Tokyo Olympics - It's On

[CookyMonzta]

Retton retired after the American Cup in spring of 1985. I don't know if that was the plan, or she realized she decided to quit because she couldn't compete with the world's best. Either way, it was a smart marketing move.

Comaneci had a growth spurt in 1977-78, and lost badly in the 1978 Worlds. She reinvented herself to win the Europeans in 1979, but then was forced to withdraw midway through the Worlds later that year due to a wrist injury. Yet she almost won the AA title in Moscow. She deserves a lot of credit for resilience, but I guess quitting was not an option under the Romanian system at the time.

Korbut didn't win anything except the "imagination" of TV audience, so she really does not belong in the conversation. (Neither does Retton, for that matter.)

Had Dianne Durham not been injured before the 1984 Trials, no one would be talking about Retton now, given that Durham won 4 events at the U.S. Champs (including the AA) the year before.

[scottmitchell74]

Had Dianne Durham not been injured before the 1984 Trials, no one would be talking about Retton now, given that Durham won 4 events at the U.S. Champs (including the AA) the year before.

See, silver lining. With Biles out, now someone else might be America's Sweetheart...or Russia' Sweetheart...or...

[gh]

...Munich takes the cake for 'worst' - it was also the coming-out party for the Steroid Era.

no, that was '64 and '68

[lonewolf]

Watched some Equestrian. HTH do they teach a horse to dance/prance unnaturally and with no visible signal from the rider? I rode horses from toddler to leaving the farm for the Army. A rare few smart ones could open barn/granary doors and gates and herd cattle but they only walked, trotted, cantered, or galloped..or bucked.

[18.99s]

Watched some Equestrian. HTH do they teach a horse to dance/prance unnaturally and with no visible signal from the rider?

They make the horses watch videos of other horses dancing and prancing.



Just kidding, I have no idea.

[lonewolf]

They make the horses watch videos of other horses dancing and prancing.



Just kidding, I have no idea.

Well, we did not have electricity, so no videos,

[cigar95]

(Neither does Retton, for that matter.)

Retton had perfect timing - a win at a time when every American could watch on live television, during the first Olympics in the US in a very long time, during a period when patriotism was riding high, and with a very TV-friendly personality.
But I'll remain convinced that Szabo was the better gymnast that weekend.

[TN1965]

Retton had perfect timing - a win at a time when every American could watch on live television, during the first Olympics in the US in a very long time, during a period when patriotism was riding high, and with a very TV-friendly personality.
But I'll remain convinced that Szabo was the better gymnast that weekend.

You forgot to add "six of the top eight gymnasts from the previous season were not competing and the seventh was injured." That left Szabo, who should have won. .

[CookyMonzta]

The perfect storm for Retton, and the perfect storm (for the wrong reason) for Biles. Would things have been different if not for the pandemic? And is Sunisa Lee ready to step up to the spotlight, or is she one Olympics too early?

[DrJay]

Can we look forward to seeing synchronized shot put someday? Synchronized diving is just so exciting!

[jeremyp]

Unbelievable last 50 by Finke, U.S. in 800 free for gold. From 4th to 1st.

[scottmitchell74]

Unbelievable last 50 by Finke, U.S. in 800 free for gold. From 4th to 1st.

Amazing! We thought he had zero chance.

[booond]

Unbelievable last 50 by Finke, U.S. in 800 free for gold. From 4th to 1st.

5th. And those idiot announcers didn't notice his finish until the last five meters. I'm shouting "look at Finke".

[NotDutra5]

Unbelievable last 50 by Finke, U.S. in 800 free for gold. From 4th to 1st.

Can hear his dad cheering in St. Pete all the way across Tampa Bay.

[1.609]

Just now my wife was on a Zoom call with her coworkers and some idiot made some comment about how Biles was a "quitter". Do not know how she worded it, but my wife shut that crap down immediately.

Perhaps she said "If only you'd be one too."