Tokyo Olympics 2021

[greyhammer90]

Because she's apparently the most accomplished gymnast in either American or world history I believe.

I'm not arguing this isn't a bad look, but the above is true. This Olympics run was basically the gymnastics version of Brady playing in the NFL this upcoming year. She's already the GOAT. The Olympics are the time when the most casuals are watching gymnastics, and its where the biggest advertising opportunities are, but she's already won a ton of championships in addition to her prior Golds.

Based on what I'm reading, she felt "lost" during her vault. Meaning that her brain was unsure of where she was while in air, meaning that she was basically flying blind. Bottom line: If the world's most experienced and most decorated championship gymnast feels like she can't go, I'm going to believe that despite the fact that it's really disappointing for me as a spectator. It's easy to forget but I promise she cares more about this, and her teammates, than anyone complaining about it on the internet.

 

[Irish#1]

I'm not arguing this isn't a bad look, but the above is true. This Olympics run was basically the gymnastics version of Brady playing in the NFL this upcoming year. She's already the GOAT. The Olympics are the time when the most casuals are watching gymnastics, and its where the biggest advertising opportunities are, but she's already won a ton of championships in addition to her prior Golds.

Based on what I'm reading, she felt "lost" during her vault. Meaning that her brain was unsure of where she was while in air, meaning that she was basically flying blind. Bottom line: If the world's most experienced and most decorated championship gymnast feels like she can't go, I'm going to believe that despite the fact that it's really disappointing for me as a spectator. It's easy to forget but I promise she cares more about this, and her teammates, than anyone complaining about it on the internet.

Mentally fatigued? There's a lot of stress with carrying the torch like she has.

 

[NDRock]

That's good. But there is still one girl who'd otherwise be an alternate who could say "I got to go to the Olympics" who's at home and would probably give anything.

Actually don't think that's true. If I remember correctly, we took one less alternate than we could have.

 

[mango4]

Man, there are some really, really bad takes in here. She is the GOAT of women's gymnastics, and frankly it isn't even close. The routines she does aren't properly scored for difficulty, or it wouldn't be fair to other gymnasts. To act like she doesn't care about her teammates and she quit on them is ridiculous. She's under an insane amount of pressure to carry that team and everyone knows it. Commentators during the men's team final were saying that if only Simone had done her normal things, the US would have gotten first in qualifying, not the actual medal round, but qualifying. They finished a point behind ROC, maybe some of her teammates could have gotten that extra point instead of relying on Simone. With her "sub-par" performance, she still led the team in total score.

 

[RDU Irish]

Part of Team USA is mentally preparing these kids for action, you only get this shot once every four years and many have never been in the limelight. I also imagine it is harder to perform in an empty stadium with your family 10,000 miles away. Spotlight is that much brighter in the empty void.

I yelled at the TV when that commentator was saying Biles was the difference with her top overall score in qualifiers. 1) WTF difference does your qualifying score make beyond qualifying. 2) Why TF are the rest of the team allowed to be dead weight?

The contrast of Phelps soaking up the energy of competition and Biles talking about how much she hurts and feels old was stark last night.

 

[NDRock]

Part of Team USA is mentally preparing these kids for action, you only get this shot once every four years and many have never been in the limelight. I also imagine it is harder to perform in an empty stadium with your family 10,000 miles away. Spotlight is that much brighter in the empty void.

I yelled at the TV when that commentator was saying Biles was the difference with her top overall score in qualifiers. 1) WTF difference does your qualifying score make beyond qualifying. 2) Why TF are the rest of the team allowed to be dead weight?

The contrast of Phelps soaking up the energy of competition and Biles talking about how much she hurts and feels old was stark last night.

I assumed he just meant that Biles is so good she can pull the rest of the team to gold with just her normal scores. Don't think the rest of the team is dead weight but more like a basketball team without Giannis, Jordan, Lebron, etc...

 

[TorontoGold]

What's the length of a swimmer's career? I couldn't believe how old Ledecky is, since it feels like she's been dominating forever. She have another Olympics in her?

 

[tussin]

Man, there are some really, really bad takes in here. She is the GOAT of women's gymnastics, and frankly it isn't even close. The routines she does aren't properly scored for difficulty, or it wouldn't be fair to other gymnasts. To act like she doesn't care about her teammates and she quit on them is ridiculous. She's under an insane amount of pressure to carry that team and everyone knows it. Commentators during the men's team final were saying that if only Simone had done her normal things, the US would have gotten first in qualifying, not the actual medal round, but qualifying. They finished a point behind ROC, maybe some of her teammates could have gotten that extra point instead of relying on Simone. With her "sub-par" performance, she still led the team in total score.

Take the emotion out of it - she quite literally quit on her teammates.

 

[NorthDakota]

What's the length of a swimmer's career? I couldn't believe how old Ledecky is, since it feels like she's been dominating forever. She have another Olympics in her?

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.c...-male-swimmers-staying-in-the-sport-too-long/

Looks like careers are getting longer.

 

[TorontoGold]

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.c...-male-swimmers-staying-in-the-sport-too-long/

Looks like careers are getting longer.

Cool article, like the part about us getting the US team leftovers.

You wouldn't (might) believe it, but I saw an article celebrating us finishing 4th in an event. What a joke lol.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Cool article, like the part about us getting the US team leftovers.

You wouldn't (might) believe it, but I saw an article celebrating us finishing 4th in an event. What a joke lol.

Give yer balls a tug and maybe you'd do better

 

[Sea Turtle]

Take the emotion out of it - she quite literally quit on her teammates.

Her teammates did a great job and fought hard. I'm proud of them. It must have been quite a blow and a shock but persevered.

Having said that, as much pressure as Biles felt, can you imagine being Phelps when he was going for 8 gold medals? It must have been insane.

 

[irishff1014]

I’d maybe have sympathy for her if she didn’t spend a month cutting promos with an actual goat and saying that she “didn’t know if she could possibly be beat.”

USA Gymnastics is a garbage organization and Biles is a victim in that regard, but I can’t imagine quitting on your team like this.

Right on. She quit on the team and she should never be able to compete for the us ever again. I 100% agree there has been a lot of stuff that happened that shouldn’t have. But 2/3 thirds of the things she has and the life styles she has is because of the opportunity in gymnastics.

 

[GATTACA!]

God damn soccer fucking blows.

I'm glad the Olympics come around every 4 years to remind me why I hate this stupid sport.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

CMon guys. No personal attacks/name calling.

 

[ACamp1900]

CMon guys. No personal attacks/name calling.

Even Gattaca? I mean he did just attack soccer and he is a known town drunk,…

 

[GATTACA!]

Even Gattaca? I mean he did just attack soccer and he is a known town drunk,…

I don't drink......but imagine me if I did.....

 

[T-Boone]

God damn soccer fucking blows.

I'm glad the Olympics comes around every 4 years to remind me why I hate this stupid sport.

That australia v US womens game last night made me want to watch croquet.

 

[NorthDakota]

I don't drink......but imagine me if I did.....

Beer counts...

 

[NorthDakota]

Tough scene for Ledecky.

I'm not gonna get into the Biles stuff because frankly, i haven't actually watched gymnastics since Shawn Johnson stole my heart back in '08. But seems like her rep has taken a beating.

Not a good Olympics for Uncle Sam thus far.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Give yer balls a tug and maybe you'd do better

Maybe only a handful of us here who really understand and appreciate this, but it's gold!

 

[Irish#1]

Listened to Brady Quinn this morning. His wife is a former Olympic gymnast. To paraphrase. Biles has been competing at a high level since she was around 14. That's 10 years of a major grind with high expectations. She gets herself mentally and physically prepared to compete in the Olympics only to have it delayed a year, so she has to start the grind all over. For all we know, she may have been ready to quit after last year and the coach talked her into hanging in there for one last hurrah. Hard to fully comprehend if you haven't walked in her shoes. I don't think her reputation will take a hit. We forgive athletes and national personalities all the time.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Agree with the above 100% I also see it as if having to be fully mentally committed to do her routines which if she isn’t could severely injure herself. Doubts or lack of confidence in a millisecond could land her seriously injured during a flood or beam routine.

 

[IrishRazor82]

Is she continuing with the individual after performing subpar in the team?

That answers the only question that matters.

 

[mango4]

Is she continuing with the individual after performing subpar in the team?

That answers the only question that matters.

Nope. She has pulled out of the all-around.

 

[NorthDakota]

Listened to Brady Quinn this morning. His wife is a former Olympic gymnast. To paraphrase. Biles has been competing at a high level since she was around 14. That's 10 years of a major grind with high expectations. She gets herself mentally and physically prepared to compete in the Olympics only to have it delayed a year, so she has to start the grind all over. For all we know, she may have been ready to quit after last year and the coach talked he into hanging in there for one last hurrah. Hard to fully comprehend if you haven't walked in her shoes. I don't think her reputation will take a hit. We forgive athletes and national personalities all the time.

If I recall, Mrs. Quinn's performance in 2008 cost us the gold medal in the team event. Granted...China cheated. And I could be misremembering.

I get the whole "try walking in her shoes" thing. But people still rail on Colt McCoy for what they perceived as basically opting out after one drive in the title game back in 2010 (even though I'm pretty sure his injury was legitimate).

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

I cant put myself in her shoes as a professional gymnast/athlete with the weight of an entire world on me, but I can only relate to what I know and that is within a five year window.... getting married, working full time, with a newborn, and going to night school for engineering every available session to complete 120 hours of school and finishing with a 3.95 and top of my class. I legit averaged 3-4 hrs of sleep each night for 5 years between school and taking care of the newborn at night so my wife could rest. It nearly broke me and Im still dealing with fallout both mentally and emotionally. I was a complete wreck of a person for two years after and still on the path back in many ways. I say bravo to her for realizing becasue I ran right through the wall, ignored all the warning signs and ultimately never did until I graduated and didnt have to go to school any more. By then it was too late.

 

[notredomer23]

Quitting aside, isn't Biles pretty old for gymnastics? I saw the average age of the UK bronze medal team was 17. I thought their shelf life essentially expired at 20...

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Agree with the above 100% I also see it as if having to be fully mentally committed to do her routines which if she isn’t could severely injure herself. Doubts or lack of confidence in a millisecond could land her seriously injured during a floor or beam routine.

She was up to do uneven bars next when she withdrew. That might actually be the most dangerous event, especially since it was probably her weakest and the one she had to work on the most.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Quitting aside, isn't Biles pretty old for gymnastics? I saw the average age of the UK bronze medal team was 17. I thought their shelf life essentially expired at 20...

That was the case, but it seems like the average age is now climbing, with a strong theory being that the scoring system change has effected it. The new system rewards trying ever more difficult skills and stunts that it takes a longer time to be able to do. Combine that with a better understanding of sports science from diet & nutrition to bio-kinetics to recovery, and suddenly these athletes can keep getting better when they would normally be declining. That said, I doubt the age goes up too much.

But, yeah, she is older and they have made a major point of that. It could have also contributed to her mental stress. She wasn't so much a member of a team of people her age, but the leader of a group of younger people. As much as Simone might have been the star of 2016, it very much seemed like Aly Raisman was the vocal leader of that team and Gabby Douglas was the reigning All Around gold medalist.