|
Post by Panda on Jul 13, 2012 20:13:41 GMT 1
TRIATHLONLocation: Hyde Park Events: 2 GB hasn't won a medal since triathlon made its Olympic debut in Sydney in 2000 but that is expected to change in London. World champions Alistair Brownlee and Helen Jenkins lead the British challenge in the men's and women's races. Brownlee's brother Jonathan, second in last year's World Championship series, should also be a medal contender. Alistair Brownlee starts as gold medal favourite despite missing most of this year with an achilles injury. Victory on his return last month in Kitzbuhel seemed to remove any doubts over his fitness. GB's selection policy has been controversial with the selection of of domestiques - athletes whose aim is to help a team-mate win, rather than picking the top three performers in each event. That means Stuart Hayes, a strong cyclist, is selected ahead of the higher-ranked Will Clarke and former world champion Tim Don. The women's team sees the inclusion of Lucy Hall, who has minimal top level experience, but who is a very strong swimmer and will try and help Jenkins build a sizeable lead by the start of the cycling leg. As a result, there is no place in the team for Liz Blatchford, current British number three, and British number two in 2011. But despite recent successes, the British competitors will be well aware that anything can happen on the day, with several world champions going home from the Olympics empty-handed in the past. GB MEDAL HOPES Alistair Brownlee Jonathan Brownlee Helen Jenkins OTHERS TO WATCH Alexander Bryukhankov (Russia) Javier Gomez (Spain) Andrea Hewitt (New Zealand) Nicola Spirig (Switzerland) GB SQUAD MEN Alistair Brownlee Jonathan Brownlee Stuart Hayes WOMEN Helen Jenkins Vicky Holland Lucy Hall
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 15, 2012 1:26:38 GMT 1
ROWINGLocation: Dorney Lake Events: 14 GB MEDAL RECORD 1900: 0-0-1 1908: 4-3-1 (single sculls - Blackstaffe; coxless pair - Fleming, Thomson; coxless four - Cudmore, Gillan, Mackinnon, Somers-Smith; eight - Gladstone, Kelly, Johnstone, Nickalls, Burnell, Sanderson, Etherington-Smith, Bucknall, Maclagan) 1912: 2-2-0 (single sculls - Kinnear; eight - Burgess, Swann, Wormwald, Horsfall, Gillan, Garton, Kirby, Fleming, Wells) 1920: 0-2-0 1924: 2-0-0 (single sculls - Beresford; coxless four - Eley, MacNabb, Morrison, Sanders) 1928: 1-2-1 (coxless four - Lander, Warriner, Beesly, Bevan) 1932: 2-0-0 (coxless pair - Clive, Edwards; coxless four - Badcock, Edwards, Beresford, George) 1936: 1-1-0 (double sculls - Beresford, Southwood) 1948: 2-1-0 (double sculls - Burnell, Bushnell; coxless pair - Wilson, Laurie) 1952: 0-0-0 1956: 0-0-0 1960: 0-0-0 1964: 0-1-0 1968: 0-0-0 1972: 0-0-0 1976: 0-2-0 1980: 0-1-2 1984: 1-0-0 (coxed four - Budgett, Cross, Ellison, Holmes, Redgrave) 1988: 1-0-1 (coxless pair - Holmes, Redgrave) 1992: 2-0-0 (coxless pair - Redgrave, Pinsent; coxed pair - G Searle, J Searle, Herbert) 1996: 1-0-1 (coxless pair - Redgrave, Pinsent) 2000: 2-1-0 (coxless four - Cracknell, Redgrave, Foster, Pinsent; eight - Lindsay, Hunt-Davis, Dennis, Attrill, Grubor, West, Scarlett, Trapmore, Douglas) 2004: 1-2-1 (coxless four - Williams, Cracknell, Coode, Pinsent) 2008: 2-2-2 (coxless four - James, Williams, Reed, Triggs-Hodge; lightweight double sculls - Purchase, Hunter) Total: 24-20-10 Rowing has been one of GB's most successful sports in recent Olympics, with at least one gold medal in each of the last seven games. Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent played a big part in that but even after their retirements, Britain has continued to produce world class rowers capable of winning medals at the highest level. After winning six medals in Beijing, hopes are high of an even bigger haul on the home waters of Eton Dorney. GB has managed to qualify a boat in all but one event for London, including three events where GB are the current world champions. Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase return to defend the lightweight double sculls titles they won in Beijing, while three members of the victorious fours boat from Beijing return with Alex Gregory replacing retired double gold medallist Steve Williams, as GB go for their fourth consecutive gold medal in the event. Katherine Grainger will be hoping to end her own personal Olympic hurt in London. She has won silver at the last three Olympics and teams up with Anna Watkins in the double sculls as they aim to become the first British women to win Olympic rowing gold. Two of those silvers were won alongside Frances Houghton and Debbie Flood in the quadruple sculls and they return for a third crack at Olympic glory, joined by Beth Rodford and Melanie Wilson. Another notable name in the squad is that of Greg Searle. Searle won Olympic gold in Barcelona 20 years ago, with his brother Jonny and cox Garry Herbert (now BBC's main rowing commentator). The sight of Herbert crying openly during the national anthem with the much taller Searle brothers towering over him remains one of GB's iconic Olympic images. Searle is part of the men's eight boat, which sees three members of the silver medal crew from Beijing returning. Australia, New Zealand and Germany tend to be two of the stronger rowing nations in the world, though the Germans failed to win a gold medal in Beijing. Germany did take last year's overall World Cup title but Great Britain regained the title this year - their fifth overall World Cup victory in six years. GB SQUAD MEN Single sculls: Alan Campbell Double sculls: Bill Lucas, Sam Townsend Quadruple sculls: Charles Cousins, Stephen Rowbotham, Tom Solesbury, Matthew Wells Coxless pair: George Nash, Will Satch Coxless four: Alex Gregory, Tom James, Pete Reed, Andrew Triggs-Hodge Eight: Richard Egington, James Foad, Matthew Langridge, Constantine Louloudis, Alex Partridge, Tom Lansley, Mohamed Sbihi, Greg Searle, Phelan Hill (cox) Lightweight double sculls: Mark Hunter, Zac Purchase Lightweight coxless four: Chris Bartley, Peter Chambers, Richard Chambers, Rob Williams WOMEN Double sculls: Katherine Grainger, Anna Watkins Quadruple sculls: Debbie Flood, Frances Houghton, Beth Rodford, Melanie Wilson Coxless pair: Helen Glover, Heather Stanning Eight: Jessica Eddie, Katie Greves, Lindsey Maguire, Natasha Page, Louisa Reeve, Victoria Thornley, Annabel Vernon, Olivia Whitlam, Caroline O'Connor (cox) Lightweight double sculls: Katherine Copeland, Sarah Hosking
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 15, 2012 23:18:48 GMT 1
CANOEINGLocations: Dorney Lake (sprint) Lee Valley White Water Centre (slalom) Events: 16 GB MEDAL RECORD 1936: 0-0-0 1948: 0-0-0 1952: 0-0-0 1956: 0-0-0 1960: 0-0-0 1964: 0-0-0 1968: 0-0-0 1972: 0-0-0 1976: 0-0-0 1980: 0-0-0 1984: 0-0-0 1988: 0-0-0 1992: 0-1-0 1996: 0-0-0 2000: 0-1-1 2004: 0-1-2 2008: 1-1-1 GB didn't win a canoeing medal until Gareth Marriott's slalom silver in 1992 but the last three Olympics have brought eight medals including a first ever gold in Beijing. Tim Brabants won the K-1 1000m, eight years after taking bronze in the same event. He added another bronze in the 500m the following day. Canoeing in the Olympics is split into two disciplines: slalom and sprint. The sprint events taking place on the same strip of water as the rowing events, while the slalom competitions will take place at the Lee Valley White Water Centre. Both disciplines feature separate events for canoes and kayaks. In canoes, participants kneel and use single-bladed paddles. In kayaks, competitors sit and use double-bladed paddles. The letters and numbers in the name of an event signify which is being used and how many people are in the vessel, eg K-4 = four-person kayak. The sprint events take on a new dimension this year with the introduction of 200m races, replacing the men's 500m events, and it seems to suit the British sprinters with GB winning two silver medals over the shorter distance at last year's World Championships. No nation was dominant at the last Olympics with 10 different countries winning gold across the 16 events. There was even a bronze medal for Togo - the African nation's first Olympic medal of any colour. Tim Brabants returns to defend his K-1 1000m title but after numerous injury problems over the years he only earned his place in the 2012 team after beating Paul Wycherley in a race-off and it would be a surprise if he won gold again. Another returning medallist is David Florence, who won silver in the C-1 Slalom in Beijing. GB SQUAD SLALOM MEN C-1: David Florence C-2: Tim Baillie & Etienne Stott, David Florence & Richard Hounslow K-1: Richard Hounslow WOMEN K-1: Lizzie Neave SPRINT MEN C-1 200m: Richard Jefferies C-1 1000m: Richard Jefferies K-1 200m: Ed McKeever K-1 1000m: Tim Brabants K-2 200m: Liam Heath & Jon Schofield WOMEN K-1 200m: Jess Walker K-1 500m: Rachel Cawthorn K-2 500m: Abigail Edmonds & TBC K-4 500m: Rachel Cawthorn, Angela Hannah, Louisa Sawers, Jess Walker
|
|
Elmer
Member
Posts: 7,318
|
Post by Elmer on Jul 16, 2012 12:12:24 GMT 1
These are three of my favourite 'filler-in' sports of the Olympics. Of course, like most of us, captured rowing when Redgrave and Pinsent were winning their golds and also the floods of tears from Gary Herbert in the coxed pairs.
Canoeing is just an interesting sport to watch and I love triathlon. I'll watch both mens and ladies from start to finish.
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 16, 2012 15:05:34 GMT 1
TAEKWONDOLocation: ExCeL Exhibition Centre Events: 8 GB MEDAL RECORD 2000: 0-0-0 2004: 0-0-0 2008: 0-0-1 Controversy has surrounded the selection of GB's taekwondo squad after GB Taekwondo's decision to pick Lutalo Muhammad over Aaron Cook. Cook is the world number one in the 80kg weight division and also double European champion he was rejected in favour of Muhammad. Many, including Cook, cried foul and accused GB Taekwondo of excluding Cook for political reasons after his decision to leave their training programme. The British Olympic Association even vetoed Muhammad's selection and ordered GB Taekwondo to review their decision before agreeing to confirm his place in the team. One fact that tends to be overlooked in this row is that Muhammad himself is also a European champion, albeit in the 87kg weight category. With teams limited to two male and two female competitors at the Olympics, Muhammad opted to drop down a weight to try and gain Olympic selection. It's also worth pointing out that Cook was ranked number one in the world last year when he lost in the first round of the World Championships. Despite Muhammad's own credentials, the decision to leave out Cook attracted criticism from many, including Olympic legends Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent. However, one person who has defended the selection is Sarah Stevenson, world champion at 67kg. She says the rankings are inconsequential and doesn't even know what her ranking is. Stevenson is GB's best hope of taekwondo medal having taken bronze in controversial circumstances in Beijing. She was initially eliminated in the quarter-finals when a clear kick to the head was missed by the judges. GB appealed and after reviewing the video of the fight, the officials reinstated Stevenson. She lost in the semi-finals to eventual gold medallist Maria Espinoza of Mexico, but won the repechage final to earn GB's first ever Olympic taekwondo medal. Also in the squad are World silver medallist Jade Jones and World bronze medallist Martin Stamper. GB SQUAD MEN 68kg: Martin Stamper 80kg: Lutalo Muhammad WOMEN 57kg: Jade Jones 67kg: Sarah Stevenson
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 17, 2012 14:26:44 GMT 1
VOLLEYBALLLocations: Earl's Court (indoor) Horse Guards Parade (beach) Events: 4 This will be the first time GB has competed in volleyball at the Olympics, having decide up to take up its host nation places in both the indoor and beach events. The sport suffered major funding cuts two years ago, leading members of the men's team to seek professional contracts abroad, while the women's team have based themselves at a fire station in Sheffield in the build-up to the Games. A medal for GB would be a surprise, with the USA and Brazil dominating both versions of the sport the last couple of Olympics. The indoor tournaments feature two groups of six teams, with the top four in each group progressing to the knockout stages. Beach volleyball, with its shorts and bikini-clad competitors, has proved more popular than the indoor version since it made its Olympic debut in Atlanta in 1996. Horse Guards Parade is the imaginative setting for the 2012 tournaments and should be a crowd-pleaser as long as the rain stays away. The beach volleyball tournaments feature 24 pairs, with some countries having more than one team in the competition. The 24 teams are split into six groups, with 16 teams progressing to the knockout stages. INDOOR TOURNAMENT DRAW MEN POOL A Great Britain Italy Poland Argentina Bulgaria Australia POOL B Brazil Russia USA Serbia Germany Tunisia WOMEN POOL A Great Britain Japan Italy Russia Dominican Republic Algeria POOL B USA Brazil China Serbia Turkey South Korea BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMPETING NATIONS MEN Brazil (x2), USA (x2), Germany (x2), Netherlands, Poland, Spain, China, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Latvia (x2), Italy, Switzerland, Venezuela, South Africa, Canada, Japan, Norway, Austria, Russia, Great Britain WOMEN Brazil (x2), China, USA (x2), Netherlands (x2), Italy, Germany (x2), Czech Republic (x2), Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Australia (x2), Greece, Mauritius, Argentina, Russia (x2), Canada, Great Britain GB SQUAD INDOOR MEN Ben Pipes Kieran O'Malley Dami Bakare Nathan French Mark Plotyczer Chris Lamont Mark McGivern Peter Bakare Jason Haldane Andrew Pink Dan Hunter Joel Miller WOMEN Lucy Wicks Ciara Michel Lynne Beattie Rachel Bragg Joanne Morgan Grace Carter Savanah Leaf Rachel Laybourne Maria Bertelli Lizzie Reid Janine Sandell Jennifer Taylor BEACH MEN John Garcia Thompson & Steve Grotowski WOMEN Zara Dampney & Shauna Mullin
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 17, 2012 16:44:34 GMT 1
FOOTBALLLocations: Wembley Stadium Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Hampden Park, Glasgow Old Trafford, Manchester St. James' Park, Newcastle City of Coventry Stadium (Ricoh Arena) Events: 2 GB HISTORY MEN 1900: gold 1908: gold 1912: gold 1920: 1st round 1936: quarter-finals 1948: 4th 1952: preliminary round 1956: quarter-finals 1960: 1st round The Olympic football tournament has always been the poor cousin of the World Cup but that hasn't stopped some of the game's top stars appearing over the years. Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Samuel Eto'o are just some of those who've appeared in recent tournaments and the stream of big names will continue in these Games. In order to preserve the World Cup's status as football premier international tournament, the men's tournament at the Olympics is limited to players who are 23 or under, though each squad is allowed three over-age players. There is no such age limit on the women's tournament, which was first played in 1996. GB will appear for the first time since 1960. Their participation in recent years has been limited by the separate status enjoyed by England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. That means GB has been unable to compete, even when they would've qualified by right through the performances of the England under-21 and women's teams (as was the case four years ago). However, despite reservations from the FAs of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, special permission was granted for GB to appear in the 2012 tournament as hosts. Despite Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland saying they didn't want any of their players to appear, there are five Welsh players in the men's squad and two Scottish players in the women's squad. Men's team coach Stuart Pearce surprised many by not including David Beckham in his 18-man squad but he clearly felt he needed to strengthen other areas with his over-age choices and selected Manchester City's Micah Richards, Liverpool's Craig Bellamy and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs. Giggs is the most decorated player in English football history, having won 12 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two Champions Leagues. At the age of 38, he will captain the side and will finally play in an international tournament having missed out with Wales. The rest of the squad consists mainly of players who have played under Pearce for the England under-21 team. The women's team is coached by England boss Hope Powell and contains the bulk of the England team that reached the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup, where they lost on penalties to France. Brazil and Spain are set to be the main gold medal contenders in the men's tournament with Uruguay, Mexico and Great Britain all capable of challenging for medals. The women's tournament looks wide open with the four semi-finalists from last year's World Cup - Japan, USA, Sweden and France all involved, plus Brazil and GB. DRAW MEN GROUP A Great Britain Senegal United Arab Emirates Uruguay GROUP B Mexico South Korea Gabon Switzerland GROUP C Brazil Egypt Belarus New Zealand GROUP D Spain Japan Honduras Morocco WOMEN GROUP E Great Britain New Zealand Cameroon Brazil GROUP F Japan Canada Sweden South Africa GROUP G USA France Colombia North Korea GB SQUAD MEN Jack Butland (Birmingham) Jason Steele (Middlesbrough) Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea) Steve Caulker (Tottenham) Craig Dawson (West Brom) Micah Richards (Man City) Danny Rose (Tottenham) Neil Taylor (Swansea) James Tomkins (West Ham) Joe Allen (Swansea) Tom Cleverley (Man Utd) Jack Cork (Southampton) Ryan Giggs (Man Utd) Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) Scott Sinclair (Swansea) Craig Bellamy (Liverpool) Marvin Sordell (Bolton) Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) WOMEN Karen Bardsley (Linkoping) Alex Scott (Arsenal) Steph Houghton (Arsenal) Jill Scott (Everton) Sophie Bradley (Lincoln) Casey Stoney (Lincoln) Karen Carney (Birmingham) Fara Williams (Everton) Ellen White (Arsenal) Kelly Smith (Arsenal) Rachel Yankey (Arsenal) Kim Little (Arsenal) Ifeoma Dieke (Vittsjo) Anita Asante (Gothenburg) Eniola Aluko (Birmingham) Claire Rafferty (Chelsea) Rachel Williams (Birmingham) Rachel Brown (Everton)
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 18, 2012 23:09:20 GMT 1
EQUESTRIANLocation: Greenwich Park Events: 6 GB MEDAL RECORD 1912: 0-0-0 1920: 0-0-0 1924: 0-0-0 1928: 0-0-0 1932: 0-0-0 1936: 0-0-1 1948: 0-0-1 1952: 1-0-0 (team jumping - Wilfred White, Douglas Stewart, Harry Llewellyn) 1956: 1-0-2 (team eventing - Francis Weldon, Arthur Rook, Bertie Hill) 1960: 0-0-1 1964: 0-0-1 1968: 1-2-1 (team eventing - Derek Allhusen, Richard Meade, Reuben Jones) 1972: 2-1-0 (individual eventing - Richard Meade, team eventing - Richard Meade, Mary Gordon-Watson, Bridget Parker, Mark Phillips) 1976: 0-0-0 1984: 0-2-1 1988: 0-2-1 1992: 0-0-0 1996: 0-0-0 2000: 0-1-0 2004: 1-1-1 (individual eventing - Leslie Law) 2008: 0-0-2 Equestrian events at the Olympics are divided into three disclipines: eventing, showjumping and dressage. Eventing consists of dressage and showjumping elements, with a cross-country phase in between. Equestrian will also be the only sport in London in which men and women compete against each other in individual competition. GB has recent success in eventing with individual and team medals in the last two Olympics, including gold for Leslie Law in Athens. William Fox-Pitt and Mary King already have Olympic silver and bronze medals and will be hoping to complete their collection. Fox-Pitt goes into the Olympics ranked number one in the world. Tina Cook returns, having been part of the Beijing team and they are joined by former world champion Zara Phillips, who finally gets to compete at an Olympics, like her parents Princess Anne, who took part in the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and Mark Phillips, who won gold in Munich in 1972. Phillips will be making her Olympic debut after missing the last two Games due her previous horse Toytown, being injured. The line-up is completed by Nicola Wilson who came into the team as a replacement for Piggy French who had to withdraw due to her horse being injured. In dressage, three members of the GB team are in the world's top five, and it should be a close contest between them and Germany for team gold. In April, Charlotte Dujardin broke the world record for the best score in the Olympic grand prix special discipline. In showjumping, Nick Skelton will be competing at his sixth Olympics but that's nothing compared to Canada's Ian Millar, who at the age of 65, will become the first person to compete at 10 Olympics. This would've been his 11th Games, had Canada not boycotted the Moscow Olympics of 1980. The showjumping team is completed by Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Peter Charles, who previously competed in two Olympics for Ireland. GB SQUAD Dressage: Laura Bechtolsheimer, Richard Davison*, Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester (* = individual competition only) Eventing: Tina Cook, William Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Zara Phillips, Nicola Wilson Showjumping: Scott Brash, Peter Charles, Ben Maher, Nick Skelton
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 19, 2012 17:07:10 GMT 1
Two pieces of Olympics news this afternoon:
Jason Kenny has been selected to compete in the sprint, ahead of Sir Chris Hoy. Hoy will defend is keirin title and both men will be in the team sprint.
Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Olympics, saying he is not in condition to compete. He was due to take part in the singles and both doubles competitions and had also been selected to carry the Spanish flag at the opening ceremony. Feliciano Lopez will take his place in the singles as the highest ranking Spanish player not in the lineup.
|
|
Elmer
Member
Posts: 7,318
|
Post by Elmer on Jul 19, 2012 17:43:57 GMT 1
I'm a bit miffed that there is only one cyclist allowed per event. The Olympics should be about having the best athletes there competing against each other.
I would like to see swimming back to three and also anyone who's won an Olympic gold have a lifetime entry into that event without qualifying first.
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 19, 2012 18:30:42 GMT 1
GB have certainly been victims of their own success in track cycling, after getting three 1-2 finishes in Beijing.
I think it's the right to decision pick Kenny over Hoy as he's been stronger in the sprint in the last couple of years (although Bauge of France is the world champion) and it means they'll both compete in two events in London.
|
|
Elmer
Member
Posts: 7,318
|
Post by Elmer on Jul 19, 2012 20:26:01 GMT 1
Bauge is one scary man mountain when he gets going. I saw the world champ event and he wiped the floor with everyone !!
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 20, 2012 17:09:45 GMT 1
BADMINTONLocation: Wembley Arena Events: 5 GB MEDAL RECORD 1992: 0-0-0 1996: 0-0-0 2000: 0-0-1 2004: 0-1-0 2008: 0-0-0 Badminton made its full Olympic debut in 1992 and has seen GB win medals in the mixed doubles on two occasions. Simon Archer and Jo Goode took bronze in Sydney in 2000 and Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms went one better four years later when they won silver. Emms retired after Beijing and Robertson teamed up with Jenny Wallwork but the pair's failure to qualify for London has prompted Robertson's retirement. This time, GB will be represented in the mixed doubles by the Anglo-Scottish pairing of Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier. Together they reached the final of last year's World Championships, also in London, losing to the Chinese pair of Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei. Their superior world ranking ensured they got the nod over Robertson and Wallwork and they represent GB's best chance of a badminton medal. In the singles, Rajiv Ouseph and Susan Egelstaff fly the flag but face a tough task in a sport dominated by players from south-east and east Asia, with 16 of the world's top 20 men and 15 of the world's top 20 women coming from those regions. GB SQUAD Men's singles: Rajiv Ouseph Women's singles: Susan Egelstaff Mixed doubles: Chris Adcock & Imogen Bankier
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 20, 2012 18:10:57 GMT 1
GYMNASTICSLocations: North Greenwich Arena (artistic and trampoline) Wembley Arena (rhythmic) Events: 18 GB MEDAL RECORD 1896: 0-0-0 1900: 0-0-0 1908: 0-1-0 1912: 0-0-1 1920: 0-0-0 1924: 0-0-0 1928: 0-0-1 1932: 0-0-0 1936: 0-0-0 1948: 0-0-0 1952: 0-0-0 1956: 0-0-0 1960: 0-0-0 1964: 0-0-0 1968: 0-0-0 1972: 0-0-0 1976: 0-0-0 1980: 0-0-0 1984: 0-0-0 1988: 0-0-0 1992: 0-0-0 1996: 0-0-0 2000: 0-0-0 2004: 0-0-0 2008: 0-0-1 Britain's 80-year wait for a gymnastics medal came to an end in 2008, when Louis Smith won bronze on the pommel horse. He was the first British male gymnast to win an Olympic medal for 100 years. Smith returns in London, having since won silver and bronze medals at the World Championships and having also been part of the British team that won gold at this year's European Championships in Montpelier. The other star name in the GB squad is Beth Tweddle, three-time world champion (twice on uneven bars, once on the floor). Tweddle has delayed retirement in order to compete in London and at the age of 27, this will be her last-ever competition. The squad also features Daniel Purvis, former World Championship bronze medallist on the floor and 15-year-old Rebecca Tunney, the youngest British competitor at this Olympics but there is no place for former World all-around silver medallist Daniel Keatings. He missed the European Championships with injury and the GB selectors have opted to keep that winning team intact. Globally, the balance of power has shifted from the eastern European nations that dominated in the Communist era. Russia remain strong but China and the USA won eight gold medals between them at last year's World Championships. GB will be represented in rhythmic gymnastics after the team won an appeal against their initial non-selection. The team was set a benchmark score by British Gymnastics at the Olympic test event in January but fell short in qualifying, meaning they wouldn't go to the Games. However, they met the target in the following day's final and claimed they were unaware that only the qualifying competition would determine their fate. An independent arbitration hearing found in their favour and they will compete in London. There will also be British representation on the trampoline in the form of Kat Driscoll, who finished 9th at last year's World Championships. GB MEDAL CONTENDERS Louis Smith Beth Tweddle Daniel Purvis Men's team GB SQUAD ARTISTIC MEN Sam Oldham Daniel Purvis Louis Smith Kristian Thomas Max Whitlock WOMEN Imogen Cairns Jennifer Pinches Rebecca Tunney Beth Tweddle Hannah Whelan RHYTHMIC Individual: Francesca Jones Team: Georgina Cassar, Jade Faulkner, Francesca Fox, Lynne Hutchinson, Louisa Pouli, Rachel Smith TRAMPOLINE WOMEN Kat Driscoll
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 23, 2012 23:31:39 GMT 1
GB Summer Olympics torch bearers:
Athens 1906*: William Grenfell (Fencing) London 1908: Kynaston Studd (Cricket) Stockholm 1912: Charles Smith (Water Polo) Antwerp 1920: Philip Noel-Baker (Athletics) Paris 1924: Arthur Hunt (Water Polo) Amsterdam 1928: Malcolm Nokes (Athletics) Los Angeles 1932: David Cecil (Athletics) Berlin 1936: Jack Beresford (Rowing) London 1948: John Emrys Lloyd (Fencing) Helsinki 1952: Harold Whitlock (Athletics) Melbourne 1956: George MacKenzie (Wrestling) Rome 1960: Richard McTaggart (Boxing) Tokyo 1964: Anita Lonsbrough (Swimming) Mexico City 1968: Lynn Davies (Athletics) Munich 1972: David Broome (Equestrian) Montreal 1976: Rodney Pattisson (Sailing) Moscow 1980**: Dick Palmer (official) Los Angeles 1984: Lucinda Green (Equestrian) Seoul 1988: Ian Taylor (Hockey) Barcelona 1992: Steve Redgrave (Rowing) Atlanta 1996: Steve Redgrave (Rowing) Sydney 2000: Matthew Pinsent (Rowing) Athens 2004: Kate Howey (Judo) Beijing 2008: Mark Foster (Swimming) London 2012: Sir Chris Hoy (Cycling)
* - no longer regarded as an official Olympics ** - Great Britain's competitors did not appear at the Opening Ceremony and BOA secretary Dick Palmer marched on his own with the Olympic flag, rather than the Union flag.
|
|
|
Post by o on Jul 24, 2012 7:50:53 GMT 1
I know beach volleyball gets slaughtered for the bikinis and babes, but if you actually watch what they do, it is very skilful, as a volleyball player myself, playing two a side some weeks, I know how hard it is! I shall be watching to see if I can learn anything for when my sessions restart in September.
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 24, 2012 16:46:06 GMT 1
CYCLINGLocations: Olympic Velodrome (track) Box Hill, Surrey (road) Hadleigh Farm (mountain bike) London Velopark (BMX) Events: 18 GB MEDAL RECORD: 1896: 0-1-1 1900: 0-0-0 1908: 5-3-1 1912: 0-2-0 1920: 1-3-1 1924: 0-1-1 1928: 0-3-1 1932: 0-1-1 1936: 0-0-1 1948: 0-3-2 1952: 0-0-1 1956: 0-1-2 1960: 0-0-0 1964: 0-0-0 1968: 0-0-0 1972: 0-0-1 1976: 0-0-1 1980: 0-0-0 1984: 0-0-0 1988: 0-0-0 1992: 1-0-0 1996: 0-0-2 2000: 1-1-2 2004: 2-1-1 2008: 8-4-2 Total: 18-24-21 Great Britain has dominated the world of cycling in recent years with a series of successes, starting with numerous track cycling championships, and leading to Bradley Wiggins becoming the first British winner of the Tour de France. Under the stewardship of Dave Brailsford, British cycling reached unprecedented heights and Sky's sponsorship has enabled them to continue the progress. Part of that deal involved the formation of Team Sky, a professional road cycling team that had the aim of giving Britain a Tour de France winner within five years. It only took them three. GB won eight cycling gold medals in Beijing - seven on the track plus Nicole Cooke's victory in the road race, which was Britain's first gold medal of the Games. Such was Britain's dominance, which saw three 1-2 finishes, the sport's governing body, the ICU decided to restrict track events to one participant per nation. In addition, in order to have an equal number of events for men and women, some events have been dropped, including both the men's and women's individual pursuit. Most of GB's Beijing champions return at this Games. Sir Chris Hoy won three golds in Beijing, addiing to the one he won in Athens. He's only entered in two events this time - the keirin and team sprint - with Jason Kenny preferred for the individual sprint. If Hoy wins two more golds, he will surpass Sir Steve Redgrave as Britain's most successful Olympian of all time. Victoria Pendleton defends her sprint title and unlike in Beijing, where that was her only event, she also has the keirin and team sprint this time. Pendleton has had a difficult time since Beijing, losing her world sprint title in 2011 and having deal with the unstability in the GB camp due to her relationship with sports scientist Scott Gardener, to whom she is now engaged. Gardener initally left the cycling team but his return seemed to spark in upturn in form for Pendleton and this year she won the world sprint title for the sixth time. Bradley Wiggins has become the biggest star in British cycling, thanks to his Tour de France victory. "Wiggo" has three Olympic golds to his name on the track and will look to add another on the road in the time trial. He is also part of the GB team for the road race, the first gold medal event of these Olympics, but the aim there will be to help set up the sprint finish for Mark Cavendish. The plan worked perfectly at last year's World Championship and having been the only member of the track cycling team not to win a medal in Beijing, Cavendish made the Olympics his top priority this year. Another man even more focused on the Olympics is Welshman Geraint Thomas. Despite performing well in the last couple of years, Thomas opted to miss the Tour de France completely in order to stay fresh for the team pursuit in London. Both the men's and women's pursuit teams set new world records at this year's World Championship and look to be GB's best chances of gold. Nicole Cooke won the women's road race in appalling weather conditions in four years ago but Lizzie Armitstead may have a better chance of glory this time. There was tension in the team after last year's World Championship road race in Copenhagen where Cooke contested the sprint finish at the end of the race, finishing fourth, despite the team's tactics being to help Armitstead. Former world champion Shanaze Reade goes for BMX gold again after crashing out in Beijing, while the omnium - the cycling equivalent of the decathlon/heptathlon - makes its Olympic debut in London. Australia has made big strides into catching GB on the track in recent years, topping the medals table at every track World Championships since Beijing. However, unlike the Australians, GB's focus has been primarily on Olympics events and if only those events are considered, GB is still the dominant nation in cycling. GB MEDAL CONTENDERS Sir Chris Hoy Jason Kenny Victoria Pendleton Ed Clancy Laura Trott Team pursuits Mark Cavendish Lizzie Armitstead Bradley Wiggins Emma Pooley Shanaze Reade OTHERS TO WATCH Anna Meares Gregory Bauge Marianne Vos Fabian Cancellara Tony Martin GB SQUAD TRACK MEN Sprint: Jason Kenny Keirin: Chris Hoy Omnium: Ed Clancy Team sprint: Philip Hindes, Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny Team pursuit: Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Peter Kennaugh, Andrew Tennant, Geraint Thomas WOMEN Sprint: Victoria Pendleton Keirin: Victoria Pendleton Omnium: Laura Trott Team sprint: Victoria Pendleton, Jess Varnish Team pursuit: Wendy Houvenhagel, Dani King, Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott ROAD MEN Road race: Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome, David Millar, Ian Stannard, Bradley Wiggins Time trial: Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins WOMEN Road race: Lizzie Armitstead, Nicole Cooke, Lucy Martin, Emma Pooley Time trial: Lizzie Armitsead, Emma Pooley BMX Men's: Liam Phillips Women's: Shanaze Reade MOUNTAIN BIKE Men's: Liam Killeen Women's: Annie Last
|
|
Elmer
Member
Posts: 7,318
|
Post by Elmer on Jul 24, 2012 22:36:29 GMT 1
Can't believe they binned the individual pursuit from this Olympics. Strange decision !! It was the event Bradley Wiggins won in 2008.
Also 1000m sprint was binned after Sir Chris Hoy won it in Sydney (I think). After the sprint these were my two favourite events !!
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 24, 2012 23:24:31 GMT 1
It was Jason Queally that won the kilo in Sydney (on the very first day of the Games if I remember correctly).
It's a shame the number of events is so limited, as there are some good ones that don't feature now, like the pursuit, the kilo, the points race and the madison. However, with the exception of the Madison, they're all included in the Omnium, as is the individual pursuit.
From Beijing, we've lost the men's and women's individual pursuit, the men's and women's points race and the men's madison. We've gained the women's keirin, women's team pursuit, women's team sprint and men's and women's omnium.
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Jul 24, 2012 23:30:33 GMT 1
Heather Watson has been given a place in the women's singles after Alona Bondarenko withdrew. That means GB has three players in the women's tournament, with Baltacha and Keothavong also taking part.
Watson is also partnering Laura Robson in the doubles.
Robson is next on the standby list if there are any further withdrawals from the singles.
|
|