Best TnF Olympics in memory?

[Marlow]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

And I can probably find something similar to like about each and every one of the events, field or track.

While I agree with that statement and I do sorta agree on the mJT comp (I kept waiting for one of the usual suspects to blast one out there near 90m, so the suspense was killing me and then suddenly the Impossible Dream kid from the Caribbean has won!!)), the measure of an OG event (to me) is: "is everyone at their best and duking it out at maximum intensity?" That's why I can love the 'non-competitive' 800 (there was never a doubt, so take that all you 'I love the competition' people! :wink: ), and the runaway w4x1, but even the m4x4, where all my hopes were dashed by a sub-par USA anchor LOSING to those upstart . . . Caribbeans! [Amis love the underdogs AND the favorites!!). As competitive as the distance races were, they left me flat. There was no investment from the start, only at the end.

[odelltrclan]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

It seems to me the question was how did this Olympics compare with other Olympics. Perhaps I am wrong, but few answered it as such. That is always a tough question to answer because what do we remember most vividly? What we just saw. And what we just saw was a fantastic competition with lots of highlights. Including world records [including the toppling of a record thought by some to be unachievable], first time achievements in history [Bolt's double double], and great competition. Some surprises [Rupp medaling in the 10,000 being the first since the advent of the African dominance - or the US Men's silver in the 4x400 from an historical perspective] It has to rank as one of the best in my mind.

[lionelp1]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

From a point of view of support for the athletes the OG was pretty damn good; some outstanding competition; 800m men brilliant; sprints excellent; Ennis outstanding; womens 200/400m finally enabled two female athletes to get what they deserved; Mo proving the East Africans run too much DL and are beatable; great effort by Rupp; a first sub 44.00 by a non American athlete, I believe; great race for Gold in the womens 400m hurdles; bahamas winning after their previous Silver.

And the miracle for me was after the shittiest, rainiest weather in late Spring and Summer, the fates were fairly benign and the wind was far better behaved than we thought possible over the 10 days.

[gh]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

And it all depends what floats your boat. For me, it's about the competition.

The men's JT, for example, had "low" marks and an off-the-wall winner, but for me that only made it all the more intriguing as a competition to follow. I'd call it a great competition.

And I can probably find something similar to like about each and every one of the events, field or track.

[Powell]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

A disappointment was field events were't exactly overwhelming.

They weren't all that bad:
Women's HT had the best quality ever by a long way (best ever marks for places 2-12 IIRC, some of them by big margins).
Women's DT was clearly the best competition in some 20 years.
Men's SP had great depth (20.61 only good enough for 10th place) and a tremendous battle for first - not just close, but of very high standard, too.
Women's SP had very high quality even when you ignore Ostapchuk. Three women well over 20 and eight over 19 is great by the standard of recent years.
Men's DT had 5 guys over 67 meters (that 5th place was the best ever).
Men's PV with top 3 over 5.90, something that hasn't happened since 2000.
Women's HJ with 3 clearing 2.03, which only happened once before.
Men's TJ had a good top 3 (although not a lot of depth beyond that).

That's 8 out of 16 that I would consider good to great in terms of quality.

[sprintzfan]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

If you're asking was this most recent Olympics the best TnF in memory, as a fan of American sprinting it wasn't for me. Not even close. Probably the worst in memory for me in terms of American MALE sprinting. "We" weren't very good at all this Olympics imo.

Sorry if I misunderstood your thread question and answered the wrong way.

[polevaultpower]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

The PV competitions were great, on the women's side because the American overcame tough conditions to win, and on the men's side because they jumped really high.

[TDB]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

Super Sanchez?!?! Come on nobody mentions Super Sanchez!!!!

[zidan]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

Its hard to top the 'Tripple Double" by Bolt. That 100m was another defining moment of his career.

[Conor Dary]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

Rusdisha's performance was one of the best ever.

[ATK]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

Considering how many races broke records for "fastest for place x", I would say that makes it a huge stand out.

[Weights&Shoes]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

I'd say so.

[Pego]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

For me, nothing comes close to US w4X100.

[dbirds]

Re: Best TnF Olympics in memory?

I was gonna say Ennis in the hept

[Norm Balke]

Except for the coverage!

Bolt
Bolt
Jamaica and US 4x1
US womens 4x1
US womens 4x4
Kirani
Mo (and Rupp I spose!)
Rudisha

Great performances and great stories. Is there any way the sport can capitalize!?

A disappointment was field events were't exactly overwhelming. Harting had a cool celebration, mens TJ was great.