dunedine wrote:MLF actually opted out of the Sydney Olympics to focus on winning the World U20s, Daisy, which he did, but in hindsight he must have regretted it most looking back on his career so far.
Now I remember. I definitely thought it was a missed opportunity at the time. Also, think of Linsey MacDonald and Ade Mafe. Both made the Olympic finals very young and as it turned out that was their last opportunity. Would have been a shame if they had missed out because everyone anticipated they'd be even better.
But if they hadn't experieence such intense competition at such a young age they may have lasted longer. What did MLF lose out on by missing sydney ?? He went to Athens and won a gold medal. I don't know his lack of subsequent achievement would have been any different had he gone in 2000. In fact we may have seen a faster decline
goodness, can it be... I agree with Mump Boy on his last observation; we can never really draw convincing evidence about anything to do with an athletes potential future performances based upon precocity, but if an athlete's best was achieved at a very early stage in their career, and there are plenty to whom that applies all over the athletics world, surely,... thasts just life... such athletes may or may not have regrets, but don't we all ???
fourjz wrote:Please don't put Jodie Williams into medal contention yet.She's really young.She ran 11.17 once.Too much pressure from Great Britain and it's fans.
Jodie Williams isn't in a medal position, at least as things look now, but is definitely good enough to make a final, particularly in the 200m. From there on, especially at her age, none can really tell how much she can progress within the following 10 months, therefore nothing could be ruled out. Allyson Felix got an Olympic silver before she turned 19 so it turns on how good you are on the occasion.
mump boy wrote:Over training too early, too much competition and too much pressure all contribute to athletes not fullfilling their potential.
What I meant was, it's not (IMO) the one or two or however many "important" competitions a(n) (young) athlete has during the year, it's the 12 sessions per week, 4-8 hrs a day, months on end, that put most pressure on the body. But yes, if some coaches will increase the work load in relation with the number of competitions (which they shouldn't), then you could say it's "too much competition".
Hope this made sense, I'm not feeling very clear today
mump boy wrote:Over training too early, too much competition and too much pressure all contribute to athletes not fullfilling their potential.
What I meant was, it's not (IMO) the one or two or however many "important" competitions a(n) (young) athlete has during the year, it's the 12 sessions per week, 4-8 hrs a day, months on end, that put most pressure on the body. But yes, if some coaches will increase the work load in relation with the number of competitions (which they shouldn't), then you could say it's "too much competition".
Hope this made sense, I'm not feeling very clear today
i don't disagree with that in fact i know for a fact that it happens but i think psychological reasons are just as important as physical ones for burn out at a young age
Let me tell you that Mara Yamauchi won the Berlin 10km in 32:19, her fastest time since 2006, so the battle for places in the British team really heats up following Claire Hallissey's Olympic A qualifier of 2h29:27 in Chicago.
Liz Yelling is also edging back into form with a 72:14 over the half marathon in windy conditions.
According to a tweet by Dalton Grant a little earlier on, British high jumpers are to be axed from funding going into the Olympic season. Very harsh decision, if it is so, as the country has got four five pretty good jumpers that will have to make it the hard way now. An Olympic silver by Germaine Mason, a European bronze by Martyn Bernard and top eight places in so many champs around don't warrant such a decision.
Actually, Parsons jumped 2.31m indoors. Last year,though, Bernard was bronze medalist at the Europeans, had problems with injuries this term as I understand and further I think he's been working on some new things and they may have not bedded in yet. In my view, he's got definitely potential to hit heights like 2.34-2.35.
I think it's harsh on Bernard, who, yes, has had injury problems and has a proven record of performing well at championships. Mason hasn't done a thing since 2008 and should rightly go off funding and the rest just haven't performed when it matters- it's ok to say Parsons jumped 2.31 indoors, but a) that's not going to get you a medal at world level and b) it makes absolutely no difference if you don't replicate it at the championships.
Hopefully this will put fire in their bellies- there's amazing talent in our HJ rosta and it's one of those events in which it seems, time and again, it's just wasted...
Yes, most likely a 2.31 jump won't get you a medal but it can be good enough for a top eight place and provides a very good platform to build towards heights like 2.33-2.34 the following season.
But I agree that the decision has been particularly harsh on Martyn Bernard, pretty poor call in my view on the part of van Commennee et al.
Plastic Brits are cashing in... but there's no Lottery money for the likes of Kelly 17th October 2011 Five athletes dubbed ‘plastic Brits’ by their critics will have their Olympic campaigns funded by the National Lottery while British-born contenders have been dropped 10 months from the Games... Sentiment does not come into it for van Commenee. He coached Sotherton to her 2004 Olympic heptathlon bronze but told Radio 5 Live: ‘Personal feelings are not relevant. The main criterion needed is that they have a strong chance to make the top eight in the Olympic Games, and given the development of Kelly’s performances in the last couple of years it doesn’t appear she can.’
Last edited by bushop on Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
There have been many controversial cases going either way in the making of the final funding lists for the Olympic season but Kelly Sotherton had unfortunately a very thin case to lay any claim on. I think it would have been a surprise if she had stayed on for one more season since she didn't make the world champs squad nor obtained any qualifying standard on the way.
The most striking cases of those overlooked were maybe the likes of Jemma Simpson, Martyn Bernard, Louise Hazell, Helen Clitheroe, Charlene Thomas and Barbara Parker while I cannot grasp this latest 'wrath' on the high jumpers, or even the male milers in the second place.
Further, several athletes named in the top tier would have better fitted into the relay group (Pickering, Strachan, Levine) so that there would have been more open places for athletes with more medal or top eight potential about them - the above mentioned plus Lawrence Okoye (only Development tier) or Jo Pavey.
Tiffany Porter has got an English mother, Shana Cox has British parents, Yamile Aldama is married to a Scot for ten years now and Shara Proctor comes from a country that is a British dependent territory, so all qualify well and have got far more grounds to merit a share in funding.
Why do people even vaguely "listen" to stories in the Daily Mail (or the Daily Fail as I prefer to call it)? That article is not even borderline racist. It's out and out xenophobia! There is no way Sotherton deserves funding this year (and she more or less agrees with that if you read her Tweets...) and the likes of Porter etc are proving to be absolutely world class and potential medallists/champions for 2012 and beyond. It's a "Look at our poor Brits who have served this country well"...pathetic!
Remember that great "British" runner Malachi Davis, another funded athlete from the States who was "British" cos his mother was. Born in the USA and never came here until the Trials for the 2004 Olympics, so I read ;got his passport as a British athlete a few weeks before the event and announced by UKA as another of our "British" surprise competitors; I wonder where he is and how often he comes here. So many naive twerps in the UK who cannot see naked financial and competitive oportunism by both the athletes in question and our beloved "medal mad" UKA; quite legal of course, but absolutely no moral different from the Quataris and Bahrainis of this world buying 'em in with their oil money. They have Brit citizenship...wowee!!!!! The athletes referred to are so pleased to represent UK ... I wonder which of our so called Brits would be getting the financial, medical,travelling support in the their own countries assuming that they actually know which they are/were.will be.
Perhaps we could entertain the idea of athletes entering great competitions only as individuals with no nationality connections.
BTW,The Daily Mail is more relevant to peoples real views and concerns, despite its nationalistic viewpoint, than the so called "progressive" BBC / Grauniad/Mirror rubbish;
72 wrote:Perhaps we could entertain the idea of athletes entering great competitions only as individuals with no nationality connections.
I realize why it can never happen, but in my utopian world, this would be no. 3 on the list after world peace and financial security for all. I don't know why people think it is funny
Of course, it adds fuel to the Daily Mail diatribes when athletes such as Ofili tweet on July 4 that she wishes she was back in the US on that day, but adds that she's there in spirit....
shivfan wrote:Of course, it adds fuel to the Daily Mail diatribes when athletes such as Ofili tweet on July 4 that she wishes she was back in the US on that day, but adds that she's there in spirit....
Why? It's a day of celebration that anyone living in that country buys into because of the sheer scale of it - and just because there isn't really a day to celebrate being British in the UK isn't a reason for Tiff O-P to not celebrate the day members of her family and friends will be celebrating. A few friends of mine studied in the USA on soccer scholarships having been born and bred in the UK until they were 18. Even now, they wish they were in the US with their university friends on that date, despite only living there for four years of their 30+, as their US friends are enjoying the day - it doesn't make them any less British
If the Daily Mail can't see that, they (and their readers) need to expand their horizons somewhat
I totally agree on the concept and background of 4 July celebrations, I would like to experience it myself once, and your comments on Daily Mail and their pathetic 'campaign' against certain athletes that have switched allegiance to Britain, JimBo.
After all, Tiffany has lived her whole life in the States so has got every right to feel that way and express her feelings on the day.
But Daily Mail and their like will overlook her comments when she steps up to compete for Britain as it suits them the other way round.
By the way, the competition for heptathlon places for London hots up as Kelly Sotherton has made a shock return to the multi-events after spending a year in the 400m!
Michael Johnson warns of home 'disadvantage' at London 2012 Olympics Thursday, 17 November 2011 "People assume there is an advantage with the home Olympics, but there isn't," Johnson told BBC Sport. Being too familiar with where you are may relax you a little bit too much."
Hmmmm. Michael Johnson's usually right. But the British media spotlight has just turned on to Britain's athletes in all sports, who are featuring heavily in sponsor's ad campaigns right now. It's going to take some serious PR management on behalf of the BOA and the various sports' governing bodies to give athletes the chance to relax.
Cram - One gold needed November 18, 2011 "So I think it is going to be a really good Games for athletics and I hope at least one of the guys can convert it into a gold medal. We do want to win at least one gold medal but with a bit of luck and a fair wind it could be two or three, if not more." What Brits have shot at gold? • Jess Ennis • Mo Farah • Dai Greene
To my mind, Britain look to have five to six good gold medal shots at the moment provided they're all fit and healthy:
Mo Farah (5000 & 10000m), Phillips Idowu (TJ), Jess Ennis (Hept), Dai Greene (400mh) and, why not, Paula Radcliffe (marathon).
From there on, I think that the duo of Hannah England and Lisa Dobriskey have very much as good a shout as anyone in the women's 1500m as things look at the moment.
My potential surprise packages of next season? Jack Green (400mh), Yamile Aldama (TJ), Greg Rutherford (LJ) and maybe Holly Bleasdale (PV).
