Olympics 2012 - Athletics

[sore legs]

It's a mixed bag, but we also have to look at the imports we had this year, and I don't include Mo in that. We had Tiffany Porter in Sprint Hurdles, Yamile Aldama in Triple Jump, Shana Cox 400m... could be more.

I actually think we have got the athletes - look at some of the other medal contenders who didn't quite make it.
Dai Greene - 400 Hurdles
Philips Idowu - Triple Jump
Holly Bleasdale - Pole Vault (from my club)
Hannah England - 1500m
Shara Proctor - Long Jump - (an import really)
Goldie Sayers - Javelin
Peri Shakes-Drayton - 400 hurdles
Chris Tomlinson - Long Jump

and then the relays where we had a chance on paper in 3 out of 4 of getting a medal.

On another day perhaps? A case of bad luck?

I don't think so.

We clearly had some athletes who hit their peak early and couldn't perform to their seasons bests. All 8 of those athletes above plus the 3 imports were below their season's bests let alone their PBs in the Olympics.

They are all funded athletes.

I know Holly really well. I think it was a little inexperience on the day - perhaps from coach as well. As a pair they have worked phenomenally well together taking her to 4.87m indoors this winter, the 3rd highest of all time. 5 years ago she was a hurdler.
But both are learning - all the women vaulters struggled in the difficult conditions and she came a creditable 6th when in a heart I'm sure she fancied a medal.

But the others are all experienced performers, so I don't know.

I did wonder what the merits of the holding camp in Portugal was though. We have a home advantage, so why go to 35C and club med conditions?

the Jamaicans holding camp was Birmingham.

I found this very strange - the olympics are in London and our athletes could not even be bothered to show up at the opening of it - more of a disgrace in my view.

I suppose if the athletes cant hit their peak with a 4 year build up with a full supporting and managing team behind them then they dont deserve any future support. Everyone has off days or lets the occasion get to them but I view these latest performances as woeful.

How many and who are funded?? Listening to one of the boxing coaches, he stated that there was no need for the the boxers to rush off after success and become professional as they were currently earning nearly as much as an amateur - I dont know how that is supposed to work as that is not an amateur in my books or by definition.