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no medals.
Doesn't seem right.
Why aren't we more competitive?
Discuss.
No podium for US men or women BMXers... bummer
by S.Brothers
10 August 2012 - 09:24 PM
Post #1
MultiQuote
10 August 2012 - 09:51 PM
Post #2
10 August 2012 - 09:53 PM
Post #3
Or Maris.
In a home grown sport... I'd like to see consistent podium attainment, if not straight Gold, kind of like the US does in Beach Volleyball.
In a home grown sport... I'd like to see consistent podium attainment, if not straight Gold, kind of like the US does in Beach Volleyball.
10 August 2012 - 10:20 PM
Post #4
10 August 2012 - 10:31 PM
Post #5
10 August 2012 - 10:51 PM
Post #6
10 August 2012 - 10:57 PM
Post #7
80% of the entrants live in USA. so we got a medal.
silver is pounding Alise Post. it's just a technicality
silver is pounding Alise Post. it's just a technicality
10 August 2012 - 11:39 PM
Post #9
11 August 2012 - 12:10 AM
Post #11
I'm just happy it's an olympic sport. Great to watch, that's for sure. and I love seeing it be truly a world sport.
11 August 2012 - 12:29 AM
Post #12
11 August 2012 - 02:11 PM
Post #13
bennyt4130, on 10 August 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:
Did you watch the race, Steve?
yes.
Did you? What did you think?
11 August 2012 - 02:30 PM
Post #14
11 August 2012 - 05:24 PM
Post #15
11 August 2012 - 06:18 PM
Post #16
Ok Steve, I'll attempt to put some heart and soul into a response.
Of course I am heart broken that OUR Olympians came up empty. I was at the trials in Chule Vista to watch the qualifiers and got to see them be presented as Olympians on stage at the Hall of Fame ceremony. So I feel that I somehow know these kids.
So much to say, where to start?
-As stated above, it's awsome to see BMX on a world stage at the Olympics. Very exciting! Also, it's great to see the level of equal competition from all over the world. Now then, add that to the hype and pressure of representing your country and the pressure to perform and it all seems overwhelming to me.
-The format; Day one, time trials. Day two, qualifiers. Day three, three semi runs (two more if you didn't make the first cut) then the main event...all in an hour and a half each day.
-I don't think any other olympic sport runs semis and a main in that short a time period. I'm not complaining, I'm actually amazed at the physical abilities of these athletes. Each one has to deal with the same format so the stamina has to be there as well as the technical talent.
-From a selfish standpoint I have to agree with Steve. BMX was first organized here in the US and exported around the world. These early Olympic medals belong to us! (to US)
Obviously not so. At the first two Olympic BMX events, we have been handed our hats.
-Now for the hard part, the explanation...I have a quote, then some history of how it's relevant, then why I think it's relative to this subject.
-I remember an interview with John McEnroe after winning Wimbledon years ago. When asked what made the difference that day his comment has stayed with me all this time. He said, "the ball looked huge today". Meaning, he couldn't miss hitting it.
-I had a peak year in 1978. I had some excelent results at some big races against the best of that era. But I didn't win every race. (neither did Stu, neither did Greg Hill) What I had were days where everything clicked. I remember when I won the trophy dash at a big race at Corona. One thing that stands out was a couple of comments from other Pros during practice of how fast I looked. My confidence went thru the roof.
Around that time I had overheard an interview with Stu. He made a comment along the lines of, "at my level of experience and talent, on any given race day it comes down to 90% mental and 10% phisical. That really changed my approach on race days.
-Now fast forward 35 years and these racers get 3 days of racing to showcase their talent and attempt to get a medal. Everything has to click at the right time and you have to hold that high level of intensity all the way through. If one negative thought creeps in you have lost your edge.
-In other individual sports you have to concentrate on one thing. Swimmers have a stroke, runners have a stride. (of course there are others and variable within) But there is a ton going on in those 37 to 40 seconds of a BMX olympic race. Run this race again in a month and I would wager you would see different people on the podium.
The Olympics can be an exciting time but they can also be cruel. Our racers gave it their all and came up short. Now the US BMX nation gets to critique them. OUCH!
Sorry for the long winded post. I am normally not one to do these. But I was dissapointed with the 'one liners' being tossed around here. These racers deserve more.
Of course I am heart broken that OUR Olympians came up empty. I was at the trials in Chule Vista to watch the qualifiers and got to see them be presented as Olympians on stage at the Hall of Fame ceremony. So I feel that I somehow know these kids.
So much to say, where to start?
-As stated above, it's awsome to see BMX on a world stage at the Olympics. Very exciting! Also, it's great to see the level of equal competition from all over the world. Now then, add that to the hype and pressure of representing your country and the pressure to perform and it all seems overwhelming to me.
-The format; Day one, time trials. Day two, qualifiers. Day three, three semi runs (two more if you didn't make the first cut) then the main event...all in an hour and a half each day.
-I don't think any other olympic sport runs semis and a main in that short a time period. I'm not complaining, I'm actually amazed at the physical abilities of these athletes. Each one has to deal with the same format so the stamina has to be there as well as the technical talent.
-From a selfish standpoint I have to agree with Steve. BMX was first organized here in the US and exported around the world. These early Olympic medals belong to us! (to US)
Obviously not so. At the first two Olympic BMX events, we have been handed our hats. -Now for the hard part, the explanation...I have a quote, then some history of how it's relevant, then why I think it's relative to this subject.
-I remember an interview with John McEnroe after winning Wimbledon years ago. When asked what made the difference that day his comment has stayed with me all this time. He said, "the ball looked huge today". Meaning, he couldn't miss hitting it.
-I had a peak year in 1978. I had some excelent results at some big races against the best of that era. But I didn't win every race. (neither did Stu, neither did Greg Hill) What I had were days where everything clicked. I remember when I won the trophy dash at a big race at Corona. One thing that stands out was a couple of comments from other Pros during practice of how fast I looked. My confidence went thru the roof.
Around that time I had overheard an interview with Stu. He made a comment along the lines of, "at my level of experience and talent, on any given race day it comes down to 90% mental and 10% phisical. That really changed my approach on race days.
-Now fast forward 35 years and these racers get 3 days of racing to showcase their talent and attempt to get a medal. Everything has to click at the right time and you have to hold that high level of intensity all the way through. If one negative thought creeps in you have lost your edge.
-In other individual sports you have to concentrate on one thing. Swimmers have a stroke, runners have a stride. (of course there are others and variable within) But there is a ton going on in those 37 to 40 seconds of a BMX olympic race. Run this race again in a month and I would wager you would see different people on the podium.
The Olympics can be an exciting time but they can also be cruel. Our racers gave it their all and came up short. Now the US BMX nation gets to critique them. OUCH!
Sorry for the long winded post. I am normally not one to do these. But I was dissapointed with the 'one liners' being tossed around here. These racers deserve more.
11 August 2012 - 06:56 PM
Post #17
S.Brothers, on 11 August 2012 - 09:11 AM, said:
bennyt4130, on 10 August 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:
Did you watch the race, Steve?
yes.
Did you? What did you think?
To be honest, I found the format a little confusing because I had not watched an entire UCI sanctioned event. I still don't get how they choose lanes. Connor was a top qualifier. How he got lane one in the Main baffles me. He missed the snap and got squeezed. Race over in 1 second for him. It was disappointing but that's racing. Stromberg was not very fast till it counted. That guy has ice water in his veins. The bigger picture is that as a country, we no longer have the best riders in the world. While that has been known for some time, this Olympics was supposed to be Fields race. He was faster than any of those guys. It was just some bad luck that kept the US off the podium in Men's.
The Women were another story. The injury to Arielle Martin all but doused any real hopes we had for a medal. Nothing against Alise and Brook. They raced their guts out. Props to them both. The chick from Columbia was unbeatable. She rode like the dudes. No one there was gonna beat her. I thought it was silly how much they hyped that British chick. She is choke master extraordinaire. I don't know if Ariell will be back. I hope so because I'm pretty sure she is the fastest girl in the US. Probably would have contended but we will never know.
Overall, it was a great race and it was run as fairly as possible. Perhaps the high point for BMX racing of all time. It's a real global sport now and that is good for all parties involved. Some of my friends who never rode said it was the most exciting event in the Olympics. I tend to agree. Somewhere out there the OM was cracking a brew and thinking about how his baby is all grown up.
11 August 2012 - 07:07 PM
Post #18
11 August 2012 - 07:08 PM
Post #19
Almost everyone of the riders lives in the USA and races our series. So, they are racing the best series on a regular basis.
I was a tough one for sure. Connor had a great shot at Gold. Pretty much the only lap Maris won all weekend. Unfortunately it was the one that counted. He's a great guy and It's always a tough one for me as I know most of the riders so well. I always want USA to win, but I also High 5'd Maris for his win. The Team Columbia Trainer is a good friend of mine. Was I bummed USA didn't do shit?? Absolutely, but I was also pumped for my buddy as Columbia won Woman's GOLD and Men's Bronze.
Bottom line, the USA has some work to do to get it done. We won half the medals in 2008 and none in 2012. I heard confirmation the BMX will be in the Olympics through 2024 for sure. Then it will be reviewed at the point as all Olympic sports are.
I almost think it was a good thing that we didn't win as everyone always assumes we will. We haven't won it yet, but I feel confident that we will with the riders I've seen coming through the pipe..
Stoked to be there and see it 1st hand. It was an incredible experience and a memory I will never forget in my lifetime.
I was a tough one for sure. Connor had a great shot at Gold. Pretty much the only lap Maris won all weekend. Unfortunately it was the one that counted. He's a great guy and It's always a tough one for me as I know most of the riders so well. I always want USA to win, but I also High 5'd Maris for his win. The Team Columbia Trainer is a good friend of mine. Was I bummed USA didn't do shit?? Absolutely, but I was also pumped for my buddy as Columbia won Woman's GOLD and Men's Bronze.
Bottom line, the USA has some work to do to get it done. We won half the medals in 2008 and none in 2012. I heard confirmation the BMX will be in the Olympics through 2024 for sure. Then it will be reviewed at the point as all Olympic sports are.
I almost think it was a good thing that we didn't win as everyone always assumes we will. We haven't won it yet, but I feel confident that we will with the riders I've seen coming through the pipe..
Stoked to be there and see it 1st hand. It was an incredible experience and a memory I will never forget in my lifetime.
11 August 2012 - 07:22 PM
Post #20
wagonguy, on 11 August 2012 - 02:07 PM, said:
Connor had lane choice based on running the fastest lap in Semis. Lane 1 is normally the best lane, it puts you in the best position for turn 1.
I guess for me it is personal preference. Lane one was never my fave for the exact reasons illustrated in the Men's main. I would have taken 3 if it was my choice. Always liked 3 with a left hander first turn.
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