Summer Olympics in Rio

[chrisrenrut]

We had a Viking sighting in another thread. I'm curious if he'll be in Rio during the olympics, and what his perspective is on a lot of the negative news reports coming out of Rio.

Despite all of the potential negative news, I love the inspiring stories from athletes in sports I normally wouldn't care about.

[NorthwestUteFan]

One of our local sailors (Helena Scutt) will be in the Olympics. She is one of the top sailors in the world her class. I hope she doesn't pick up some nasty diseases in the water. I am truly worried for her health.

She sails the 49er FX, a small 2-man skiff, and that is a very fast and very wet ride. A story yesterday mentioned the athletes only need to ingest about 3 TBSP of water to pick up some of the horrible infections.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Some of the viruses found in the sailing and rowing venue include:. Norovirus, Rotavirus, Hep A, Astrovirus, Vibrio, Cryptosporidium, etc.

This doesn't even include the number of vaccine-resistant super bugs, including the awful Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterioceae strains.

[chrisrenrut]

Utes in the Olympics:

http://www.utahutes.com/news/2016/8/2/general-seven-former-utes-to-play-in-2016-rio-summer-olympics.aspx

[ironman1315]

These olympics are turning out to be a total cluster.

[Dwight Schr-Ute]

Andrew Bogut has started the Twitter hashtag #IOCLuxuryLodging to humorous results.

[U-Ute]

The Onion gives us a guide to the Olympics. A must read for any traveler to Rio.

http://www.theonion.com/olympics-2016-rio-guide

[chrisrenrut]

Bogut leads AUS to an unexpected win over France. 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

http://www.basketball.net.au/aussie-men-win-first-game-of-olympic-group-games-since-1996/

[chrisrenrut]

After tearing his ACL on the floor routine, German men's gymnast completes his pommel horse routine so his team can advance to the medal round. Amazing that he could do that after not only the physical pain, but emotional and mental pain as well.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/german-gymnast-completes-routine-with-torn-acl-031942737.html

[sancho]

After tearing his ACL on the floor routine, German men's gymnast completes his pommel horse routine so his team can advance to the medal round. Amazing that he could do that after not only the physical pain, but emotional and mental pain as well.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/german-gymnast-completes-routine-with-torn-acl-031942737.html

Reminds me of the time I tore my acl and mcl a year ago and then skied off the mountain to avoid the sled. We must share some kind of hero gene.

[sancho]

That bike race today! High drama with the awful crash and the close finish.

[U-Ute]

The only way I would ever go to the Olympics...

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160808/e6edf7292e6e249bbf9bb03d2f916872.png

[LA Ute]

This is beyond wonderful. Watch Simone Manuel's reaction to realizing she has won a gold medal:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2016/08/12/simone_manuel_s_historic_win_in_the_100_meter_free style_was_the_moment_of.html

[U-Ute]

Ouch. US women's soccer team out of medal contention. It went to PK's, and they lost on the final kick.

[Ma'ake]

The 100M is a track event that gets a lot of attention. It certainly gets *my* attention.

Here's an article about Jahvid Best, the former RB from Cal who is running the 100M in Rio, for St. Lucia, where he father was born.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/form...-olympic-debut (http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/former-nfl-running-back-jahvid-best-races-usain-bolt-olympic-debut)

Best is not going to medal...this is the Olympics.

His time in a prelim was a 10.38, which is the same time Ute WR Kyle Fulks ran as a Jr in high school, at the Texas 5A championships.

Best's PR is 10.16
Fulks' PR is 10.21 (wind aided, but as a high schooler)

I wonder if there is any thought to reviving / bolstering the Ute track team? We're getting some guys that would not embarrass us, and could potentially compete in the NCAAs.

Fulks was going to Baylor as a two-sport athlete, out of high school. That got derailed, and he went to Blinn JC, and then here, as a college Soph, last year.

[Solon]

I think my favorite story from these Olympics is going to be this kid from South Africa who just broke the WR in the 400m. His coach is a 74-year-old grandmother.

[NorthwestUteFan]

It is astonishing to know that Florence Griffith Joyner still holds the 100m record (10.49). She set that back in 1988. She was so incredibly dominant. She would have been in the mix for a podium finish behind Jesse Owns in the 1936 Olympics.

I wish Utah would put together a track team. Having track would pay dividends across the board in other sports.

[U-Ute]

Bolt is fun to watch. I will miss him when he isn't running anymore.

This photo is awesome.

He isn't really smiling, but it captures his personality so well.

https://twitter.com/mitchgoldich/status/764987063636819968

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160815/62f16ffa5cdd2283ece2728a9a1fdf99.jpg

[Solon]

It is astonishing to know that Florence Griffith Joyner still holds the 100m record (10.49). She set that back in 1988. She was so incredibly dominant. She would have been in the mix for a podium finish behind Jesse Owns in the 1936 Olympics.

I wish Utah would put together a track team. Having track would pay dividends across the board in other sports.
Flo-Jo is my favorite (modern) Olympian.
Interestingly, she retired a week after random out-of-competition PED testing was instituted.

[Mormon Red Death]

Flo-Jo is my favorite (modern) Olympian.
Interestingly, she retired a week after random out-of-competition PED testing was instituted.
Solon lookin' at rock videos
Knock-kneed bimbos walkin' like hoes
You can have them bimbos
He'll keep his women like Flo Jo

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[Mormon Red Death]

Bolt is fun to watch. I will miss him when he isn't running anymore.

This photo is awesome.

He isn't really smiling, but it captures his personality so well.

https://twitter.com/mitchgoldich/status/764987063636819968

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160815/62f16ffa5cdd2283ece2728a9a1fdf99.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160816/149049b768f52311ef19780ff739a7ef.jpg

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[sancho]

I understand why swimmers shave their bodies, but why do the divers do it?

I think I don't trust volleyball as a great sport. We have 40 year olds competing at very high levels, which doesn't happen in any great sports. Also, is volleyball a top sport in any country? In the US, it gets our third tier athletes. Are there any nations in which volleyball gets the cream of the crop?

[U-Ute]

Volleyball is full of wanna-be basketball players that can't shoot.

[U-Ute]

I think it has been popular in Europe but their athletes are gravitating to basketball now (see Tillie, Poeltl)

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I understand why swimmers shave their bodies, but why do the divers do it?

I think I don't trust volleyball as a great sport. We have 40 year olds competing at very high levels, which doesn't happen in any great sports. Also, is volleyball a top sport in any country? In the US, it gets our third tier athletes. Are there any nations in which volleyball gets the cream of the crop?

I've been completely sucked into the volleyball and have really enjoyed watching it. That said quite a few times I see the USA team and think to myself "I could picture any of these guys showing up to play pick up ball at the stake center on Tuesday night" so no it doesn't actually make me think of the great athletes in the world.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Volleyball is full of wanna-be basketball players that can't shoot.
And basketball is full of guys who can't jump well enough and aren't strategic enough for volleyball. Volleyball is all about reaction time, explosive moves, and being crafty AF.

[sancho]

I've been completely sucked into the volleyball and have really enjoyed watching it. That said quite a few times I see the USA team and think to myself "I could picture any of these guys showing up to play pick up ball at the stake center on Tuesday night" so no it doesn't actually make me think of the great athletes in the world.

Yeah, volleyball is a great olympic sport. Once every four years, a normal person can take interest in sports like volleyball, pole vaulting, badminton, water polo, etc. Anyone who takes interest in these events more frequently either has a kid on a team or needs to be made aware that there are many superior sports to choose from.

I laugh sometimes when Utah fans express hope that we can add a track and field team. I get it - there is hope that a track team will improve the football team. But, man, have you ever been to a track meet? Makes baseball look fast paced.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Our local sailor is still in the hunt for a medal in sailing. She is a longshot, but it appears she will make it into the Medal round.

[justaute]

FWIW...I played and coached vball at the U (under Coach L) way back when. Had a 35" vertical at 6'1". If I show up today at a stake center for pick-up, in most cases, I would be a super-star -- certainly was one in my younger days. Compare to the Olympians? I am nothing and was nothing. Just nothing. 35" vertical would be nothing to speak of among them. A Standing touch of 10'8" (with one step), even for a 6'1" guy, would be nothing compare to them. Though, I was pretty crafty for an under-sized player. :) Ball-control and arm-swing speed? I was quite good, but still won't be close.

Just as a point of reference. :)


I've been completely sucked into the volleyball and have really enjoyed watching it. That said quite a few times I see the USA team and think to myself "I could picture any of these guys showing up to play pick up ball at the stake center on Tuesday night" so no it doesn't actually make me think of the great athletes in the world.

[UBlender]

I've been completely sucked into the volleyball and have really enjoyed watching it. That said quite a few times I see the USA team and think to myself "I could picture any of these guys showing up to play pick up ball at the stake center on Tuesday night" so no it doesn't actually make me think of the great athletes in the world.

I get sucked into volleyball during every olympics and start to wonder why volleyball isn't at least a second tier professional sport in the US, on par with MLS, the WNBA, maybe even tennis. It's fun to watch and is kind of an everyman type of sport.

[sancho]

FWIW...I played and coached vball at the U (under Coach L) way back when. Had a 35" vertical at 6'1". If I show up today at a stake center for pick-up, in most cases, I would be a super-star -- certainly was one in my younger days. Compare to the Olympians? I am nothing and was nothing. Just nothing. 35" vertical would be nothing to speak of among them. A Standing touch of 10'8" (with one step), even for a 6'1" guy, would be nothing compare to them. Though, I was pretty crafty for an under-sized player. :) Ball-control and arm-swing speed? I was quite good, but still won't be close.

Just as a point of reference. :)

Definitely. Volleyball is a third tier sport in the US, but even those guys must be in the 99th percentile for athleticism.

[sancho]

Dear NBC, I turned on the tv tonight to watch the Olympics, not to watch 30 minutes of a dumb police/swimmer story.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Definitely. Volleyball is a third tier sport in the US, but even those guys must be in the 99th percentile for athleticism.
I used to play with a group of former pro beach guys and men and women who played at UCLA, Pepperdine, USC, etc. They could all still jump out of the gym. I was in my early 20s and they were mostly in their 30s-40s and beyond. I had a height advantage on most of them at the net, but it is still terrifying to see a 6'3" guy with a 35"+ vertical ripping 90mph kills down the line. One of the younger guys (Jr Olympian) had a legit 43" vertical. I am 6'6" and still looked at his armpit every time I went up against him at the net. And this was in a gym with a good floor. On sand I felt like I had the leaking ability of Rick Majerus.

Good times. Some days I really miss SoCal.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Dear NBC, I turned on the tv tonight to watch the Olympics, not to watch 30 minutes of a dumb police/swimmer story.
My cousin is working the games for NBC. I told him I would pay him a thousand bucks if he would somehow lock all of the on-air talent in their hotel rooms for the duration of the games. (esp opening/closing ceremonies).

He laughed. My bribe was too small apparently.

[Solon]

Dear NBC, I turned on the tv tonight to watch the Olympics, not to watch 30 minutes of a dumb police/swimmer story.

This is turning into the strangest Olympics story I remember.

There are always scandals & intrigues, sure, but they usually revolve around the competition and rarely involve law enforcement.

I'm not sure what to make of it. I'm pretty sure that there is more yet to be revealed.

[NorthwestUteFan]

My guess is Lochte didn't want to tell his mom the reason he got home so late was because he went to a brothel, so he made up the robbery story.

[sancho]

This is turning into the strangest Olympics story I remember.


It might be strange, but it's also uninteresting. Why does anyone care whether the B-side swimmer to Michael Phelps was robbed in Rio?

[Viking]

It might be strange, but it's also uninteresting. Why does anyone care whether the B-side swimmer to Michael Phelps was robbed in Rio?


Lochness monster is a known moron.

I was there when the two swimmers were released from questioning. The station where they were held is down the street from our offices.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Lyan Rochte. Way to represent your alma mater. Go Gators!

At least now the state of Washington doesn't have too claim the single most embarrassing Olympian of the games...

[Solon]

It might be strange, but it's also uninteresting. Why does anyone care whether the B-side swimmer to Michael Phelps was robbed in Rio?
It's very compelling in light of the threats of street crime that hung over the build-up to the Games. At this point, Rio is looking for "Legacy" to define its Olympic success (since it's obviously not a financially success to host the Games).

Legacy matters to politicians, to the IOC, to future bidding cities, to academics, and ultimately to the citizens of Rio. If Lochte made it up (and the most recent story suggests that he was shaken down by a security guard after peeing on / behind a gas station - sort of a robbery, but not quite the same thing he reported), it's pretty embarrassing for the USOC (and there might be anti-US repercussions from the IOC on, say LA's bid for 2024). If Lochte really was robbed, then it's a further stain on a slipshod and ramshackle Olympic festival.

just because you think it's uninteresting doesn't make it necessarily so.

[sancho]

just because you think it's uninteresting doesn't make it necessarily so.

That's true. One of my few strengths is that I'm not usually very intrigued by scandal. Obviously, NBC thinks Lochte talk will interest viewers more than track and field events.

In my mind, Rio's legacy is sure just because of what Phelps and Bolt have done.

[LA Ute]

Allison Felix's mom taught my daughter in elementary school and Allison went to high school a few blocks from us. The Felixes are a great family and it's great to see someone like Allison, who is just a fine person, become the most decorated American female Olympic athlete ever. Trivia note: She's only 5'6". If you saw her in real life you might wonder how someone that tiny could be such a powerful runner. She's awesome.

[U-Ute]

Allison Felix's mom taught my daughter in elementary school and Allison went to high school a few blocks from us. The Felixes are a great family and it's great to see someone like Allison, who is just a fine person, become the most decorated American female Olympic athlete ever. Trivia note: She's only 5'6". If you saw her in real life you might wonder how someone that tiny could be such a powerful runner. She's awesome.

About 5'3" of her is legs. That's how.

[Diehard Ute]

Allison Felix's mom taught my daughter in elementary school and Allison went to high school a few blocks from us. The Felixes are a great family and it's great to see someone like Allison, who is just a fine person, become the most decorated American female Olympic athlete ever. Trivia note: She's only 5'6". If you saw her in real life you might wonder how someone that tiny could be such a powerful runner. She's awesome.

Allyson ;)



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[sancho]

The winter olympics is the world's largest collection of attractive athletes. All the sports are for rich people, and you have a disproportionate percentage of Sven's and whatever Scandinavian women are called.

Hockey provides some balance with a bunch of toothless guys. And curling has otherwise normal joe's who happened to be weird enough to gravitate toward ice-shuffleboard.

[chrisrenrut]

. . .and whatever Scandinavian women are called.

Inga

https://www.utahby5.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2332&stc=1

[sancho]

Please to help me with my rucksack!

[mUUser]

Love this technology where they superimpose competitors in different races on top of each other. Especially cool in the ski and speed skating competitions.

[Dwight Schr-Ute]

One of the best stories from these Olympics.

https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/965746567192997889