Olive Loughnane wins silver

[seanmacc]

It is possibly the worst sport in the world. Covering 20km can be done 33% faster by running. What is the point? Why don't we have running backwards - you wouldn't need the subjective assessment of judges for it. Heartiest congratulations to her btw.

The technique involved is extremely physically and mentally draining if you take your logic what's the point of any sport?
I'd watch it ahead of cricket.

[Question R24U]

The technique involved is extremely physically and mentally draining if you take your logic what's the point of any sport?
I'd watch it ahead of cricket.

Cricket served a function - a sport to be played in hot countries while you oppress the people. Now it is an excuse to drink during the day. Or for muslim countries - the chance to beat England. It's all good.

[Rebus2008]

Same can be said for Gaelic football - The hand passes are always dodgy, the number of steps a player takes before he has to volley the ball is dodgy, not enough points to encourage people to score a goal and is it a contact sport or not? Crazy.

Well done Olive. I suspect this will Ireland's only medal at the championship, I expect a lot of excuses by the end of the week.

Nonsense. Most sports have 100's of rules with 1 or 2 occasionally broken. (Handballs in soccer not always clled, in boxing hitting after the bell, in rugby stepping into touch, in tennis, the ball being out but called in)
None of them limit the physical ability of sportspeople like walking. "Ok, we know you can run faster...but we're going to have a walking competition".

Walking has 1 rule, I believe - WALK and judging by close ups from last olympics, it is repeatedly broken by most competitors.
Its akin to having " stand on one leg competition" but allowing people to rest on lifted leg every so often.

Fair play to her on achieving excellence in it but that and all the patriotism in the world won't hide the fact that its a nonsense sport. Probably, retained for its retained for historical reasons in olympics not sporting.

Katie Taylor for gold in 2012.

[True Republican]

Congrats to Olive, hopefully at the European championships next year she'll go one better and get Gold also will she be in London 2012.

[seanmacc]

Congrats to Olive, hopefully at the European championships next year she'll go one better and get Gold also will she be in London 2012.

I believe she was considering retiring before these championships. So she said on the news. Not getting any younger but I hope she hangs in there.

[breakingnews]

Nonsense. Most sports have 100's of rules with 1 or 2 occasionally broken. (Handballs in soccer not always clled, in boxing hitting after the bell, in rugby stepping into touch, in tennis, the ball being out but called in)
None of them limit the physical ability of sportspeople like walking. "Ok, we know you can run faster...but we're going to have a walking competition".

Walking has 1 rule, I believe - WALK and judging by close ups from last olympics, it is repeatedly broken by most competitors.
Its akin to having " stand on one leg competition" but allowing people to rest on lifted leg every so often.

Fair play to her on achieving excellence in it but that and all the patriotism in the world won't hide the fact that its a nonsense sport. Probably, retained for its retained for historical reasons in olympics not sporting.

Katie Taylor for gold in 2012.

I actually agree with you. I just want to also point out that our national sport (Gaelic football) is built upon dodgy rules.

[Ah Well]

I believe she was considering retiring before these championships. So she said on the news. Not getting any younger but I hope she hangs in there.

Congrads to Olive and I'm delighted she finally has got a long deserved medal - her dedication and commitment for years has been outstanding - a nicer person you couldn't meet tbh

Been training goodo for this Meet for ages but I'd think she'll give the Euros a shot now as well ... and possibly 2012 after that, depending on the Euro result

[Rebus2008]

I actually agree with you. I just want to also point out that our national sport (Gaelic football) is built upon dodgy rules.

have more tahn

Few sports are built on dodgy rules but many have rules that cannot be enforeced 100% of the time. Often rules are breached as will happen during high intensity sports, it tends not to have much of an impact...guy overcarries in gaelic, knocks on in rugby hidden from ref etc etc. However, what you have is breach of rules on 1 or 2 occasions but thousands of other actions during event comply with the rules. Thus, giving overall validity.

The 2 main problems with walking are:
-it only has one rule and that is consistently broken. Please walk. Any close ups at major events show that majority are consistently in breach
- The second and bigger problem is that is sport based on limiting human ability...don't run, walk. Why? Running is faster.
It is akin to asking Harrington and Woods to hit the ball with one hand only. It will give you the best at one handed hitter but the result, like walking, would be a novelty not a true reflection of sportspeople operating at their peak.


Anyway congrats to her on medal, no doubt she worked very hard to get it.
However, it is hard to justify it as a real sport.

[breakingnews]

have more tahn

Few sports are built on dodgy rules but many have rules that cannot be enforeced 100% of the time. Often rules are breached as will happen during high intensity sports, it tends not to have much of an impact...guy overcarries in gaelic, knocks on in rugby hidden from ref etc etc. However, what you have is breach of rules on 1 or 2 occasions but thousands of other actions during event comply with the rules. Thus, giving overall validity.

The 2 main problems with walking are:
-it only has one rule and that is consistently broken. Please walk. Any close ups at major events show that majority are consistently in breach
- The second and bigger problem is that is sport based on limiting human ability...don't run, walk. Why? Running is faster.
It is akin to asking Harrington and Woods to hit the ball with one hand only. It will give you the best at one handed hitter but the result, like walking, would be a novelty not a true reflection of sportspeople operating at their peak.


Anyway congrats to her on medal, no doubt she worked very hard to get it.
However, it is hard to justify it as a true sport. 3 legged race anyone?

I think the rules in Gaelic are broken constantly during a game unlike the rare occasion a referee misses a hand ball or a knock on, or the even rarer occasion when a ball is incorrectly called out in tennis.

The travelling with the ball, the hand passes - the rules on them are never enforced..I see many footballers running countless steps before volleying the ball and throwing rather punching the ball. Plus the contact element - is it a contact sport or not? There's no rules on that at all. Laughable.

A silly sport - designed to showcase Irishness.

[Question R24U]

have more tahn

Few sports are built on dodgy rules but many have rules that cannot be enforeced 100% of the time. Often rules are breached as will happen during high intensity sports, it tends not to have much of an impact...guy overcarries in gaelic, knocks on in rugby hidden from ref etc etc. However, what you have is breach of rules on 1 or 2 occasions but thousands of other actions during event comply with the rules. Thus, giving overall validity.

The 2 main problems with walking are:
-it only has one rule and that is consistently broken. Please walk. Any close ups at major events show that majority are consistently in breach
- The second and bigger problem is that is sport based on limiting human ability...don't run, walk. Why? Running is faster.
It is akin to asking Harrington and Woods to hit the ball with one hand only. It will give you the best at one handed hitter but the result, like walking, would be a novelty not a true reflection of sportspeople operating at their peak.


Anyway congrats to her on medal, no doubt she worked very hard to get it.
However, it is hard to justify it as a real sport.

Same can be said for many olympic sports. All - bar boxing - which require a judge to subjectively assess the result are bogus. Running fast is superb. Swimming different strokes is a nonsense. Jumping over a bar is great - flaffing around on a gym mat is not. Weight lifting is great - the hoops is not. Football, tennis or golf as olympic sports is pointless - they have their own bigger and better competitions.

But to hear Cowen break his holiday to publically declare his delight at her achievement, just reminds me that we are a sad backwater clutching at straws in the wind in hope that our spirits are raised as a result. They are not.
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