Comments on: There’s no dancing at the Olympics !

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:04:45 +0000

If I remember correctly Ciaran Power did not race for the 6 weeks before the Athens Olympics and was able to finish 13th so I would not agree totally with that argument. I dont however agree with the view been aired in some quaters that Ciaran should have been selected. The Athens course was tight with a lot of accelerations out of coners which suited him. Bejing had a 13k climb every lap which would have seen Ciaran out the back in my view before Roche. yes Cairan climbed well in some irish races as the same as many have said over the year but he was up againd parttime riders in those races not worldclass riders! I dont understand how Dan Martin was not sent! I for one am sick of seen Irish Athletes happy to just qualify for the olmpics and celebrate been there. Has the country not learned anything from Roy Keane and the 2002 worldcup affair??

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:05:58 +0000

Just a quick note on Pauline Curley, the marathoner.

She was give 2 weeks notice to prepare for an event that takes at the very least, 6 months dedicated preparation.

She had a crack at qualifying earlier in the year -made the B standard, but not the A standard.
The Sports council /AAI were adamant that no B standard as to be accepeted, and all athletes accepted this.

A very late change of heart saw 3 B standard athletes sent to the games, but the other 2 [Chamney 800m, and Carey 400m Hurdles] had been racing right up to the deadline, and could continue to prepare for Beijing.

Pauline was on holidays when she got the call.
She quickly worked out that no preparation would help, and accepted that all she could do was was run an even paced race, and finish in one piece.

The next time I stand beside her at the start of a road race, I’ll be next to an Olympian.

Well done to her from all at Athenry AC.

PS. I can’t speak for other sports, but money, plain and simple, will bring improvements in Athletics. Money for better facilities, top coaches, full time athletes. It’s not rocket science in many ways.

By: Darren

Darren — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:28:36 +0000

Barry, if irish ceili dancing was a sport at the olympics we’d finish last, but perhaps if the performance director was green with pink spots and was from some distant galaxy we would win 5 golds, because the dancers would be scared shit less and obey his every utterance!!!!!!!!

Bury the idiot patriotism, follow the british cycling model who are now the envy of the world with proper funding, professional attitude, no bullshit and world and olympics medals will follow..

Thank god for Padraig Harrington, but then his coach and mentor is scottish and has a brain and who knows ” Green with pink spots “