Track and Field
With all due respect to the Men’s 110m Hurdles and Men’s High Jump, the Women’s 1500m was the premier event of the day. I was rooting for Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia based solely on my admiration for the way she has continued the winning ways of her older sisters:
Ejegayehu Dibaba (34) won silver in the 10,000m at Athens 2004.
And Tirunesh Dibaba (31) won bronze in the 5000m at Athens 2004, gold in the 5000m and 10,000m at Beijing 2008, gold in the 10,000m and silver in the 5000m at London 2012, and bronze in the 10,000 here at Rio 2016.
As if that were not impressive or dynastic enough, their cousin Deratu Tulu (44) won gold in the 10,000m at Barcelona 1992 and at Sydney 2000, and bronze in the 10,000m at Athens 2004.
Of course, Genzebe (25) herself came into these Games as the reigning World champion in this event.
- Faith Kipyegon of Kenya won gold in 4:08.92; Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia, silver; and Jennifer Simpson of the USA, bronze.
Given those results, this seems relevant:
The coach of the women’s 1500m world record holder and reigning world champion has been arrested in Spain as part of an anti-doping operation. Mr [Jama] Aden coaches Ethiopian star Genzebe Dibaba.
Dibaba, 25, is female world athlete of the year and a hot favourite to win gold at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics later this year.
(BBC, June 20, 2016)
Naturally, Dibaba has been under a cloud of suspicion for doping ever since. And, post Lance Armstrong, it hardly matters to most people that she has never tested positive.
The guilt by association had to have unnerved her. Only this explains her subpar performance.
Gymnastics
Biles made her last bid for gold in Women’s Floor Exercise tonight, hoping to recover form after a shocking bobble on Beam cost her certain gold last night. Indeed, her talent is such that, even with that bobble, she was still good enough to win bronze.
But there was no bobbling tonight. She soared, literally. If you haven’t seen her Floor routine, it is truly something to behold.
- Simone Biles of the USA won gold; Aly Raisman of the USA, silver; and Amy Tinkler of Great Britain, bronze.
But all’s not well. Because after Biles won her second gold of these Games, in the All-Around, many sports commentators began hailing her as the greatest gymnast in history. Nadia Comaneci, arguably the Michael Jordan of her sport, was the notable exception. She urged them to reserve judgment. I agreed.
After all, Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian in history because no athlete in any sport has ever won more medals than his haul of 28 over four Olympic Games (23 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronzes). Whereas, Biles’s haul of 5 medals at these Olympic Games (4 golds and 1 bronze) pales in comparison with gymnast Larisa Latynina’s haul of 18 over three Olympic Games (9 golds, 5 silvers, and 4 bronzes).
Of course, far too many Americans think American history is world history. But, although she’d never say so herself, even Comaneci has a more legitimate claim than Biles at this point – given her career haul of 9 medals over two Olympic Games (5 golds, 3 silvers, and 1 bronze). Not to mention that practically every winner of the All-Around at every Olympics has been hailed as the greatest gymnast in history – as I’m sure a now humbled and ignored Gabby Douglas would be all too happy to remind anyone who cares.
You’ve come a long way Simone – as the first U.S. gymnast to win four Olympic gold medals. But you’ve got a long way to go, baby.
(Oh, your overshared schoolgirl crush on Zac Efron is the best thing that has ever happened to him. But he’s not good, or good enough, for you.)
Canoeing
I watched the Men’s Canoe Single 1000m this morning and got more of a jolt from it than my coffee. I found it surprisingly thrilling, especially considering I couldn’t have cared any less who won.
But it was odd watching burly men canoe while kneeling in what looked like kayaks. I kept expecting them to capsize. Instead, their obvious skill and strength was such that they not only maintained perfect balance, but propelled their kayak-canoes as if aided by an invisible inboard motor.
Incidentally, my incredulous comments are based on experience. I spent many summers as a teenager at camp on Ahmic Lake canoeing and kayaking for hours every day. I thought I knew the difference between them.
- Sebastian Brendel of Germany won gold in 3:56.926; Isaquias Dos Santos of Brazil, silver; and Serghei Tarnovschi of Moldova, bronze.
Badminton
The medal rounds began today. But chances are the only thing you know about this very strange sport stems for the scandal that erupted at London 2012. That’s when event organizers disqualified four top-seeded teams for “disgracing the Olympics” by throwing early round matches to receive more favorable seating in the medal rounds.
I not only disagreed with those disqualifications but decried them as demonstrably hypocritical:
If all athletes were disqualified for failing to extend their best efforts to win every time they competed, London’s two most-celebrated Olympians (namely, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt) would be the first to go. For it is routine for swimmers and runners to ‘throw’ qualifying heats to conserve energy for the all-important medal rounds — even if only to get a better lane. What’s the friggin’ difference?!
(“London Olympics: Day 5,” The iPINIONS Journal, August 1, 2012)
But I also expressed wonderment about this sport:
Can somebody explain the appeal of Badminton, which seems to defy gravity by having players use what looks like a squash racket to swat at what looks like a cluster of chicken feathers over what looks like a mini Volleyball net?
(“London Olympics: Day 1,” The iPINIONS Journal, July 28 2012)
By the way, that little cluster the players swat back and forth is called a “shuttlecock.” Make of that what you will….
To be fair, like Soccer, Badminton is one of the most popular sports in the world outside of the USA. In fact, data show that more people play Badminton in China than watch Baseball, Basketball, and Football combined in the USA.
Clearly, the joke might be on us.
MEDAL COUNT: USA – 84; Great Britain – 51; China – 50
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London Day 5…