Brownlees triumph in triathlon

[Snuffles]

Gold and silver.
when I think of past years when our teams performances were so disappointing, always seemed to fall at the last hurdle (no pun intended) and what has happened over the past 8 years, Im beginning to understand why other countries are questioning how we are doing it. I dont believe there is anything other than a vast injection of cash in good facilities and training. The accomplishments of the Rio team are astonishing, makes you actually proud to be a Brit, not embarassed as in the past !

 

[Annagain]

We've just been cheering them on in work. Am loving the interview with the Slovakian guy who trains with them. Speaks perfect English with a half Slovakian, half Yorkshire accent!

Agree it's a fantastic Olympics - ever since Beijing it's been lovely to watch an Olympics where the British interest is in more the coxless fours. I remember Atlanta when Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent won Britain's ONLY gold medal.

Lottery funding has made a huge difference to British Athletes - not just funding the athletes but paying for research into getting them to peak at the right time.

I hope the Equestrian team still get it after a pretty disappointing Olympics for the Eventing and SJ teams, I don't think the training programme has been a problem, they've just been very unlucky with timing in terms of injuries / retirements / deaths of some of our top horses - for Tina Cooke in particular. Miner's Frolic would only be 17 and probably at his peak (if just about ready for retirement) in his 3rd Olympics if he hadn't had to retire, then she lost De Novo News. High Kingdom has had some terrible injury problems since London, Pippa Funnell had some very promising horses over the last 4 years who never quite made it (although I love Billy the Biz) even WFP's accident will have had an effect (I've never seen him make a mistake like he did). Mistral Horjis and Uthopia have retired, Ben Maher lost some of his top horses as have other top show jumpers etc. There's an added risk factor with equestrian events that doesn't really exist in any other sport. If you break your bike you just jump on another one mid race!

 

[dixie]

The Brownlees have always been brilliant though.
His Olympics have been great again tho, that's for sure��

 

[stencilface]

Whoa there! It's nothing to do with lottery funding and all to do with Yorkshire grit

Amazing race as always from the Brownlees, Alistair always a gracious winner.

I also don't think ito anything more special than funding, and maybe some self belief after previous success. All the naysayers, saying silver and bronze are pointless and that funding sport is an extension of the welfare state talk rubbish. This was on Jeremy Vine the other day BTW.

The wider implications of the Olympic success are huge, greater participation in sport by kids, and not just stuck to same old football etc etc. Kids might find something they actually enjoy, chasing a sack of air isn't for everyone. The improvement in our national health and reduction in obesity could be a brilliant side effect of lottery funding.

 

[teapot]

The wider implications of the Olympic success are huge, greater participation in sport by kids, and not just stuck to same old football etc etc. Kids might find something they actually enjoy, chasing a sack of air isn't for everyone. The improvement in our national health and reduction in obesity could be a brilliant side effect of lottery funding.

Besides, the state of English football suggests you can throw billions at it and still not get anywhere!

 

[stencilface]

Besides, the state of English football suggests you can throw billions at it and still not get anywhere!

Exactly! We should start questioning the money that's wasted on funding sports of overpaid idiots.

 

[Annagain]

But that's all private money, facilitated mostly by tv deals for clubs and endorsement deals for individuals. As much as I hate it it's the law of supply and demand and the watching public, worldwide has created demand. As it's not public money they don't have to justify it.

 

[KautoStar1]

Getting back to the Brownlee boys, yes they were fantastic weren't they. What a credit they are to the UK and their sport.

 

[catroo]

The Brownlee boys are brilliant and such nice people. They came down to Cornwall to do some team talks and were quite inspirational

 

[stencilface]

They went to the same pub as us on father's day, I played it cool

I know footballing money is a different pot, but you seem to get a lot less bang for your buck