BBC SPOTY 2024

[Risso]

No, by any stretch.

Third place in a few events? Not even the best runner up. Time 2 hours 22 minutes significantly slower than Ruth Chepngetich in Chicago (under 2 hours 10) and a world record.

The Paris marathon course was ridiculous though, with some severe hills, and run in 30 degree heat. Chicago by comparison, is almost completely flat and run in October, with the average temperature about 10 degrees. The difference between 5K and marathon in terms of how you run them is vast, so it's a fantastic achievement.

[Somniloquism]

Well I disagree on your veiled "ticking the boxes" comment used in your OP, because you happened to see she was wearing a head scarf in the SPOTY picture.

[lovejoy]

its not a masive deal anymore (I gave up when they awarded it to Giggs). If it did matter and Id broken the marathon world record I would be annoyed the olympics winner was chosen ahead of me. The bronzes show shes not the best in those different events.

[Somniloquism]

The Paris marathon course was ridiculous though, with some severe hills, and run in 30 degree heat. Chicago by comparison, is almost completely flat and run in October, with the average temperature about 10 degrees. The difference between 5K and marathon in terms of how you run them is vast, so it's a fantastic achievement.

Thanks Risso for your knowledge of the courses. I knew temperature would be one of the major differences between the two, didn't know topography though.

I will put her other finishes here.

5k, where she was 8th leading into the final lap.

7th in the last lap of the 10k (which was less then 36 hours before the Marathon started)

Obviously Chebet won gold in both so also could have had a shout in the world SPOTY, but as Hassan had done that feat 4 years ago, it wasn't unique. I will also mention she took up competitive Marathon only last year, where she won the London one on her debut. (And did 2h:13m on the Chicago one in 2023).

[lovejoy]

Hang on, a runner won 2 golds beating Hassan in both, but one gold Hassan gets the nod. Righto.

[Somniloquism]

Hang on, a runner won 2 golds beating Hassan in both, but one gold Hassan gets the nod. Righto.

Yes she did, repeating the same feat Hassan has already done 3 years ago. But as they didn't have Hassan in then, they obviously don't think winning gold in two disciplines at the same Olympics is worthy being as lots of people do that every four years. Also Chebet doesn't "box tick" with a head scarf does she?

[Gareth]

Cav won’t get nominated because the bbc don’t have rights to any cycling footage.  Even Bellingham they have some rights to show

Cav and Murray are probably Britain’s greatest two recent sports people…bet they don’t get equality regarding the length of career tributes in the show

[lovejoy]

Hang on, a runner won 2 golds beating Hassan in both, but one gold Hassan gets the nod. Righto.

Yes she did, repeating the same feat Hassan has already done 3 years ago. But as they didn't have Hassan in then, they obviously don't think winning gold in two disciplines at the same Olympics is worthy being as lots of people do that every four years. Also Chebet doesn't "box tick" with a head scarf does she?

Fair point. If winning two golds isn’t worthy then one gold is less worthy. It’s basic maths.

[Somniloquism]

Trying anything to avoid being called a racist fuck Lovejoy. Keep at it.

[Dave]

Trying anything to avoid being called a racist fuck Lovejoy. Keep at it.

You're welcome to personally believe whatever you like regarding his motivations and reasoning, but if those beliefs start tripping over into personal insults please keep those beliefs to yourself.

[Somniloquism]

"Ticking Boxes" and "DEI hire" are just people showing they are racist without coming out fully.

So until Lovejoy does actually come out and explain his original line, surely it is a description rather then a personal insult? Especially when he has gone round and round trying to justify why the woman pictured in a head scarf doesn't deserve to be in the list, you know the worlds best female athlete in 2024 as judged by the IAAF.

[lovejoy]

My final post on this thread.
I've explained in many posts why I don't think a single gold is sufficient to get a nomination here compared to a world class cyclist, which was my original post. I've never mentioned DEI hire so not sure where that quote has come from - is it made up? It is a fact that each nomination covers all genders and ethnicity, each have been covered. I was actually advocating two golds being better than one. If thinking Podgacar should have been nominated over a single gold makes me a "racist fuck" in your view then so be it.

[LeeB]

I'm absolutely amazed that anyone gives enough of a shit about this to argue, I think I stopped being in any way interested in about 1987.

Awards ceremonies are toss.

[Risso]

I'm with Somnioquism on the above though, I thought it was a brilliant achievement and a stunning display of running ability.

I really don't get the nomination for the young lass who's the college basketball player though. Surely that's as ridiculously niche as it's possible to get?

[Somniloquism]

Clark isn't just a college basketball player though. The start of the year she was still playing college basketball, (and setting records there). But she signed professional in April / May. As a rookie, she is dominating as well setting lots of records in her debut season. However I do agree that it is still a niche sport compared to the others competing on world stages, and the BBC don't broadcast WNBA so it doesn't seem to be that either.