Winter Olympics

[dantana]

I'm usually glued to the screen watching curling. And biathlon. And luge and skeleton. And all the skiing and snowboarding. Pretty much everything in the winter games, actually. But, ever since I saw a long distance shot of the ski complex surrounded by brown, snowless hills, I haven't had the heart to watch. Here's to 2026 and someplace with actual snow.

Oh right. I had forgotten about the biathlon. That's a good one too. Those people try to shoot small targets while trying to settle their winded-ness is impressive.

[Res Ipsa]

The program that produces these young skaters that can do quad jumps is abusive. We won’t see any of this crop of RUS skaters again. Unless figure skating deweights the quads in skating, this program will churn out new medalists every four years, but leave bettered and broken young bodies in its wake. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/o ... ng-doping/

I know I shouldn't say this, as, labeling entire races is a slippery ski slope, but, Gawddamn Russians

I don’t think it’s Russians as much as it’s this specific coach and her program. She coached in the U.S. for a while. The sport can stop this in a heartbeat by changing the scoring system, which it does from time to time.

[dantana]

I know I shouldn't say this, as, labeling entire races is a slippery ski slope, but, Gawddamn Russians

I don’t think it’s Russians as much as it’s this specific coach and her program. She coached in the U.S. for a while. The sport can stop this in a heartbeat by changing the scoring system, which it does from time to time.

Oh. Ok, I didn't read your linked article. I was just grousing about the fact the Russia has been banned from the last two Olympics for doping, and so what do they do... they dope some more. That and, you know, current world happenings with them.

[Res Ipsa]

I don’t think it’s Russians as much as it’s this specific coach and her program. She coached in the U.S. for a while. The sport can stop this in a heartbeat by changing the scoring system, which it does from time to time.

Oh. Ok, I didn't read your linked article. I was just grousing about the fact the Russia has been banned from the last two Olympics for doping, and so what do they do... they dope some more. That and, you know, current world happenings with them.

Is warmongering a medal sport this Olympics, or is it just a demonstration event?

[MeDotOrg]

I've not watched a lot of events. Snow made with chemicals, so icy skiers can't get a good edge in it. I think the Pandemic has cooled my enthusiasm. I feel very disconnected this year.

Watched the women's figure skating finals tonight. Kamila Valieva, the greatest skater I have ever seen, tested positive for banned medications. The IOC, much to the chagrin of many, allowed her to compete in the finals after a positive test. After leading through the compulsories and the short program, she fell repeatedly in the finals, placing fourth in a competition that was hers to win.

The pathos after she left the ice was the most memorable image I have of the Olympics. Alexandra Trusova, who got the Silver Medal, was screaming and crying and initially said she didn't want to received her medal.

I don't know how we get all the facts here. Valieva claimed there was cross contamination with her grandfather's heart medication, which sounds like the doping version of 'the dog ate my homework'.

The whole episode encapsulates what I love and hate about the Olympics. The Grace. The Artistry. The Competition. The Doping. The Cheating.

Someone pushing a 15 year old to illegally dope herself.

The program that produces these young skaters that can do quad jumps is abusive. We won’t see any of this crop of RUS skaters again. Unless figure skating deweights the quads in skating, this program will churn out new medalists every four years, but leave bettered and broken young bodies in its wake. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/o ... ng-doping/

This is just a few minutes on PBS News about the Russian skaters.