***2021 Olympics thread***

[Gunnerclone]

Thats an angle I didn’t consider. It makes you wonder how things may have played differently if he family and support would have been able to attend.

Or all that sexual abuse, and sending these kids away when they are 5 years old so they can compete with the Chinese.

 

[enisthemenace]

I am torn on it…part of me hears the point CW was making on the show today. She is obviously capable and done so much representing our country already. The team results are literally carried by her.

The other part thinks what kind of a message are we telling our kids now? When the going get tough, quit? There was a male Russian gymnast last night out there competing shortly after a serious Achilles injury which seems to carry more risk. Think of all the athletes that would kill to be in her spot.

My opinion will never matter on this but I think she gets a pass in my book currently. However, if she gets better to compete individually after leaving the team high and dry that may change my opinion.

The Achilles was a physical injury. Very painful, I’m sure, but purely physical. I snapped my leg just above the ankle a few years ago. Not going to explain exactly how bad, but it was BAD. Going into rehab, my doctor told me he wanted me to push it as long as I could take the pain. Basically saying my pain tolerance would give out before the restructured ankle would. Again…physical injury that my medical professional told me was stronger than my brain.

Biles is suffering from a “mental injury”. Just looking at her, I’ve been where she was mentally. She was on the verge of a full blown panic attack. With the skills she was expected to do, if she’s not in top mental condition, she could injure herself physically, perhaps very seriously, and she knows it. Because she knows it, the mental block gets worse. She then starts thinking about disappointment. Herself, her family, her teammates, her fans, etc, and it gets worse.

She wasn’t about to pop, she had already, and it probably happened before today. She didn’t look right during qualifying. Hell, she didn’t look right at trials and she hasn’t sounded confident in any interview.

The brain is a messed up thing and as soon as it goes bad, it only gets worse…at least in the short term. She can get through it, but it won’t be easy.

 

[clonedude]

Did I say that he said that?

I couldn't tell, that's why I'm asking.

 

[bear24]

I couldn't tell, that's why I'm asking.

No, that was not his message. His message was mostly of empathy for her and support of the decision.

 

[bear24]

The Achilles was a physical injury. Very painful, I’m sure, but purely physical. I snapped my leg just above the ankle a few years ago. Not going to explain exactly how bad, but it was BAD. Going into rehab, my doctor told me he wanted me to push it as long as I could take the pain. Basically saying my pain tolerance would give out before the restructured ankle would. Again…physical injury that my medical professional told me was stronger than my brain.

Biles is suffering from a “mental injury”. Just looking at her, I’ve been where she was mentally. She was on the verge of a full blown panic attack. With the skills she was expected to do, if she’s not in top mental condition, she could injure herself physically, perhaps very seriously, and she knows it. Because she knows it, the mental block gets worse. She then starts thinking about disappointment. Herself, her family, her teammates, her fans, etc, and it gets worse.

She wasn’t about to pop, she had already, and it probably happened before today. She didn’t look right during qualifying. Hell, she didn’t look right at trials and she hasn’t sounded confident in any interview.

The brain is a messed up thing and as soon as it goes bad, it only gets worse…at least in the short term. She can get through it, but it won’t be easy.

Watched the trials too, and she definitely didn’t look herself there either.

 

[clonedude]

No, that was not his message. His message was mostly of empathy for her and support of the decision.

Okay, thanks for clearing that up.

I didn't think CW would say something so foolish and idiotic.

 

[cowgirl836]

The Achilles was a physical injury. Very painful, I’m sure, but purely physical. I snapped my leg just above the ankle a few years ago. Not going to explain exactly how bad, but it was BAD. Going into rehab, my doctor told me he wanted me to push it as long as I could take the pain. Basically saying my pain tolerance would give out before the restructured ankle would. Again…physical injury that my medical professional told me was stronger than my brain.

Biles is suffering from a “mental injury”. Just looking at her, I’ve been where she was mentally. She was on the verge of a full blown panic attack. With the skills she was expected to do, if she’s not in top mental condition, she could injure herself physically, perhaps very seriously, and she knows it. Because she knows it, the mental block gets worse. She then starts thinking about disappointment. Herself, her family, her teammates, her fans, etc, and it gets worse.

She wasn’t about to pop, she had already, and it probably happened before today. She didn’t look right during qualifying. Hell, she didn’t look right at trials and she hasn’t sounded confident in any interview.

The brain is a messed up thing and as soon as it goes bad, it only gets worse…at least in the short term. She can get through it, but it won’t be easy.

I think you're right- I watched an NBC interview a day or so ago and I was shocked how she sounded. Talking about age and joking but also that everything hurts now, she's not fearless like she used to be and worried about her skills causing injury- it was nothing like you'd expect for someone hyped and ready to compete.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I think you're right- I watched an NBC interview a day or so ago and I was shocked how she sounded. Talking about age and joking but also that everything hurts now, she's not fearless like she used to be and worried about her skills causing injury- it was nothing like you'd expect for someone hyped and ready to compete.

Well, in terms of women's gymnastics she is basically considered a senior citizen. Historically most of these women aren't competing at this level by the time they hit their 20s.

 

[clonedude]

Okay, thanks for clearing that up.

I didn't think CW would say something so foolish and idiotic.

Not sure why bear24 thought my post above was dumb?

Thinking for even an instant that Biles is a "quitter".... is absolutely foolish and idiotic.

 

[Clonefan32]

Why do we praise athletes for performing under the highest pressure, then praise them equally for walking out due to that pressure?

If this was individual events it'd be different. It doesn't hurt the team. Imagine Giannis walking out on the Bucks in Game 7. He'd be ridiculed for the rest of time.

While our current advancement of mental health is helpful overall and we shouldn't stop that advancement, I think it is giving athletes an "out" when they don't feel like they can perform at their best. Instead of trying and failing, just quit and say mental health and now you're an even bigger hero.

If you're not mentally healthy enough to perform, don't show up and walk out in the last minute. Give your team time to adjust and prepare. Give another girl a shot. Doing this after she screwed up is kinda hard not to think this was her failing which morphed into a mental issue exacerbated by the stress of being the face of the US Olympic team.

I hope Simone can wrestle whatever demons she's facing. She shouldn't be raked over the coals over this but walking out like this is the exact opposite of what elite athletes do.

To me it’s pretty simple. In listening to the commentary it sounds like she has the yips. Just something mentally that’s getting in the way of her performing.

If you have the yips in golf, you miss a putt. If you have the yips on basketball, you air ball a free throw. If you have the yips in gymnastics, you can seriously injure yourself. Plus I think this discounts the idea she could genuinely feel the team was better off without her with the way she was performing.

 

[enisthemenace]

Well, in terms of women's gymnastics she is basically considered a senior citizen. Historically most of these women aren't competing at this level by the time they hit their 20s.

Just for context, nobody has ever competed at her level…ever…regardless of age. She has skills packed into her program that changed the scoring system for women’s gymnastics in the last couple of years. She has a vault that some men can’t do.

Now, consider that, then think about what happens to you if you **** up (both physically and reputationally) and let that needle on you for a few months.

 

[BigJCy]

Dressel going to have his hands full with that Russian tomorrow night.

 

[enisthemenace]

Dressel going to have his hands full with that Russian tomorrow night.

Agreed. The water seems heavy to the Americans this cycle for some reason. I know that sounds absurd, but they haven’t been finishing well. Phelps did say that this is a very young team overall, so maybe expected, but…

 

[BigJCy]

Didn't expect Ledecky to win this one but thought she would get a medal...nope

 

[jsb]

I love Simone Biles and I hope she competes the rest of the the Olympics, but only if she 100% wants to.

She makes it all look so easy, but obviously she is doing things that no one has ever done.

 

[cowgirl836]

Well, in terms of women's gymnastics she is basically considered a senior citizen. Historically most of these women aren't competing at this level by the time they hit their 20s.

Oh I agree, it's incredible that she's still performing at the level she is at her age.

 

[BigJCy]

Good 1-2 finish there for US Women. Couldn't imagine swimming for that long.

 

[JP4CY]

Good 1-2 finish there for US Women. Couldn't imagine swimming for that long.

1500m?! Woof!

 

[dahliaclone]

Good 1-2 finish there for US Women. Couldn't imagine swimming for that long.

It's not fun. I swam competitively for 13 years and despite being a sprinter, our coach always made everyone do a mile race at some point every season. I sucked at it. It's so awful and I just remember singing a bunch of songs in my head to pass the time.

 

[NWICY]

There is no way in the world I could swim 1500 meters, the life guard would be dragging me out of the pool. Just being honest folks.