I agree too
I agree too
I don't really care wrote:
Occasionally you'll have an incredible paralympic athlete like Oscar Pistorius but then if they're really that good they compete in the Olympics for everybody, and that's when it's more enjoyable to watch.
So you think Markus Rehm should be competing in the Olympics? He might be "only" jumping 8.62 now. But carbon blade technology is progressing much faster than superspikes. It is a matter of time before someone jumps 10m with a carbon blade. Then able body athletes would have no chance of winning medals.
No, don't care. wrote:
I'm happy the Paralympics exist for people who have had tragic accidents or were born with some kind of defect; it's good that they have that opportunity. But let's be real, it's pretty much charity. and the fact that some of the top paralympians complain that their sport doesn't get enough attention or they don't get enough money is insane. I think it's those type of comments that really turn me off the paralympics. Also how wheelchair racing has somehow cemented itself as part of the world marathon majors and steals an obnoxious amount of the TV coverage.
I agree with this.
Yes totally agree and you put the case very coherently. One additional point that may explain why many in the general population seem to show comparable enthusiasm for the Para as the able bodied Olympics. Basically very few people know anything at all about any of the Olympic sports but what they do care about is seeing their compatriots winning medals, and seeing the national flag wave over the podium. They don't really care if it's a sailor winning something, a judoka, a swim relay team or whatever, and I don't think they care whether this plays out in able bodied or disabled scenario. The whole nuanced thing about depth of comp, size of talent pool etc really doesn't feature in the general populace's mindset - it's for the niche world of us geeks
The paralympics are completely worthy, and I really do not mind there being lots of coverage. These athletes deserve attention, as they have challenges that non-para's are lucky enough not to have. Good for them.
The actual results, though, are meaningless. They are completely dependent on each athletes exact condition (that is impossible to fully correct for) and equipment. So you cannot in any way compare para to non-para, or marks from different years, because so much of an improvement is better technology. Much more so than non-para. For this reason, it's great to have them (and advertisers get something out of it) but I would never watch them.
If he jumped off his natural leg, I'd give it to him. If he jumps off the carbon then NOPE!
Chaz, Brad, and the Boys wrote:
up all nights wrote:
Just asking!!!!!
they started today BTW
Watching T20 1500m final for Mikey Brannigan to get the gold again
Ditto! I think it's next Thursday evening 9:15pm
Also, I completely agree. Paralympics is too much. Putting it on the sort of forced equal footing (The "US Olympic and Paralympic Committee" is , I'm sorry, odd.). Ensuring that all people have opportunity to compete? Of course. Everyone wants that.
If you want a rewarding and more accessible experience, consider volunteering at a Special Olympics event though. I was sort of shocked at how meaningful the experience was for them... and me. I had been to a 5K charity race for SO and my teenager and I were top 5 (it was not a super fast race) but a SO athlete ( I didn't realize in the moment), finished between us. The amount of cheering and celebrating for him was very moving . Helped since at some SO specific events and its amazing.
I think there are some phenomenal athletes in it yes I care about it.
Like many here I am glad these guys have a platform to get out there and compete but I find it hard to care enough to want to watch it.
I wonder if it might be better to stage the Paralympics before the Olympic Games rather than after.
This could be a question for the whole of the US. Shaping up once again to be the notable under-performer in the medals table when compared to the Olympic medal table.
Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:
I don't really care wrote:
Occasionally you'll have an incredible paralympic athlete like Oscar Pistorius but then if they're really that good they compete in the Olympics for everybody, and that's when it's more enjoyable to watch.
So you think Markus Rehm should be competing in the Olympics? He might be "only" jumping 8.62 now. But carbon blade technology is progressing much faster than superspikes. It is a matter of time before someone jumps 10m with a carbon blade. Then able body athletes would have no chance of winning medals.
A good chunk of this board want the men's category to be the open category. So obviously that is where he should compete....
fkkfkfkfkf wrote:
Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:
So you think Markus Rehm should be competing in the Olympics? He might be "only" jumping 8.62 now. But carbon blade technology is progressing much faster than superspikes. It is a matter of time before someone jumps 10m with a carbon blade. Then able body athletes would have no chance of winning medals.
A good chunk of this board want the men's category to be the open category. So obviously that is where he should compete....
I competed in 3 Paralympic Games in track and whilst I find it interesting to watch my category, I'm generally disinterested in it, as opposed to the olympics where I was interested in multiple sports. There are some great athletes but probably only a few who would make the olympics if they didn't have a disability. Big fish small pond. Oscar Pistorius and all double below knee runners wouldn't run as fast on natural legs over 400m. 100m the are disadvantaged as they take a while to wind up. Single leg amps would rain faster with natural legs ie. the blade is good but can't compete with a natural balanced gate.
Blade technology hasn't really developed much in 20 years. Markus Rehm jumping 8.62 off the blade is amazing, but if he wants to be compared to able bods he needs to jump off his natural foot.
I care about certain of the individual athletes, following them and how dedicated they are. I'm Irish, so Michael McKillop for example is a machine and great to watch.
The results, in and of themselves, are not so meaningful, as others have said. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, if you look at it a certain way I guess) I can't relate at all to what is a good time, for example, for someone with an above-the-knee amputation on their non-dominant left leg to run the 400m in. And how that changes if it is below-the-knee, or on the right leg, or maybe they're left-side dominant. Or were, pre-amputation... and maybe the lane makes a difference, or the fact they're running counter-clockwise.... as a physio, the nuances fascinate me but trying to measure that performance is harder to relate to.
What I do know, is that I have had opportunity to watch them train, plan, adjust to their various challenges, and at the same time, for the most part get really, really in peak shape. That is cool, and motivation personally for someone who does not have the same physical challenges. Michael McKillop would destroy me in 800m.
A friend is physio for a national badminton team, which is cool too.
So the human story is worth more than the figures, in my opinion.
Well dude we aren't all born the same in this world. Actually you were probably with the potential to be something but for whatever reason you're not. You have never trained like am elite athlete or had the passion to be one. Check out the bio of Aussie Jaryd Clifford. He finished last as an able bodied athlete in nat xc in Australia as a 13 year old who is legally blind. He competes tomorrow in the 5k and with guides may run sub 14 min. He has run 3:41 for 1500m this year and his world is a blur....sport is about overcoming adversities in life...rising above. Sorry you don't care but for some disabled young athlete watching it may change their life. That is what sport is about
kmaclam wrote:
Chaz, Brad, and the Boys wrote:
Watching T20 1500m final for Mikey Brannigan to get the gold again
Ditto! I think it's next Thursday evening 9:15pm
Thurs 9:13pm!
1. I don’t care to watch it. Not interested.
2. I like that it exists for a number of reasons. First is that it gives a bit of inspiration and pushes boundaries of what the average Joe who is disabled thinks he can do in life. Maybe if I’m disabled it’s not the death sentence I thought it was. Let’s go do stuff and look at my disability in a different light. That’s pretty cool.
3. I don’t love the sanctimonious vibe around how it’s sold. I don’t think I like this idea of putting it on the same level, side by side, with the regular Olympics. But what does it matter I guess.
To sum up, good for them, but I’m not watching.
And me not watching doesn’t matter because the whole thing is subsidized by the regular Olympics which is a financial scam, so at least some of those dollars are going to something good.
The Winter Olympics are better than the summer Olympics. Skiing is awesome and only a leftist a$$hole would use your brain dead logic about not having a competition because certain societies don’t participate. With that logic no sport would exist outside of running or maybe soccer.
Lowest common denominator loser. That’s you.
If you think you made some great point. You didn't.
The NFL is distinctly American entertainment. The Olympics are about gathering the best athletes to compete vs each other.
Some events are straight finals. Some athletes go in more than one sport. That wheelchair chick is racing every event from 400m to marathon. Elite athletes my arse.
"oh you have condition x, here's a ticket to Tokyo, here's your bag of kit and here's your medal'.