Fringe Olympic Sports (1 Viewer)

[arrow1]

I just discovered that 3 on 3 basketball is in the Olympics....also breaking?

 

[culdeus]

All I've basically watched are shooting sports + Archery and surfing. Mainstream stuff is dull.

Those are over soon though.

 

[Gally]

All I've basically watched are shooting sports + Archery and surfing. Mainstream stuff is dull.

Those are over soon though.

I have been watching ping pong, badminton, team handball and a bit of rugby.

ETA: Although, I don't like that for the ping pong and badminton channels on peacock they give you the quad screen. I wish I could do away with that but haven't really found a way around it (haven't looked very hard to find alternatives). This is mostly while watching on replay.

ETA2: Field hockey is another sport I have watched a few games of. Surprising how nice the uniforms of the participants look.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Last night was my first time watching 3x3 hoops for the Olympics. Having played 3-on-3 pickup for decades, I have been accustomed to a certain pace of play. I was not aware that 3x3 was so frenetic. I actually kind of like the faster pace. None of the stupid "check ball"s going back and forth after a made bucket. So, even if you get beat and your man scores, stick with play, take the ball out of the net, and clear it as fast as possible.

Also, I really dislike how the commentators say "three ex three".

 

[CletiusMaximus]

My favorite used to be the 50km walk, but that event was eliminated after Tokyo 2020. By then it was men only as the woman's 50km had been killed off years earlier. The longest distance for race-walking at the Olympics is now 20km, which is a mere stroll in the park by comparison. 50km is over 31 miles and takes about 3.5 hours for the top athletes to complete. It was such a grueling event that often a third or more of the field would not finish the race at the Olympics. The athletes generally look like they're about to die at the finish - often crapping themselves, puking everywhere and usually collapsing at the line. Competitors often collapse short of the finish, but rally and keep walking. Its a bizarre scene when they start wandering across the roadway like drunks, crash, then regain their composure and keep walking. Many need immediate medical attention after finishing. There are also judges running along with them, constantly checking for violations such as having both feet off the ground at any time or not contacting the ground in the required heel-first fashion. Alas, the 50km is now a thing of the past and the 20km is not nearly as interesting. Sadly, for the first time in many years, the US has no walkers competing in Paris this year.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

My favorite used to be the 50km walk, but that event was eliminated after Tokyo 2020. By then it was men only as the woman's 50km had been killed off years earlier. The longest distance for race-walking at the Olympics is now 20km, which is a mere stroll in the park by comparison. 50km is over 31 miles and takes about 3.5 hours for the top athletes to complete. It was such a grueling event that often a third or more of the field would not finish the race at the Olympics. The athletes generally look like they're about to die at the finish - often crapping themselves, puking everywhere and usually collapsing at the line. Competitors often collapse short of the finish, but rally and keep walking. Its a bizarre scene when they start wandering across the roadway like drunks, crash, then regain their composure and keep walking. Many need immediate medical attention after finishing. There are also judges running along with them, constantly checking for violations such as having both feet off the ground at any time or not contacting the ground in the required heel-first fashion. Alas, the 50km is now a thing of the past and the 20km is not nearly as interesting. Sadly, for the first time in many years, the US has no walkers competing in Paris this year.

The health concerns may be why they killed it. Those people looked like zombies at the end of those races.

 

[Yo Mama]

My favorite used to be the 50km walk, but that event was eliminated after Tokyo 2020. By then it was men only as the woman's 50km had been killed off years earlier. The longest distance for race-walking at the Olympics is now 20km, which is a mere stroll in the park by comparison. 50km is over 31 miles and takes about 3.5 hours for the top athletes to complete. It was such a grueling event that often a third or more of the field would not finish the race at the Olympics. The athletes generally look like they're about to die at the finish - often crapping themselves, puking everywhere and usually collapsing at the line. Competitors often collapse short of the finish, but rally and keep walking. Its a bizarre scene when they start wandering across the roadway like drunks, crash, then regain their composure and keep walking. Many need immediate medical attention after finishing. There are also judges running along with them, constantly checking for violations such as having both feet off the ground at any time or not contacting the ground in the required heel-first fashion. Alas, the 50km is now a thing of the past and the 20km is not nearly as interesting. Sadly, for the first time in many years, the US has no walkers competing in Paris this year.

The health concerns may be why they killed it. Those people looked like zombies at the end of those races.

To replicate that this Olympics, they are making the triathletes swim through poop water.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

My favorite used to be the 50km walk, but that event was eliminated after Tokyo 2020. By then it was men only as the woman's 50km had been killed off years earlier. The longest distance for race-walking at the Olympics is now 20km, which is a mere stroll in the park by comparison. 50km is over 31 miles and takes about 3.5 hours for the top athletes to complete. It was such a grueling event that often a third or more of the field would not finish the race at the Olympics. The athletes generally look like they're about to die at the finish - often crapping themselves, puking everywhere and usually collapsing at the line. Competitors often collapse short of the finish, but rally and keep walking. Its a bizarre scene when they start wandering across the roadway like drunks, crash, then regain their composure and keep walking. Many need immediate medical attention after finishing. There are also judges running along with them, constantly checking for violations such as having both feet off the ground at any time or not contacting the ground in the required heel-first fashion. Alas, the 50km is now a thing of the past and the 20km is not nearly as interesting. Sadly, for the first time in many years, the US has no walkers competing in Paris this year.

The health concerns may be why they killed it. Those people looked like zombies at the end of those races.

Likely yes. They did away with the women's 50k years ago, then eliminated the men's due to gender equality issues as they don't like to have a men's event with no women's equivalent. They might still be doing it in non-olympic competitions for all I know.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

The athletes generally look like they're about to die at the finish - often crapping themselves, puking everywhere and usually collapsing at the line.

 

[WVU Alum]

Saw some trap shooting earlier. Prime time Olympic coverage just had a blurb on the women’s winner. Gold medal in women’s to Guatemala. Great story there, as it was the first gold ever for Guatemala.Also found out before Paris, they only had one medal in history. Now they have 3.

She apparently had a spinal injury as a teen gymnast and switched to shooting. She was 26th of 26 in Tokyo. That’s the good stuff.

 

[Runkle]

We should bring back tug-of-war, firefighting, kite-flying, pigeon racing, painting, architecture, and cannon shooting.

In fact, we should have architecture up first, and then shoot the cannonballs at the buildings after.

 

[beer 30]

My favorite used to be the 50km walk, but that event was eliminated after Tokyo 2020. By then it was men only as the woman's 50km had been killed off years earlier. The longest distance for race-walking at the Olympics is now 20km, which is a mere stroll in the park by comparison. 50km is over 31 miles and takes about 3.5 hours for the top athletes to complete. It was such a grueling event that often a third or more of the field would not finish the race at the Olympics. The athletes generally look like they're about to die at the finish - often crapping themselves, puking everywhere and usually collapsing at the line. Competitors often collapse short of the finish, but rally and keep walking. Its a bizarre scene when they start wandering across the roadway like drunks, crash, then regain their composure and keep walking. Many need immediate medical attention after finishing. There are also judges running along with them, constantly checking for violations such as having both feet off the ground at any time or not contacting the ground in the required heel-first fashion. Alas, the 50km is now a thing of the past and the 20km is not nearly as interesting. Sadly, for the first time in many years, the US has no walkers competing in Paris this year.

Having run a few 50k's in the past, those times are incredible. 4 hours for a trail 50k is probably going to win most any race you enter, the world record is somewhere around 2:38 hours. Speed walking is 3:32, I can't get my head around that.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Last night was my first time watching 3x3 hoops for the Olympics. Having played 3-on-3 pickup for decades, I have been accustomed to a certain pace of play. I was not aware that 3x3 was so frenetic. I actually kind of like the faster pace. None of the stupid "check ball"s going back and forth after a made bucket. So, even if you get beat and your man scores, stick with play, take the ball out of the net, and clear it as fast as possible.

Also, I really dislike how the commentators say "three ex three".

With the scoring being 2's and 1's, I don't understand how anyone fields a team without at least 2 shooters, or preferably all 3 players that can shoot the 3. I always thought it was silly that 2's and 1's were the standard in pickup ball because it way overpowers the value of 3 pointers, but doubly so here where you should be able to find some unreal shooters for the team.

 

[massraider]

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

 

[Joe Schmo]

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

From the comments "You know a retired hitman when you see one."

 

[zoobird]

I feel like some of these are unnecessary. Cool with unusual sports like badminton, team handball, etc. My problem is more with variants of sports (like 3 on 3 basketball) and some things that don't really seem like sports to me (think I saw that there are multiple forms of sailing included) ahead of some mainstream stuff (don't think baseball is an Olympic sport this time around)

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

From the comments "You know a retired hitman when you see one."

Only part of that which I'd question is "retired"

 

[Jaysus]

I feel like some of these are unnecessary. Cool with unusual sports like badminton, team handball, etc. My problem is more with variants of sports (like 3 on 3 basketball) and some things that don't really seem like sports to me (think I saw that there are multiple forms of sailing included) ahead of some mainstream stuff (don't think baseball is an Olympic sport this time around)

Honestly tho, what difference does it make? Why is it a "problem" for you if someone else has an opportunity to compete at the highest level in an event that they are passionate about?

 

[AAABatteries]

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

That is awesome - I’m assuming same guy that @Sand mentioned in the main thread

 

[Sand]

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

That is awesome - I’m assuming same guy that @Sand mentioned in the main thread

Same guy. I think everyone sees the assassin vibe there.

And definitely worth mentioning twice. Guy is awesome.

 

[zoobird]

I feel like some of these are unnecessary. Cool with unusual sports like badminton, team handball, etc. My problem is more with variants of sports (like 3 on 3 basketball) and some things that don't really seem like sports to me (think I saw that there are multiple forms of sailing included) ahead of some mainstream stuff (don't think baseball is an Olympic sport this time around)

Honestly tho, what difference does it make? Why is it a "problem" for you if someone else has an opportunity to compete at the highest level in an event that they are passionate about?

Mostly fair point, but I guess that the problem is if there are other sports that aren't included as a result. Do we even have baseball in the Olympics currently? Not to mention other less established sports that I'd include first like Pickleball or Ultimate Frisbee.

 

[Judge Smails]

Last night was my first time watching 3x3 hoops for the Olympics. Having played 3-on-3 pickup for decades, I have been accustomed to a certain pace of play. I was not aware that 3x3 was so frenetic. I actually kind of like the faster pace. None of the stupid "check ball"s going back and forth after a made bucket. So, even if you get beat and your man scores, stick with play, take the ball out of the net, and clear it as fast as possible.

Also, I really dislike how the commentators say "three ex three".

Completely unwatchable

 

[Dickies]

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

Guy looked like he rolled out of bed to go compete.

 

[massraider]

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

Guy looked like he rolled out of bed to go compete.

He won silver.

I subscribe to the theory that he would have gotten gold if they let him smoke while competing

 

[brun]

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

Guy looked like he rolled out of bed to go compete.

He won silver.

I subscribe to the theory that he would have gotten gold if they let him smoke while competing

10pm phone call the night before.
Hey you want to shoot in the Olympics tomorrow?
Sure, why not.

 

[Bossman]

Just a matter of time before Cornhole is an Olympic event.

 

[Parrothead]

It was pretty great how everyone was falling in love with the young female S. Korean shooter, but then everyone fell in love with this guy instead

Guy looked like he rolled out of bed to go compete.

He won silver.

I subscribe to the theory that he would have gotten gold if they let him smoke while competing

or if they would have sent him a picture of the target on the back of a matchbook sealed in an envelope labeled "TOP SECRET"

 

[Eephus]

Saw some trap shooting earlier. Prime time Olympic coverage just had a blurb on the women’s winner. Gold medal in women’s to Guatemala. Great story there, as it was the first gold ever for Guatemala.Also found out before Paris, they only had one medal in history. Now they have 3.

She apparently had a spinal injury as a teen gymnast and switched to shooting. She was 26th of 26 in Tokyo. That’s the good stuff.

We enjoyed watching this last night as well. I liked how they played dance pop music for the spectators while the competitors were shooting. I went down a rabbit hole to find out more about the country's only previous medalist, boxer Clarence Hill who won bronze in 1976. His professional record was 19-3-1 and his top opponent was former heavyweight contender Tony Tubbs.

Also watched some sailing in the 49er class which are really more like a wing with sails. They reached incredible speeds heading downwind and there was chaos at the first buoy.