World Athletic Championships.
Discussion
Yep been watching all day - I'm confined indoors with a corneal infection (bright light hurts like hell)
I hate Gatlin, not just because he is a cheat but he is also a t
t. Hope Bolt beats him.
Jess is looking good, KJT seems to be having some issues with her form. Hopefully she can sort her head out overnight.
Don't know what Dassaolu was playing at.
BBC's coverage of this is much better than it was of the Swimming WC. They can get it right. I could listen to Michael Johnson talk about sport all day long.
I hate Gatlin, not just because he is a cheat but he is also a t
t. Hope Bolt beats him.Jess is looking good, KJT seems to be having some issues with her form. Hopefully she can sort her head out overnight.
Don't know what Dassaolu was playing at.
BBC's coverage of this is much better than it was of the Swimming WC. They can get it right. I could listen to Michael Johnson talk about sport all day long.
KJT seems to have made a huge tactical miscalculation in not getting 'one in the bag' during the long jump.
Whilst you can stand back and admire her undoubted ability and huge potential, her tactical know how nearly undid her in the high jump and ultimately did in the long jump. She has highlighted to herself, and to millions of watchers, the massive amount of concentration and attention to detail than needs to be added to natural sporting ability, determination and dedication in order to succeed at the very highest level.
I'm sure this painful lesson won't ever be lost on her but I hope she also realises the very finite career length of elite athletic sportsmen and sportswomen; in terms of major events and opportunities it is far better than in the pre-World Championship era but still a relatively short period in which to make your name and test yourself against the Worlds best in your field.
Whilst you can stand back and admire her undoubted ability and huge potential, her tactical know how nearly undid her in the high jump and ultimately did in the long jump. She has highlighted to herself, and to millions of watchers, the massive amount of concentration and attention to detail than needs to be added to natural sporting ability, determination and dedication in order to succeed at the very highest level.
I'm sure this painful lesson won't ever be lost on her but I hope she also realises the very finite career length of elite athletic sportsmen and sportswomen; in terms of major events and opportunities it is far better than in the pre-World Championship era but still a relatively short period in which to make your name and test yourself against the Worlds best in your field.
The men's 800 has just seen two big contenders go out-Aman and Amos which will open the final up for David Rudisha
Bolt cannot make another mistake like that! I'd imagine he'll be practising as many starts as he can in the interval.
Great qualification by Laura Muir in that last 1500m heat!
Bolt cannot make another mistake like that! I'd imagine he'll be practising as many starts as he can in the interval.
Great qualification by Laura Muir in that last 1500m heat!
Bolt!!
Everyone breathing a big sigh of relief now I'd imagine!!
It looked like Gatlin couldn't take the pressure of someone else on his shoulder-and Bolt got a great start which put him right in contention.
To pull off that start after what happened in the semi-final is what won Bolt that gold medal IMO.
Everyone breathing a big sigh of relief now I'd imagine!!
It looked like Gatlin couldn't take the pressure of someone else on his shoulder-and Bolt got a great start which put him right in contention.
To pull off that start after what happened in the semi-final is what won Bolt that gold medal IMO.
KJT has massive potential and I hope is inspired to even greater (i.e. Olympic) things. JEH is a marvel though and her abilities seem to be out of proportion to her size and apparent strength. Michael Johnson's book "Gold Rush" tells how some people simply have amazing sporting talent that mere mortals just cant compete with. Daley Thompson is quoted as an example.
I wanted Bolt to win but if that other tt had won, at least it would have drawn even more attention to the disgraceful issue. I think the authorities got lucky.
I wanted Bolt to win but if that other t
t had won, at least it would have drawn even more attention to the disgraceful issue. I think the authorities got lucky.I was out all afternoon, so had to avoid all news until I could watch the highlights. I don't think I've ever wanted someone not to win as much as Gatlin today. I really can't stand him and was so happy he buckled under the pressure of someone challenging him. Watching him win all season stuck in my craw.
As for KJT, I really thought she was going to win this, but pressure must have got to her. Hopefully it will be a learning experience, and she'll come back stronger for Rio.
As for KJT, I really thought she was going to win this, but pressure must have got to her. Hopefully it will be a learning experience, and she'll come back stronger for Rio.
ash73 said:
Great to see Daley Thompson joining Michael Johnson as a pundit on the Beeb, two of my favourite athletes of all time (the other being Bolt).
They are great. Good banter between them as well. MJ is so knowledgeable and eloquent. Daley is a legend. I think the whole punditry and commentating staff are great.Been really interesting seeing how there is so much more to being an elite sportsman/woman than to just being the fittest/strongest/most powerful person there. The mental side is so important. KJT seemingly crumbled when she fluffed a couple of her jumps. Like a golfer getting the Yips. Gatling, the tts tt, had been running good times this year but against fields where no one could challenge him. He seemed to blow up at the final 5 metres because he was trying so hard to get in front of Bolt.
I think going in to it he was in better shape than Bolt but couldn't produce the goods when he needed to.
ts tt, had been running good times this year but against fields where no one could challenge him. He seemed to blow up at the final 5 metres because he was trying so hard to get in front of Bolt. I think going in to it he was in better shape than Bolt but couldn't produce the goods when he needed to.
You are being too harsh on KJT. She may well not have adjusted her run up enough after her foul in the first round but her performances up to the LJ were very good - she was in 2nd place. If the 3rd jump had been legal she would have been challenging Jess for Gold.
Athletics at elite level is unforgiving and she is 22 and still learning. It will be interesting to see how she goes in the individual LJ because she clearly is in form.
Athletics at elite level is unforgiving and she is 22 and still learning. It will be interesting to see how she goes in the individual LJ because she clearly is in form.
Having fouled on her first two jumps, I guess KJT had two options with the third:
- Reign it back a little and get a legal jump on the board (but well below her best)
- Continue to push the limit and risk fouling again.
Seems she chose the second option, and has had to learn a harsh lesson.
- Reign it back a little and get a legal jump on the board (but well below her best)
- Continue to push the limit and risk fouling again.
Seems she chose the second option, and has had to learn a harsh lesson.
BraveSirRobin said:
Having fouled on her first two jumps, I guess KJT had two options with the third:
- Reign it back a little and get a legal jump on the board (but well below her best)
- Continue to push the limit and risk fouling again.
Seems she chose the second option, and has had to learn a harsh lesson.
She was going for the win which is admirable. She should have put the banker in on the second jump. However, she is a world-class long jumper so is obviously confident in her abilities (as you must be to compete). It'll be interesting to see how she performs in the individual long jump.- Reign it back a little and get a legal jump on the board (but well below her best)
- Continue to push the limit and risk fouling again.
Seems she chose the second option, and has had to learn a harsh lesson.
ash73 said:
No lesson to learn really, 1cm different and she might be wearing a gold medal. Johnson called it right imo, she needs to watch some other champions and copy how they conduct themselves. Dutch girl impressed in the 100m today, not seen her before.
Schippers did really well-she'll hopefully only get better too after recently transferring from Heptathlon.Fraser Price must be really hard mentally to face because she just explodes from the blocks every time-she's so consistent-and everyone is playing catch up all the time!!
Molly Huddle also gave an unfortunate lesson in how not to finish off a wc 10k
Watching the interview with KJT she stated that the second jump was meant to be the safe, 'banker' jump in which case she has two issues; 1. how to correctly adjust for a safe 'banker' jump, and 2. How to approach a one-chance only jump.
Her points record speaks for itself - she has an excellent Competition PB so far and should she develop sufficient ability to knit her individual PB's together she will undoubtedly win Medals but the last 10th of any elite sportsperson is that extra edge of concentration, determination and desire.
JEH and Bolt were shining examples of that on Sunday - the ability to defy the form book and weighted predictions and still win.
I think KJT will have a stiff examination of herself and her entire competitive mindset after these Championships and I am sure that once the dust has settled, the tears dried and the memories have faded she will come out a better person, a better athlete and a World beater.
Her points record speaks for itself - she has an excellent Competition PB so far and should she develop sufficient ability to knit her individual PB's together she will undoubtedly win Medals but the last 10th of any elite sportsperson is that extra edge of concentration, determination and desire.
JEH and Bolt were shining examples of that on Sunday - the ability to defy the form book and weighted predictions and still win.
I think KJT will have a stiff examination of herself and her entire competitive mindset after these Championships and I am sure that once the dust has settled, the tears dried and the memories have faded she will come out a better person, a better athlete and a World beater.
KJT has got bags of talent. I think she is just lacking in experience of major championships. Hopefully she can learn from this and come back even better next year. That would be great to have JEH and KJT fully fit and ready battling for gold at Rio.
Greg is up today. I love GR, always seems like such a nice chap, puts up with so much abuse and keeps smiling. I hope he does it today. I think he only lives a few miles away from me, never seen him though.
Greg is up today. I love GR, always seems like such a nice chap, puts up with so much abuse and keeps smiling. I hope he does it today. I think he only lives a few miles away from me, never seen him though.
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