Maybe a naive question - what has happened to all the African middle and long distance runners? Only a couple of years back, all the events from 1500m through marathon would be Africa dominated. This year its collapsed- watching the womens marathon, its currently French, us and Aussie led.
I know this may be a bad question to ask but is it linked to doping? I dont know or follow closely enough so Im asking the question without any knowledge or prejudice.
Well, a bit premature re the women's marathon and the final clear leaders! - and while the winner Hassan has been in the Netherlands since her mid teens, and competed for them, she has just set an Olympic record on a tough course, and is a phenomen in general ).
And yes, while possibly less 1,2,3s, as wolf said - not exactly been missing above 1500m ( which is middle distance and has long non African history as we know well in GB ).
Maybe Ive got it wrong, it was just a perception. Re the NL runner, it wasnt a question of African heritage I was raising, but more of the nations, ie why had the nations like Kenya and Ethiopia appeared to drop off? But maybe they hadnt. Does that make more sense as a question?
I've just looked back to the last year's Budapest World Championships and there were a few African 1,2,3s there above 1500m ( including Kenyans and Ethiopians ). And among the interlopers were Ingebrigtsen and Hassan.
I honestly don't see enough in the results in recent global athletics events, which clearly can be variable anyway, to think any particular drop-off.
I've just looked back to the last year's Budapest World Championships and there were a few African 1,2,3s there above 1500m ( including Kenyans and Ethiopians ). And among the interlopers were Ingebrigtsen and Hassan.
I honestly don't see enough in the results in recent global athletics events, which clearly can be variable anyway, to think any particular drop-off.
Cool - thanks for looking into it! Maybe lets see how the next cycle works out! Meanwhile, will we win any medals on the final day and beat Tokyo tally or even Rio?!
Great for total medals wirh 65. That's 65, 67, 64 and 65 in the last 4 Games - very consistent.
Pity we couldn't get more golds this time ( with our 14 significantly down on the 4 previous Games - ie. including Beijing ), a few close shaves but generally just better people on the day. Would have looked better if Laura Kenny's early prediction of 8 cycling golds had come true! - she reckons she maybe slightly underestimated the opposition and just thought after the women's team sprint gold that we were on a roll. 'Just' 2 golds in our last 23 medals after the second Monday.
Some great bronzes though and overall many more 3rds than 4ths so really well done in getting onto these podiums. And kept the medals rolling in right through with at least 2 medals on every one of the 16 days of competition.
USA have better silver haul so just need two golds from those 4 to top the table. Britain ends 6th on golds but 3rd in terms of total medals
GB have dropped to 7th, behind the Dutch, for golds. But yes 3rd for total medals.
With just the women's basketball final between the nigh unbeatable USA and France, it is China 40 golds, USA 39 golds. With a pile more silvers and bronzes, it looks like the USA will end on top.
USA have better silver haul so just need two golds from those 4 to top the table. Britain ends 6th on golds but 3rd in terms of total medals
GB have dropped to 7th, behind the Dutch, for golds. But yes 3rd for total medals.
With just the women's basketball final between the nigh unbeatable USA and France, it is China 40 golds, USA 39 golds. With a pile more silvers and bronzes, it looks like the USA will end on top.
The USA duly eased to an err 67-66 basketball win over France when the last seconds basket by France was judged to be from just inside the 3 point line so counted 2 rather than 3.
Kind of an appropriate dramatic climax to IMO a truly great Olympics. Thank you, Paris.
USA have better silver haul so just need two golds from those 4 to top the table. Britain ends 6th on golds but 3rd in terms of total medals
GB have dropped to 7th, behind the Dutch, for golds. But yes 3rd for total medals.
With just the women's basketball final between the nigh unbeatable USA and France, it is China 40 golds, USA 39 golds. With a pile more silvers and bronzes, it looks like the USA will end on top.
The USA duly eased to an err 67-66 basketball win over France when the last seconds basket by France was judged to be from just inside the 3 point line so counted 2 rather than 3.
Kind of an appropriate dramatic climax to IMO a truly great Olympics. Thank you, Paris.
Oh wow, would have loved France to win that one! Amazed how well Japan and Australia both did, in terms of golds. And Korea as well.
very good games, and what amazing crowds the French gave every event!
climbing was my fave, and triathlon, and Tom Pid****s gold my favourite gold medal win.
The athletics really delivered. Some great competition in many sports but ultimately for me the traditional foundation of the games was this time overall also my favourite, with Tom's mountain biking gold my singular best memory.
Yes, Australia did do annoyingly well. They had a great swim meet to get going.
The great news is we get to see similar all again in two weeks when the Paralympics take place. And we have some genuine British tennis hopes in that event to cheer on!
I've no issue with the Paralympic Game concept,, but I struggle to watch it as it not very competitive, especially on a domestic level.
Partly due to the lack of athletes, secondly the manipulation of the categories.