The Olympics was supposed to be about amateurs. That's what made it worth watching.
Guys and girls who did ordinary joe-jobs everyday but trained and competed at events in their spare time and if they were good enough and got recognised for their achievements they'd be chosen to represent their countries in international events.
That's what it should be in my view.
Now look at it.
Kids picked up really young. None of the normal childhood milestones ordinary children go through. Dodgy coaches and training camps. Monetary sponsorship which (theoretically) gives them access to equipment or training facilities other youngsters can't access. Kids growing distant from their families as they spend lengthy periods away from home. The drug usage and testing debacles.....
@WhiteZebra @SW-User they were good, but it was kinda boring. like they were just doing the same course but not at the same time, so it was not a good spectators sport
@swirlie Oh you should. Climbing gyms are a thing. Definitely something to check out. I had a friend go for the first time a few months ago and she's HOOKED. ;)
@Ynotisay I go to a gym that's primarily designed for high level gymnastics which also has a routine fitness facility we use for warmups, but it doesn't have climbing stuff. I'll have to pursue that one! Thanks!
Well i like to watch a little bit of everything, I have watched some archery,womens beach volleyball,gymnastics,and some trail bike riding and some horse riding events,so far lol
@WhiteZebra no longer. I played rugby at county level at school and into my early 20s at lower club level. Swimming I was never a big club swimmer but from my 20s right through into my 50s I regularly swam 5k and 10k events. I only gave up when illness prevented me from continuing. My daughter was club captain and briefly in her teens swam in the national league. She did try out to get into Loughborough University (uk swimming centre of excellence) but didn't get in. My son briefly played rugby league at university until a knee injury curtailed his career. He was very into kayaking as a teen but for adventure not sport. Cycling I did just for fun country rides, again illness stopped that in my 50s. Rowing interest came from my cousin who in the 70s rowed at a high level but failed to get onto the 76 Olympics gbr team unfortunately. He won at Henley a few times though.
I like to see individual sports where the most athletic wins. Like athletics, swimming, cycling and rowing. I like the technical sports too like, archery shooting and martial arts but they don't hold me on the edge of my seat.
By the way, well done to Keeley Hodgkinson. Only the 10th British woman to ever win an Olympic Athletics gold.
I am pleased with my own country's wins of course, but I do not follow any sports! I can't watch them anyway as I have no TV, but neither do I listen to any radio commentaries.
@dale74 I did work with a bunch of Olympic figure skaters for a few years.Got out on the road with them. They're a different breed of human. I had watched peripherally but seeing them up close in person, and how FAST and STRONG they are was an eye-opener. And the danger factor is very real. Anyone who doesn't think they're athletes is clueless. 👍
@WhiteZebra I've done gymnastics since I was a kid in grade one, so I can totally relate to what's going on at the Olympic level. I'm also into endurance swimming in lap pools, so I like watching the swimming event to see how distances are gained by the real pros.
I only just started watching fencing, so that looks like a sport of real strategy to me!
@WhiteZebra I should also mention that I'm Captain of a women's beach volleyball team near where I live, so I was glued to the TV when that was on as well!
