Athletics 2019

[olaftab]

A decathlon is 10 of whatever.
Any woman would ask, after 7 or 8, for God’s sake, why?

That’s probably not an IAFF policy, but still.

The point I was querying was why don't women do the same event as men? Seems like a throwback to an era when women were treated as dainty creatures rather than equal athletes. Or it may be that women have chosen the shorter event? I don't know.

So do we want women to be equally crap at 10 events as men are?

[paul_e]

Medal prospects look sparse for British Athletes in these championships. Our middle distance athletes are nowhere. Gone are the days of Coe, Ovett and Cram. Where's the new Kelly Holmes ? Dina Asher-Smith is one of the few exceptions. Gemili might surprise us yet....

She#s called Laura Muir - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Muir - and she will be hoping to get a medal in the 1500m. She's already beaten Holmes' British record in the 1500m a few years back and has very strong times in 800 and 3000 as well. Her and Asher-Smith are probably the 2 most exciting female athletes the country has produced since Ennis and both are still a long way from their peak.

On the decathlon, the womens decathlon is a thing, it's just a minor event because, traditionally, very few athletes had the funding to be competitive so Heptathlon carried on as the multi-discipline event at the big championships, which means the decathlon continues to get no funding or athletes, so it never changes. I don't think there's any will to change it (or the mens decathlon). It's much the same for the sprint hurdles (110m vs 100m). Where changes come is when there is a gap that can be pressured by athletes to be filled. That has seen the womens 10k and 3k steeplechase and pole vault all gain prominence in the last 20 years.

[Louzie0]

I think Daley Smith might give you an argument on being crap at the decathlon, Olaftab!

Thanks, Paul e, for info on Laura Muir

[Lastfootstamper]

I don't do much on twitter, following Katharine Merry is one of my highlights.

[Louzie0]

I don't do much on twitter, following Katharine Merry is one of my highlights.

I follow her as well, she’s entertaining. And a Villa fan!

[paul_e]

I think Daley Smith might give you an argument on being crap at the decathlon, Olaftab!

Thanks, Paul e, for info on Laura Muir

Keep an eye on her, she's a special talent and, until the last year or so, was doing it all part-time because she refused to leave her vet course at uni, not important but it's a great bit of trivia.

[olaftab]

Louise Daley was a fine athlete however the stats for 10 events make  no impression at all on same events when competed for individually by elite athletes. For example Daley running 100 meters in 10.64 seconds (his best event) would not have made the quarter final heats in the actual 100 meters race.
He was very good in the decathlon but what's the point at Olympic level?

[Louzie0]

I think it’s about being an excellent all round Olympic athlete, although the specialists in each event are completely eye-boggling.

[cdbearsfan]

Louise Daley was a fine athlete however the stats for 10 events make  no impression at all on same events when competed for individually by elite athletes. For example Daley running 100 meters in 10.64 seconds (his best event) would not have made the quarter final heats in the actual 100 meters race.
He was very good in the decathlon but what's the point at Olympic level?

Think that's a bit harsh. Like saying John McGinn is pointless because he doesn't score as many goals as Harry Kane and he's useless in goal.

The multi-sports athletes are brilliant all-round sports stars and a massive boost to the games. (Plus Britain tends to do well at heptathlon, so there's that...)

[olaftab]

I welcome any medals

[Comrade Blitz]

There is a women's decathlon. Read more here:

https://www.flotrack.org/articles/6206343-the-inaugural-womens-decathlon-championship-is-a-big-deal-and-heres-why

[cdbearsfan]

That's good. Wonder if it will eventually replace heptathlon?

I'd like to see them do everything except the long distance ones, as it's unfair to expect them to do so much over a short period of time.

So I would have them do:
100m
200m
400m
800m
1500m
100/110m Hurdles
400m Hurdles
High Jump
Long Jump
Triple Jump
Pole Vault
Discus
Hammer
Shot Put
Javelin

Think that's everything except for the long distance events?

That's fifteen. My Greek isn't good but guess that's a Decapentathlon? Perhaps do it over three days rather than two.

Anyway, KJT in first place going into tomorrow's final three events, and DAS goes for a medal in ten minutes or so.

[cdbearsfan]

GOLD!

[PaulWinch again]

Won by a fucking mile. Top work Dina.

[cdbearsfan]

She could have stopped half way round for a fag and still won. Battered them.