Olympic medals

[The Mad Monk]

Even with headgear (there's no reason that should be an impediment), the Olympic rules favor speed and precision over power. the "Pros" that trained as such from the beginning would have trouble adapting.

[The Mad Monk]

Here's my quibble:

If synchronized swimming is an Olympic sport, why isn't cheerleading?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Have the US got a #1,#2 & #3 in any event like the Jamaicans did in the 200m? Cartoon seems to suggest the US would be even better at the Olympics if he ran it.

IIRC, they got 1, 2, and 3 in the 400m in Beijing. Hence why it was somewhat shocking when no Americans qualified for the final of the 400m in London.

[regexcellent]

Here's my quibble:

If synchronized swimming is an Olympic sport, why isn't cheerleading?

Oh my god, the ratings would be through the roof! I would totally watch that.

[Tuberski]

Even with headgear (there's no reason that should be an impediment), the Olympic rules favor speed and precision over power. the "Pros" that trained as such from the beginning would have trouble adapting.

Wouldn't matter if all the boxers were Pros. Manny and Floyd would still win easily. But, most importantly, pro boxing is an individual sport where they make a lot of money, Olympic boxing would be a pay cut. But yes, pro and amateur boxing are two entirely different sports.

ACK!

[onodera]

Communism ****ed that up.

State sponsored athletes were "amateur".

You're right.
I'm not going to quibble over the definition of communism here.

[Uncle Sparky]

Here's my quibble:

If synchronized swimming is an Olympic sport, why isn't cheerleading?

BION, I suspect for the same reason that many women's events have taken so long to reach the Olympics - too few nations have cheerleading squads. The US, and to a much lesser extent Canada, having competative cheerleading. It could be brought in under gymnastics, perhaps someday.

I'll stick with Beach Volleyball.

[DaShi]

China protests US medal massacre as a war crime.

[Barnabas]

I think Rugby is the most popular sport that isn't in the olympics.

If Polo were in the Olympics Argentina would win always. But it is a sport for only wealthy people.

[Uncle Sparky]

Polo was an Olympic sport for the first roughly dozen Olymics. Polo is unique among team sports in that amateur players, often the teams' wealthy patrons, routinely hire and play alongside the sport's top professionals.

[SlowwHand]

I remember the times when the Olympics were for amateur sportsmen. I don't actually, but they were.
Just imagine how much better it would be if anyone participating in a world, continental or national cup or championship would be disqualified from the Olympics.

I totally agree. I would also ban athletes that come from a country that didn't allow the athletes to participate as professionals.
It would change things for USA basketball and Cuban boxing, for two.

[MOBIUS]

Wales' relative medal haul if it had the population of the US:

307 Gold
307 Silver
102 Bronze

Not bad I guess...

WALES! WALES! WALES!

[rah]

All about home team advantage (having more participants than any other country) We'll see how well that translates in Rio in 4 years.

[MOBIUS]

It was held in England, not in Wales (apart from some football games that I saw) - you Americans and your geography...

It's all very well having loads of participants, but it doesn't count for much if they're ****...

[rah]

True, but the automatic qualifying on some events doesn't hurt.