Olympics

[Joneslab]

Kind of an interesting night in swimming.

Tonight Lily King--of Indiana University--goes against a Russian swimmer that did a little taunting after her heat win last night. King won her heat and said to NBC reporters that the swimmer shouldn't have taunted considering she'd been busted twice for doping.

They face off tonight.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...down/88381764/

[TrueblueCATfan]

I love swimming.... .gymastics and beach volleyball.....Phelps is all that

It is really weird to see Kerry Walsh without Misty May though

[Catatonic]

Seems absurd that the Russian cheaters are still allowed to compete, but it does make for an interesting storyline.

[surveyor]

Watched some of the Rugby Sevens matches. Women are fierce rugby players. I've a couple of friends who played rugby in college and the military. They've helped me more understand the game.

Wife's a big gymnastics fan so I watched some of the women's floor exercises and vaults. One lady from Uzbekistan is 41 and competing in her 7th Olympics.

Heard a kayaker capsized due to a possibly a floating or submerged couch in the bay.

[surveyor]

Seems absurd that the Russian cheaters are still allowed to compete, but it does make for an interesting storyline.

Reportedly, the cheaters are not competing. Only those Russians deemed not to have cheated. 100 of the 371 member contingency were banned.

[KevinHall]

Reportedly, the cheaters are not competing. Only those Russians deemed not to have cheated. 100 of the 371 member contingency were banned.

I read this morning one of the women swimmers has had positive drug tests in the past. So they have some druggies there. IOC knows what they are doing. Create a bad guy for the Olympics. Makes it more interesting. They were opposed to the end of the Cold War for that reason.

[Joneslab]

..................................

[Joneslab]

Mary Carillo's epic take on badminton still holds up.

[Spiritof96]

Seems absurd that the Russian cheaters are still allowed to compete, but it does make for an interesting storyline.

What about our "cheaters"? The only difference generally between our elite Olympians and the Russians is that ours are better at gaming the test protocols.

I love the Olympics; but have open eyes about how athletics at that level works.... if ya aint cheatin ya aint tryin...

[Joneslab]

What about our "cheaters"? The only difference generally between our elite Olympians and the Russians is that ours are better at gaming the test protocols.

I love the Olympics; but have open eyes about how athletics at that level works.... if ya aint cheatin ya aint tryin...

Good point.

Only difference between Russia and China and what we do is that there it seems to be state-sanctioned.

I also don't think it's anywhere near as rampant. Those were hundreds of athletes in Russia who got busted (some multiple times). I think what you would find in the US are much smaller numbers and probably individual athletes who've found a way to do it--a la Lance Armstrong.

I always felt like Tiger Woods was a steroid user. His fall was extremely odd. I know he's had injuries, but that's one of the reasons people use steroids in the first place.

[KevinHall]

Good point.

Only difference between Russia and China and what we do is that there it seems to be state-sanctioned.

I also don't think it's anywhere near as rampant. Those were hundreds of athletes in Russia who got busted (some multiple times). I think what you would find in the US are much smaller numbers and probably individual athletes who've found a way to do it--a la Lance Armstrong.

I always felt like Tiger Woods was a steroid user. His fall was extremely odd. I know he's had injuries, but that's one of the reasons people use steroids in the first place.

Don't doubt a bit Tiger was a user. He looked the part that's for sure.

[Spiritof96]

Good point.

Only difference between Russia and China and what we do is that there it seems to be state-sanctioned.

I also don't think it's anywhere near as rampant.

I think 80-90% of finalists in a physically demanding sport are on something. If I recall the IOC has a pretty wide accommodation for elevated testosterone levels anyway. If you are in your twenties, rolling back your blood chemistry to that of an 18 year old can be accomplished with small dosing and really effective. Just ask all the anti aging clinic Dr.s out there.

If tennis players are taking heart meds to up their endurance and golfers are chewing beta-blockers, amphetamines, Prozac and Valium; there is no reason to think x champion runner, lifter, swimmer, diver, fighter, cyclist is "Clean".

Pharmaceuticals have played a role in every spectacular athletic feat you have seen in the last 30 years.

I am certain that the guy winning the women's swimming medals for Hungary is on...

[surveyor]

I always felt like Tiger Woods was a steroid user. His fall was extremely odd. I know he's had injuries, but that's one of the reasons people use steroids in the first place.

More often than not, steroid use increases the chance of injury - particularly with regard to connective tissue such as ligaments and tendons. One of the reasons is the increase in muscle strength outpaces the increase in connective tissue strength. Steroids were designed to quicken rehab time decades ago. Now, more often than not with elite athletes, you see injuries that result from suspected use, not the other way around.

[Joneslab]

Pharmaceuticals have played a role in every spectacular athletic feat you have seen in the last 30 years....

Depends on what you mean by "pharmaceuticals." Pain killers? Weed? You're probably right in that case. I don't think what we think of as "steroids" have played a role in every athletic feat. You could tell LeBron James was going to be a freakazoid when he was fourteen years old. Tim Tebow. Bryce Harper. There are athletes who are just physically and genetically superior.

I do believe a case can be made that steroids maybe should be legal if they don't hurt the person's body.

The steroid era in baseball was highly entertaining. Giving these guys access to non-threatening chemicals to enhance their ability is an interesting way to think about the future of sports.

Of course even if they were able to do it some would find ways to do it better.

[surveyor]

Read Hank Haney's book on Tiger. Tiger was heavily into weights and SEAL training - practically obsessed with it. His knee injuries and achilles injury smell of injuries resulting from steroid or HGH use.