadly low.

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Originally Posted by Cal

The Phelps media-rimjob's made me realise how much of a no-show our men's team is this Games. Who have we got? Sullivan? He's good at one thing. Hackett gives a toss about nothing but the 1500 gold, and I wouldn't put it past him to announce retirement right on getting out of the water. The rest of them are our B-team at any other Olympics, frankly.

The women, on the other hand...

Phelps is said to be the best and most complete swimmer ever. True, very true on short 'racing' distances (< 400m). I dont know anything about his racing performance on long distances (> 1500m). I really marvel at Hackett's mastery - for me personally he's the greatest pool swimmer (I *love* pool swimming! 3.0-5.0km per workout session) on the Olympic tournament.
For 'each' of the 100m's (15 x 100m = 1500m) he needs less than 1min. So crazy.

I can swim 3.0km's without a break in a steady tempo in 45-50mins (sorry for bragging *g*), thinking of myself that i am quick (since i outswim *any* other in that same pool during that long time)...but Hackett...done in < 30mins., for him not a problem at all. He's my personal swimming hero and idol. Not da Phelps.

Swimming superfast on short distances is not an art.
Swimming superfast in a young fresh body is no art, either. (Usain Bolt is 21!!)
Yet, swimming superfast on long distances (>1.5km) is a piece of art, the supreme! And here, nobody could ever beat Hackett. A guy for eternity.

[...]

Ah, btw, does NE1 know details on the (average) daily swimming pensum of the U.S. or Australian boys, e.g. Phelps? I heard that some of them train 15km's every single day.

Crazeeeeeeeeee...

Hackett lost, and he was far from his own world record! (Bye Hackett, farewell, time to retire.)

i am severely disappointed, lost a hero, and am now looking for a new idol. And found one: Not Phelps, not Hackett, but

Rebecca Soni



What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Lousy

Phelps is said to be the best and most complete swimmer ever. True, very true on short 'racing' distances (< 400m). I dont know anything about his racing performance on long distances (> 1500m). I really marvel at Hackett's mastery - for me personally he's the greatest pool swimmer (I *love* pool swimming! 3.0-5.0km per workout session) on the Olympic tournament.
For 'each' of the 100m's (15 x 100m = 1500m) he needs less than 1min. So crazy.

I can swim 3.0km's without a break in a steady tempo in 45-50mins (sorry for bragging *g*), thinking of myself that i am quick (since i outswim *any* other in that same pool during that long time)...but Hackett...done in < 30mins., for him not a problem at all. He's my personal swimming hero and idol. Not da Phelps.

Swimming superfast on short distances is not an art.
Swimming superfast in a young fresh body is no art, either. (Usain Bolt is 21!!)
Yet, swimming superfast on long distances (>1.5km) is a piece of art, the supreme! And here, nobody could ever beat Hackett. A guy for eternity.

[...]

Ah, btw, does NE1 know details on the (average) daily swimming pensum of the U.S. or Australian boys, e.g. Phelps? I heard that some of them train 15km's every single day.

Come again?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Eight for eight. Thread over.

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Bah, oh well. The Aussies did ok. Our butterflier (who I've never heard of) stayed with Phelps for a good while. Well done, team!

And well done to the Australian women swimmers! They won their medley relay in a pretty awesome race. Shame Grant Hackett lost, but Tunisia got the gold so no biggie~

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Man, I adore our top swimmers. Phelps sucks at giving interviews, but he's such just such a happy guy you can't help but feel good anyway. It's a shame Coughlin and Torres couldn't grab gold in the final relay, but they're such great sportsmans. I especially like how Torres keeps chatting it up with the opponents (who are all like half her age) both pre- and post-race. What was it she said? "In the pool we're opponents but outside the pool we're all friends." Great stuff.

Bolt in the 100m was insane. Never seen anyone run a world record time so easily. I wonder what he'll be like in 2012 if he has someone who can push him hard.

Also caught the end of the women's marathon. Completely staggering how they can maintain that kind of pace for two hours, but it must be a positively awesome experience to enter the stadium on the final stretch.

Really despising NBC's broadcast delay and constant commercial breaks. I stay up past midnight quite often, but sometimes I just want to catch the most anticipated events a bit earlier, thanks. Also getting really tired of seeing the Exxon Mobil commericals, though I'm totally impressed by the United Airlines ones every time.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Sakabadger

Bolt in the 100m was insane. Never seen anyone run a world record time so easily. I wonder what he'll be like in 2012 if he has someone who can push him hard.

[11:04] <+Casein> Jamaican Usain Bolt has won the Men's 100m Final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a world record time of 9.69 seconds. Silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago ran a time of 9.89 seconds, leaving American Walter Dix at 9.91 seconds to take the bronze.
[11:04] <+zip> he ran like he saw some food
[11:05] <+zip> it's the new shoes
[11:05] <+Ultima> he ran like the cops were on his ass
[11:05] <+Tails|Away> he ran like he saw some cops


Were the any cops present at the event? I wasn't watching.

Also Phelps eight for eight AMERICA FUCK YEAH

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