Olympics

[Karin1984]

Controversial thread? I've been away too long.

XY...nope!

It is something reasonably new. At the top of the community board you can sign up to be part of the hidden controversial topics board.

They mainly discuss politics there, but also other topics that can spark debate.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It is something reasonably new. At the top of the community board you can sign up to be part of the hidden controversial topics board.

They mainly discuss politics there, but also other topics that can spark debate.

Thank you. I've been absent from the boards for a while and not privy to the change.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It is something reasonably new. At the top of the community board you can sign up to be part of the hidden controversial topics board.

They mainly discuss politics there, but also other topics that can spark debate.

Hey! Nice to see a familiar face!

 

[TLSnell1981]

It is something reasonably new. At the top of the community board you can sign up to be part of the hidden controversial topics board.

They mainly discuss politics there, but also other topics that can spark debate.

I'm currently freaking out over Disney's new disability requirements. It seems to be more reasonable in Europe. At least in my personable experience.

 

[Karin1984]

I'm currently freaking out over Disney's new disability requirements. It seems to be more reasonable in Europe. At least in my personable experience.

Go over to the disability board, loads of people are sharing their experience of both the call and the process and in the park.

In Europe the system isn't perfect either but the process of a doctor's note vs. the call, yeah, one definitely causes more stress than the other.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Can't believe this isn't being discussed, but I found the medal ceremony for the Womens Gymnastics Floor to be completely distasteful. OK, so the three women who won are besties, but Jordan won on a technicality. Simone's routine was far from perfect. Then to bring race into it? At least the two US women might want to check their privilege. Simone has a net worth north of $16 Million and is married to an NFL star. Jordan is a Sophomore at UCLA. Both have been competing in gymnastics since they were old enough to walk. Have you had your kids in gymnastics? It ain't cheap, especially as you get into competitions (that's where we drew the line).

MEANWHILE, in Romania;
Remember the two women who were kept off of the podium? It doesn't seem line Simone and Jordan did - but they are from Romania. The country is not quite dirt poor, but the average income is around $24k, well less than 1/2 what it is in the US. All the fancy-smancy gyms and training facilities the US women grew up in - Romania has none of that. Higher education for Olympic Gymnasts in Romania? You must be kidding. All the celebrities in the stands - ALL from the US, not Romania. Those women did this on their own - literally.

Just saying, have some perspective, have some compassion for God's sake. Don't act like the world owes you anything because of the color of your skin because it does not. Is that so much to ask? The whole thing left me feeling really icky. Ugly Americans indeed.

 

[nancipants]

Just saying, have some perspective, have some compassion for God's sake. Don't act like the world owes you anything because of the color of your skin because it does not. Is that so much to ask? The whole thing left me feeling really icky. Ugly Americans indeed.

I'm confused - how was all this brought up during the medal ceremony itself?

 

[cabanafrau]

Can't believe this isn't being discussed, but I found the medal ceremony for the Womens Gymnastics Floor to be completely distasteful. OK, so the three women who won are besties, but Jordan won on a technicality. Simone's routine was far from perfect. Then to bring race into it? At least the two US women might want to check their privilege. Simone has a net worth north of $16 Million and is married to an NFL star. Jordan is a Sophomore at UCLA. Both have been competing in gymnastics since they were old enough to walk. Have you had your kids in gymnastics? It ain't cheap, especially as you get into competitions (that's where we drew the line).

MEANWHILE, in Romania;
Remember the two women who were kept off of the podium? It doesn't seem line Simone and Jordan did - but they are from Romania. The country is not quite dirt poor, but the average income is around $24k, well less than 1/2 what it is in the US. All the fancy-smancy gyms and training facilities the US women grew up in - Romania has none of that. Higher education for Olympic Gymnasts in Romania? You must be kidding. All the celebrities in the stands - ALL from the US, not Romania. Those women did this on their own - literally.

Just saying, have some perspective, have some compassion for God's sake. Don't act like the world owes you anything because of the color of your skin because it does not. Is that so much to ask? The whole thing left me feeling really icky. Ugly Americans indeed.

I missed this, what did they say or do?

 

[Lumpy1106]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/ce9zz211zxno

How about a mention to the Romanian girls? If the Romanian coach had contested the 0.1 deduction for stepping out (she did not), she would be 3rd. Instead she was 5th. The girl who came in 4th was bumped down because of a technicality that Jordan's coach did contest. It was that close. They did not run away with it, they are not that perfect. A little humility would have gone a long way.

 

[BrianL]

Can't believe this isn't being discussed, but I found the medal ceremony for the Womens Gymnastics Floor to be completely distasteful. OK, so the three women who won are besties, but Jordan won on a technicality. Simone's routine was far from perfect. Then to bring race into it? At least the two US women might want to check their privilege. Simone has a net worth north of $16 Million and is married to an NFL star. Jordan is a Sophomore at UCLA. Both have been competing in gymnastics since they were old enough to walk. Have you had your kids in gymnastics? It ain't cheap, especially as you get into competitions (that's where we drew the line).

MEANWHILE, in Romania;
Remember the two women who were kept off of the podium? It doesn't seem line Simone and Jordan did - but they are from Romania. The country is not quite dirt poor, but the average income is around $24k, well less than 1/2 what it is in the US. All the fancy-smancy gyms and training facilities the US women grew up in - Romania has none of that. Higher education for Olympic Gymnasts in Romania? You must be kidding. All the celebrities in the stands - ALL from the US, not Romania. Those women did this on their own - literally.

Just saying, have some perspective, have some compassion for God's sake. Don't act like the world owes you anything because of the color of your skin because it does not. Is that so much to ask? The whole thing left me feeling really icky. Ugly Americans indeed.

I thought it was a really nice example of sportsmanship. Simone got beat by an opponent that she respects. It happens, and she showed humility and had a little fun with her friends too. The winner is from Brazil, where the average income isn't nearly as high as the US either, so, you know - but that has little to do with it.

 

[Disneefun]

As my uncle used to say... Do what, now?

They have every right to be proud of an all black podium. It just shows how far the sport has come from the days when black kids didn't even think about going into gymnastics. And I don't think they really "dragged race into it." Just saying that they're happy to see an all black podium isn't really dragging race into it. And as for the bowing, that's just good fun among friends. Rebecca has been trying for a decade to beat Simone at something, anything, and she finally did and the others acknowledged that, on this day, she deserved the win. So what?

And Chiles didn't win on a "technicality"... she got bumped up because the judges had not properly applied her D score. The coach knew it (because the coaches know exactly what the D score should be), and asked for a correction. The correction brought her score up enough for bronze. It's not a technicality (which implies that she doesn't deserve the medal), it's a proper correction of a mistake.

 

[nancipants]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/ce9zz211zxno

How about a mention to the Romanian girls? If the Romanian coach had contested the 0.1 deduction for stepping out (she did not), she would be 3rd. Instead she was 5th. The girl who came in 4th was bumped down because of a technicality that Jordan's coach did contest. It was that close. They did not run away with it, they are not that perfect. A little humility would have gone a long way.

You are looking for something to be angry about. I felt bad for the Romanian gymnast, but the commentators explained that appeals happen often. Also, they cannot change the execution score, only the difficulty score. The US coach's argument was Chiles did not get full credit for a combination move, and upon review the judges agreed and restored the extra .1 in difficulty. It's not Chiles fault the Romanian coach did not appeal.

As for the medal ceremony, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Rebeca Andrade did nothing on the podium to indicate they thought they were better than anyone else. In fact, Jordan and Simone took the opportunity to give respect to Rebeca for being a fierce competitor all week, and Rebeca in turn held their hands in thanks.

As for Biles, she is the most decorated gymnast of all time. The GOAT, if you will. That is not in dispute. She does not need to have humility any more than Michael Phelps does.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I remember them talking about Andrade having to walk 2 hours each way to go to practice (her brother walked her) when her mom couldn't pay for the bus, they had been talking about this since women's gymnastics started in Paris. Various athletes have had struggles over the years and I would agree to appreciating how various athletes have had to work with.

However, has there been a statement that Biles and Chiles made it about race or is this because of a media headline? Also from what I understand there is a friendly rivalry with Andrade that I haven't heard exists with Romania (if it has I just haven't read about it). That would seem more the reason into their gesture on the podium.

 

[cabanafrau]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/ce9zz211zxno

How about a mention to the Romanian girls? If the Romanian coach had contested the 0.1 deduction for stepping out (she did not), she would be 3rd. Instead she was 5th. The girl who came in 4th was bumped down because of a technicality that Jordan's coach did contest. It was that close. They did not run away with it, they are not that perfect. A little humility would have gone a long way.

How would they have executed "a mention to the Romanian girls" exactly? Is it one Romanian gymnast impacted in this competition, or are there more?

From what I can see they chose to acknowledge the achievements of a competitor on the podium with a gesture because they felt she'd earned it. That had nothing to do with the Romanian gymnast who the judges ultimately placed fourth.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Can't believe this isn't being discussed, but I found the medal ceremony for the Womens Gymnastics Floor to be completely distasteful. OK, so the three women who won are besties, but Jordan won on a technicality. Simone's routine was far from perfect. Then to bring race into it? At least the two US women might want to check their privilege. Simone has a net worth north of $16 Million and is married to an NFL star. Jordan is a Sophomore at UCLA. Both have been competing in gymnastics since they were old enough to walk. Have you had your kids in gymnastics? It ain't cheap, especially as you get into competitions (that's where we drew the line).

MEANWHILE, in Romania;
Remember the two women who were kept off of the podium? It doesn't seem line Simone and Jordan did - but they are from Romania. The country is not quite dirt poor, but the average income is around $24k, well less than 1/2 what it is in the US. All the fancy-smancy gyms and training facilities the US women grew up in - Romania has none of that. Higher education for Olympic Gymnasts in Romania? You must be kidding. All the celebrities in the stands - ALL from the US, not Romania. Those women did this on their own - literally.

Just saying, have some perspective, have some compassion for God's sake. Don't act like the world owes you anything because of the color of your skin because it does not. Is that so much to ask? The whole thing left me feeling really icky. Ugly Americans indeed.

Did you miss the 30ish years that Romania dominated the sport even with their low incomes and lack of fancy gyms? Or the abuse culture their coaches brought over here? My, what short memories we have.

 

[Lumpy1106]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ot...1&cvid=a0c03bb0cb8e48d7b7240bd4601dc257&ei=10

Sorry - but what Simone and Jordan did was showboating. Notice how I leave Rebeca out of this - she did not orchestrate it. I've been coaching a long time and I always emphasize sportsmanship. That was not sportsmanship as far as the girls from Romania are concerned. This is going to reverberate.

Don't get me started on the track team...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Is the issue showboating, humility, race, privilege, wealth/lack of wealth, lack of call out to other athletes/countries? Seems to be jumping around a lot and diminishes whatever point was attempted to be making

 

[nancipants]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ot...1&cvid=a0c03bb0cb8e48d7b7240bd4601dc257&ei=10

Sorry - but what Simone and Jordan did was showboating. Notice how I leave Rebeca out of this - she did not orchestrate it. I've been coaching a long time and I always emphasize sportsmanship. That was not sportsmanship as far as the girls from Romania are concerned. This is going to reverberate.

Don't get me started on the track team...

Bowing down to the gold medalist is showboating? Okay.

It makes me sad that anyone would find a problem with such an inspirational photo, especially considering the harsh history of women's gymnastics.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Did you miss the 30ish years that Romania dominated the sport even with their low incomes and lack of fancy gyms? Or the abuse culture their coaches brought over here? My, what short memories we have.

The girls from Romania who competed last week were toddlers the last time Romania was in the Olympics. Surely you are not holding them accountable.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Is the issue showboating, humility, race, privilege, wealth/lack of wealth, lack of call out to other athletes/countries? Seems to be jumping around a lot and diminishes whatever point was attempted to be making

I find it remarkable how much better the mental health is of the US gymnasts this time around. Good, no, GREAT for them. Now how about the gymnasts from the rest of the world? Oh, we don't care about that?

That's my point.