agip wrote:
I just watched the finish a few more times - the more I watch it the less I think the Russian mis-acted.
The first 'swing' was really just a weak brushback - fine for track and field. then it looks like the russian lost her balance as she swerved away from the montano train wreck and didn't actually land an elbow on ajee.
so the first was an appropriate elbow and the second appeared to be a loss of balance, not a punch, and I don't think it landed anyway.
from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=EatNPB6sVeM#t=141start watching at 2:20
Order of events.
1. with ~90m to go: Poistogova starts to move out to lane three coming off the bend, cutting Wilson off. Then darts back towards the inside of lane two thinking she pass on the inside...but she is not closing fast enough to take advantage of the opening.
2. with about 50m to go, the front three start coming back to her, but at the same time Martinez comes up on her on the inside, taken advantage of the hole Postogova had her eye on
3.Poistogova then moves out towards lane 3 and bumps Wilson. Wilson gives he a little bit of room. While she was giving her room, Poistogova throws an elbow and misses, throwing herself of balance and then stumbles into AJ again, giving her one of those 'brushback' elbows you mention.
4. after this brushback elbow, AJ moves out to give Poistogova even more room. Meanwhile, she winds up to another elbow (clearly bringing her right fist up above her left shoulder during the wind-up) but misses b/c AJ already moved out for her. This is where AJ gets passed.
I don't know the specific DQ rules, but this definitely seems flagrant and deserves and appeal.
Re Montano: with about 90m to go, she is on the outside of lane 1. With about 40m to go, she looks over her rght shoulder and then starts to drift, ending up on the outside of lane 2 when she falls.