The Tokyo 2020 Non Athletics Thread

[Dundee42]

I just don't see skateboarding as a sport, it's just a hobby. Shooting while skateboarding might be more of a spectacle though.

[trickstat]

On the risk of injury idea. Shooting is probably both the safest and most dangerous sport at the same time!

[marra]

Between real life and sleep missed almost an entire day!

Mixed news from the velodrome I see. Feel gutted especially for Katy Marchant. Carlin will have a shot at the bronze I had him down as getting. I hate the new omnium format - takes away any variation in rider type. That said, a gold is a gold!

Re sport climbing - it has its problems (speed climbing should be a different event from each of lead or bouldering) but it is absolutely a sport and completely deserves to be there. The strength, agility and toughness of those athletes should never be doubted.

Personally I'm glad that skateboarding is there and it is a growing sport on the women's side. I can see why people didn't think it was a great spectacle but I do think that people also underestimate quite how difficult it is to do what they do, even at a relatively basic level.

Whether any sport should or should not be in the Olympics is a personal preference at the end of the day but both of the above require skill, physical fitness, strength and commitment, with the risk of injury being very real if things go wrong. The same qualities as pretty much all Olympics sports that I can think of.

[SprintRelayFan]

Ah the russians must have picked up a gold somewhere too as they're ahead of the brits - albeit GB will go back ahead when the cycling one is added in

[alfie]

Sort of getting to love the new Omnium format a bit more now 😏

Seriously I still think I prefer the old version. But Matthew Walls was quite brilliant in that race ... clever and strong. Never gave the others a chance . Top effort for the GB track team's first gold.. Chapeau !

[carterhatch]

Superb gold for Mat Walls in the Omnium cycling... I've watched a lot of track cycling, but for a 23 year old that was masterful, and I understand he is going on to focus on the road, a name to watch....

[Taffy2]

Brilliant by Walls but I prefer the old omnium set up

[trickstat]

I agree it was more of a varied all-around test when it included things like a 1k time-trial.

Laura Kenny is the queen of the elimination race!

[carterhatch]

I have been thinking what would be considered, in medal terms, as 'par' for the Olympics, and reckoned 20 G, 20 S, 20 B, is not far-off such a notion.

[Taffy2]

GB cycling team not getting much luck...especially poor Katy Marchant. First she gets relegated in round one of the keirin - and then she is taken out by a careless Dutch rider in the q/f : and unfortunately there is no way back from that. Dead unlucky because nothing she could do about it....

She seems to be taking it very well . At least she isn't hurt.

Huge shame as she looked really good. The event looks very open. Was shocked both Germans went out

[SprintRelayFan]

Interesting stats

• 1984 - 337 competitors, 37 medals
• 1988 - 345 competitors, 24 medals
• 1992 - 371 competitors, 20 medals
• 1996 - 300 competitors, 15 medals
• 2000 - 310 competitors, 28 medals
• 2004 - 264 competitors, 30 medals
• 2008 - 311 competitors, 51 medals
• 2012 - 541 competitors, 65 medals
• 2016 - 366 competitors, 67 medals
• 2021 - 376 competitors, 49 medals

Shows what a remarkable achievement Rio was, and given the boycott what a relatively poor one LA was. 92 was good for athletics medals wasn't it, so must've been poor elsewhere! Looks like we will outpace Beijng albeit with a larger team.

[alfie]

Not sure I love this new format for the Omnium. All a bit samey , the four events , as compared with the more varied test of skills it used to have, Suppose it is purely an endurance thing now.

Glad they've still got this "devil take the hindmost " race in it though ...

[alfie]

Yeah he needs a bit of a miracle in the next two races. Still will\ have the keirin I guess (which can be a bit of a raffle) but it is looking perhaps one games too far.

Having said that he does already have a silver medal from the team sprint so not to be sneezed at !

Wife might be more successful here ? We will see...

[Grassmarket]

Jason Kenny keeps winning the tactical battle, but the legs ain’t there,

[Grassmarket]

Like Jason Kenny, the Olympics came one year too late for him.