Granted the sport does sound very odd, but so is curling, badminton, skeleton, and other olympic sports. They train hard, like most runners. Don't hate it because it is "walking." It takes strength, endurance, fortitude, and talent. Sounds like a sport to me, just a very, very weird one. Although, I don't know how when someone passes them like with 600m to go in a 50k how you can resist the urge to start running.
TMoney wrote:
Although, I don't know how when someone passes them like with 600m to go in a 50k how you can resist the urge to start running.
That is the problem with racewalking, and the reason I don't think that it should be in the Olympics or associated with T&F. Most the time it looks like they are running. And the disqualification process seems arbitrary at best. I think the knee is suppose to locked when pushing off and one foot on the ground at all times (you can't off the ground like you are when you run). It is a joke. I am not slamming the athletes, I am sure they work hard, but it does not make much sense as a sport. Just my 2 cents.
T, I second your sentiments. Racewalking IS NOT a walk in the park. In its own peculiar way, racewalking is very demanding. About 25 years ago, when Fun Runs swept the country, the Ann Arbor TC hosted events on the UM track. A mile (really 1600m) racewalk was one event. After I finished my run at the track, I tried some racewalks out.
Well...after getting my technique evaluated and squared away, I chipped away until I managed a 7:59 1600m. It was hard and painful in its own way. My shins were sore for a couple days...due more to lack of specific training than anything. The good walkers average per mile much faster than my meager effort for 50k!
Try it sometime. There are just enough countries w/exceptional walkers to justify it as an Oly event. They'd hate for me to become a judge.
I've never said racewalkers don't work hard, I just think the sport is a joke and reflect negatively on the rest of track and field. You don't see a racewalk at nearly any IAAF meets for a reason. No one cares about it. Thus, it shouldn't be in the olympics. The Olympics are about going farther, fastest, etc. (please don't mention the different strokes in swimming as an anology). To have a sport where competitors deliberately are limiting themselves (and cheat) is a waste of time.
Why don't they have a 100m racewalk while they're at it? Because at shorter distances the sport is even more exposed for being the joke it is.
The Olympics are about going farther, fastest, etc. (please don't mention the different strokes in swimming as an anology). To have a sport where competitors deliberately are limiting themselves (and cheat) is a waste of time.
Why don't they have a 100m racewalk while they're at it? Because at shorter distances the sport is even more exposed for being the joke it is. >>
Nordic skiing has the classical technique races and the freestyle technique. Isn't it tempting for the classical skier to throw some skating steps when momentum is failing?
We think racewalking should be banned from the Olympics because it in not very popular in AMERICA. Well, guess what, America isn't the whole world? There are some very gifted athletes who have taken up racewalking in other countries of the world for some reason.
Look at the T&FN world lists for the walks; there are a lot of nationalities represented. Far more than the top 50 lists for the running events. It is arrogant of us to say that these athletes don't deserve to be recognized just because racewalking is not popular in the US.
The only reason racewalking is in the Olympics is because some person who couldn't run faster than someone else said, "i'll bet i can "walk" faster than you from here to there", thus degrading the sport of track and field as well as theirselves. In my opinion, racewalkers are second class runners, who want in some fashion or another to participate in a sport that they did not excel in. In conclusion, racewalking should (even though it won't be cuz the IOC won't have the guts to) be taken out of Olympic competition.
Don't even use the skiing as an example. 2 different types of skis are used for teh 2 different styles. While classic skis are longer and you wax them, skete skis are shorter and require no waxing(if my memory serves me correctly).
And you're not going to lose your momentum while classic skiing unless you are the most spindly of little pussys.
I've also never seen anyone in the olympics try to beat their competitors in say, a pole-less ski race, a one ski race, or even a strictly double poling race. Things like that would be akin to race walking.
PEace out walk freaks
I have to agree with the people who say it shouldn't be in the Olympics. I also think it is just plan old stupid. Is what they do impressive? Yes, I can't imagine walking that fast. But just because something is impressive and difficult (trying to walk as fast as you can) doesn't mean it should be in the Olympics. Crab-walking is not easy. Although, come to think of it, I would seriously much rather see a crab-walk race than a race-walk race. Of course, given some of the other stuff they have in the Olympics, racewalking might not be number 1 on my list of things to go. Water ballet or whatever it is called and some of the aerobics-type gymnastics (with batons and hoola hoops). The idea that trampoline is in the Olympics is ridiculous too.
So, although I think racewalking is pretty lame, I have other things much higher on my target list. But I do hate the fact that it is associated with track.
My problem with race walking:
I believe high caliber race walkers (females?) cover 5k in about 23 minutes.
Is it impressive to cover 3.1 miles in TWENTY THREE minutes... I think not.
Why don't we just make crawling a sport? How fast can you cover 5k on all fours?
Hey part of the Olympics movement is all those crazy events. Maybe they are ridiculous, but I love every watching the weird stuff as much as the main stuff every olympiad. I believe it definitely belongs in the olympics and I don't think it degrades track and field. I don't think most people even think of it as part of track necessarily, I know I don't. It's just racewalking. I seriously don't understand the hating of it. Michael Jackson is weird I don't think he should be put to death, just maybe on display at a Zoo.
Deal with it. Racewalking is part of the Olympics. Maybe you believe racewalkers are second class runners because you can't do the event yourself. I challenge you to walk as fast as you can while following all the rules and regulations. People don't racewalk because they can't or they are too scared to look a little different from everyone else. I personally don't care whether or not rw is in the olympics, but don't bash on the even unless you try it yourself. As a racewalker and a runner, i understand both point of views, but seriously, don't knock it unless you tryed it.
Tmoney,
The point of the olympics is NOT to amuse... it's supposed to be the greatest of athletic competitions. Some of the "wierd" sports have been around a long time... making them somewhat more credible than race walking.
Let the racewalkers have their fun, just not in the olympics...
Race walking is just not a pure sport. Running I'd say is the purist of all sports... If you want to use your own body, unaided to "race", as in cover ground quickly, you should RUN not walk in an absurdly screwed up fashion.
Don't even use the skiing as an example. 2 different types of skis are used for teh 2 different styles. While classic skis are longer and you wax them, skete skis are shorter and require no waxing(if my memory serves me correctly).
And you're not going to lose your momentum while classic skiing unless you are the most spindly of little pussys.
I've also never seen anyone in the olympics try to beat their competitors in say, a pole-less ski race, a one ski race, or even a strictly double poling race. Things like that would be akin to race walking >>
I used to compete at Nordic Skiing so I do know what I'm talking about. When the skate technique took the ski world by storm in the early 80s, it was decided to keep classical, in-track skiing in the competitive line-up even though the skating technique is faster.
Tell any skiier who has ever lost their wax in the late stages of a race that only spindly little pussies ever lose their momentum. You're not going to get much traction going uphill when that happens.
To wejo and others that would ban racewalking from the Olympics, I respectfully disagree. I've worked out the average pace for the best 50 km (31.1 miles) walkers and it's just about 7:10 per mile. Yes, this IS fast and maybe one in five runners can go as fast. To walk this fast takes enormous skill and training time.
I'm troubled some by seeming inequities in judged events like walking, gymnastics, diving and figure skating but these things aren't reason enough to ban them. It's impossible for officials to put their biases and egos aside so there will always be differences of opinion and some controversy in judged events.
It is true that there are far fewer racewalk practitioners than runners, fewer comps and next to no air time or publicity outside of USATF publications devoted to all 3 of the disciplines, road, track/field and walking. But walking has tradition on its side and enough competitive athletes from other countries to keep it in the Games.
I don't see racewalking as an Oly joke or a 'limiting' sport. 'Limiting' at just over 7 min per mile for 31.1 miles, keeping one foot on the ground at all times is plenty sport enough for me.
wejo wrote:
I've never said racewalkers don't work hard, I just think the sport is a joke and reflect negatively on the rest of track and field. You don't see a racewalk at nearly any IAAF meets for a reason. No one cares about it. Thus, it shouldn't be in the olympics. The Olympics are about going farther, fastest, etc. (please don't mention the different strokes in swimming as an anology). To have a sport where competitors deliberately are limiting themselves (and cheat) is a waste of time.
Why don't they have a 100m racewalk while they're at it? Because at shorter distances the sport is even more exposed for being the joke it is.
How does it reflect negatively on T&F? Because the ignorant don't take the time to learn about it?
No one cares about it? Approximately 10% of USATF members are involved in the Event in some capacity. That is certainly more than the PV or Hammer.
That's (caring) why it shouldn't be in the Olympics. Wow, you win the debate. Great deductive logic there, i guess the altitude training is still affecting you.
You don't see Race Walk at IAAF Meets because it is primarily a Road Event, similar to the Marathon & Half Marathon. How many of those are contested in IAAF Events. All Road Events seem to do quite well outside the oval.
(Limiting themselves) Using that logic; the hurdles, steeple, all jumps, throws and running distances should all be removed. Lets just stare at the pretty track. All events have rules that limit what the athlete may due. By your logic all of T&F is a waste of time. I guess you should quit wasting your time and get a job then.
Why not have a 100m Race Walk? Because the Event is the technical long distance event in the sport, like the Steeple is the technical mid-distance - the 400mH is the technical long sprint - the 100/110mH is the technical short sprint - the PV is the technical vertical jump - the TJ is the technical horizontal jump.
If you don't have anything nice (or intelligent) to say....
i will use my metaphor again....
race walking is like seeing who can whisper the loudest..........
No, you failed 5th grade English, that would be a simile. Also, its not yours, its from that wonder of journalistic arrogance - Bob Costas.
My OPINION.
Racewalking should NOT be an Olympic sport. Sure it's difficult (as are the dozens of other examples mentioned above that are not Olymipc sports). The more Olympic events there are, the more devalued an Olympic medal is. I believe there should be fewer events, and racewalking is a good place to start. It's a fringe sport, with low participation, and very low interest to those who do not participate. They should still have their sport, but it just doesn't deserve to be in the Olympics (especially since Cross Country and ultra trail running (100K or 100 mile) aren't in the Olympics)
I'm curious about one thing. I know that the Track and Field events usually sell out during the Olympics. Are there many people in the stands during the racewalk? I'm not talking about Americans, who we all know couldn't care less about racewalking. I'm talking about the Russians, Polish, Spanish and Mexicans. Racewalking is such a BIG, HUGE sport in those countries, so do they come out and cheer for their walkers?
Race Walking is more popular that Soccer in Mexico. It is their National Sport. More people watch Race Walking events in the countries you mentioned than will watch all but the Penn Relays here. Looking for an excuse to go to Tijuana? The first event of the IAAF RW Grand Prix is there March 8-9. Go see for yourself. Expect that the President of Mexico will be there in the stands.
Racewalking is not held in the stadium, only the start and finish. It is contested on a loop.