racewalking - what a joke (not actually walking)

I too had never actually seen it.

I agree. What a joke. They're pretty much running, why not just run? That has to be the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

The rules show that they can only be disqualified by a judge who sees them illegal. The human eye is not as accurate as a camera. The judges are not allowed to use any electronics to determine if someone is legal or not. The athletes push things to the limit, just like any other sport that has rules.

But why do they use human judges? Couldn't they just put chips in their shoes that can tell if both of their feet are in contact with the ground?

It looks really uncomfortable. The way their legs bend gives me the creeps. But I'll give them credit for being able to walk really fast. I couldn't walk at sub 20 5k pace. The first thing I'd want to do if I finished a 20k walk is sprint as fast as I could.

impartial observer wrote:

I couldn't walk at sub 20 5k pace.

Actually I could walk at that pace but not for 5k and longer.

Too bad wrote:

Couldn't they just put chips in their shoes that can tell if both of their feet are in contact with the ground?

Um....if someone could figure out how that would work, and get the IAAF Racewalking Committee to agree to its use (which won't happen anytime in the near future), I would love to see it used.

yes, its extrememly obvious they are leaving the ground when they are showing a slo-mo close up of the feet, but its also even noticeable when they are showing the racers in real-time. You can't seriously tell me you believe that the judges can't see this... they are just allowing the rules to be pushed to a farcical limit.

Racewalking is like seeing who can whisper the loudest.

walker wrote:

Racewalking is like seeing who can whisper the loudest.

Wow, how original! That's like the trillionth time that's been said.

I know reacewalkers can be very defensive about their sport and I am far less quick to be criticial of other people than the average letsrun denizen, but in all seriousness, racewalking is farcical. I remember being at a meet where the "dean" of Northeast racewalkers was competing. He was off the ground and in the air MOST of the time. I mentioned this to a couple of people and they said "ssh, don't say anything, he gets mad if you say that." Well ...dang.

Of course, now someone is going to type something about how I don't know the "rules," but the mere fact that there have to be "rules" kinda shows how silly it is.

walking??? wrote:

You can't seriously tell me you believe that the judges can't see this... they are just allowing the rules to be pushed to a farcical limit.

I can seriously tell you I believe the judges can't see it all (I am a racewalk judge myself). The are humans, they can't see every single little thing that happens, especially when they have to judge a group of 50 walkers within 5 seconds of each other. I don't doubt they see the loss of contact in the group of 50 walkers, but when they are looking at 100 feet and legs, it's difficult to determine which legs belong to which walker.

Yanqui wrote:

Of course, now someone is going to type something about how I don't know the "rules," but the mere fact that there have to be "rules" kinda shows how silly it is.

Every track and field event has rules (and judges to make sure the athletes play within the rules), every sport has rules, everything in life has rules.

They are NOT ATHLETES I HATE that walking is associated with Track I coach them in the NAIA and I hate it... wish I could get rid of them forever... fat lazy whiny, think they are gods just horrible! Really really really NOT ATHLETES!!!

race walking is so stupid.

Hey let's race!

but you have to walk!?!

Who comes up with this stupid crap?

It's like, let's see who can throw a shot put the farthest. But you're only allowed to use 50% of your strength and we'll have judges to determine if you are or aren't using 50% of your strength.

Not athletes no matter what wrote:

They are NOT ATHLETES I HATE that walking is associated with Track I coach them in the NAIA and I hate it... wish I could get rid of them forever... fat lazy whiny, think they are gods just horrible! Really really really NOT ATHLETES!!!

WOW!!! You have bigger problems than just hating racewalkers.

Or how about a game where you use a ball but can't touch it with your hands?

Racewalking is like seeing who can whisper the loudest.

RACE WALKING IS LIKE SEEING WHO CAN WHISPER THE LOUDEST.

Too bad wrote:

But why do they use human judges? Couldn't they just put chips in their shoes that can tell if both of their feet are in contact with the ground?

they should/can. They were on a pad laid out on the ground outside the stadium. sensors installed at various points.

However, once at a company where I used to work, they tried to institute metrics to measure how effective the salesforce was - resulting in massive resistance. It never went through. The reasons are obvious. I think one would find the same thing in race walking.

Swimming has stroke judges - same situation. A number of their duties have been automated.

And as to the statement that RWers are not athletes? At this level, BS. Just because the US only has 2 decent racewalkers and everybody else sucks does not mean it is not a real sport.