The Tokyo 2020 Non Athletics Thread

[marra]

The Ind Pursuit is still run at the WC - Storey's time would have got her a medal there every year bar 2020. A truly extraordinary athlete and a great ambassador for the sport both able-bodied and Paralympic.

[Taffy2]

The first day of Paralympic 2020 action saw Dame Sarah Storey win her 15th Paralympic Gold Medal with an easy win in the 3000m Individual Pursuit

She lapped here British team mate Crystal Lane-Wright in the final, so no time was recorded but here time in the qualifying of 3:27.057 was over a second quicker than Rebecca Romero's gold medal time in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the last time the event was held in the Olympic Games.

Yes, I know the bike technology will have had something do with it, but Storey is not only a Paralympian, but she is well over 40. Very impressive.

Storey was also part of the able bodied pursuit team for years. Formidable athlete and person. Loved seeing her family on tv. Proud flag waver, even as a taffy.

[fchd]

The first day of Paralympic 2020 action saw Dame Sarah Storey win her 15th Paralympic Gold Medal with an easy win in the 3000m Individual Pursuit

She lapped here British team mate Crystal Lane-Wright in the final, so no time was recorded but here time in the qualifying of 3:27.057 was over a second quicker than Rebecca Romero's gold medal time in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the last time the event was held in the Olympic Games.

Yes, I know the bike technology will have had something do with it, but Storey is not only a Paralympian, but she is well over 40. Very impressive.

[marra]

Someone with more knowledge of swimming training can correct me, but I'd say 4 months is more than enough time for him to get back into "fighting" shape - I've seen other experienced swimmers turn around average form within 8 weeks before now. Especially for someone who is, relatively speaking, still a country mile ahead of everyone else. Unless Kamminga or someone goes crazy, he doesn't even need to be at his absolute best to still win.

And I'm not expecting swimmers to skip the Commonwealths at all. As I said, I expect them to taper for May and late July. It's not dissimilar to what they did for this year - tapered for British trials in April, then the Olympics.

If any team suffers, it's most likely to be the Euro team. Although I also wouldn't be surprised if some swimmers do a reduced program at the CWGs, to show their face.

It's all speculation though. Every athlete will do things differently. There will be some athletes, especially the younger ones, who probably will just focus on the CWG completely.

[Ladyloz]

@ Marra with Peaty doing Strictly I am guessing he won't be back training seriously until after Christmas. I would imagine that's too soon for a May World Champs.

A home Commonwealth Games is a different beast to one in the Gold Coast. I don't think it'll go down too well if loads of big names skip it & that applies to all sports. There will be a certain amount of pressure applied for sports to send strong teams.

[carterhatch]

I think what is needed is a 'Non-Tokyo, Non-2020, Non- Athletics' thread ...

[marra]

I'd be amazed to see Peaty not take the Worlds seriously.

Far more likely that the Commonwealths/Euros are given the second class status by the swimmers if they have to choose - certainly the GC Commonwealths weren't prioritised by a lot. Peaty won the 100 there in a relatively pedestrian time (by his standards) and lost the 50m to Cam van der Burgh which is the only long course championship he's lost since the 2014 Commonwealths, as far as I'm aware.

If I were to guess, I'd say we have a full swimming squad for all 3 - they'll taper for the worlds and then try to taper again in the summer for a combined push at the commonwealths/Euros.

[Taffy2]

Louis Smith also won a medal in 2008.

[Grassmarket]

Chris Hoy usually took post-Olympic years pretty casually: worked for him.

[RunUnlimited]

Your mentioning of SPOTY got me to look up the odds with the bookies. Daley is quite a firm favourite, which is understandable, J Kenny second favourite, which I’m pleased to see given he’s now our most successful Olympian and he hasn’t had the recognition he deserved in previous years. Max Whitlock 7th on the list, which I find quite harsh since he’s been so successful in a sport we have absolutely no history in

Hmm, on the Whitlock point, while it was true that Great Britain's history in gymnastics was pretty non-existent apart from the very earliest years of it's inclusion at the Summer Olympics, in the last 15 to 20 years, that perception has changed quite drastically.

We've now had individual or team medallists at every Olympic Games since 2012 and Beth Tweddle was winning World and European championship medals all the way back in 2003. GB has been building a history in gymnastics recently, and with the Gavirova twins performing so admirably in Tokyo, the future is looking bright for further success.

[treadwater1]

Your mentioning of SPOTY got me to look up the odds with the bookies. Daley is quite a firm favourite, which is understandable, J Kenny second favourite, which I’m pleased to see given he’s now our most successful Olympian and he hasn’t had the recognition he deserved in previous years. Max Whitlock 7th on the list, which I find quite harsh since he’s been so successful in a sport we have absolutely no history in

[Ladyloz]

Will be interesting to see what Peaty does next year after taking this break. Like athletics there are 3 majors for swimming in 2022. Their worlds are earlier (end of May) which will surely rule Peaty out. Perhaps he'll just do Birmingham?

[Ladyloz]

I think Jason Kenny and Helen Glover have pretty much said that's it.

Laura Kenny and Max Whitlock have both said they plan to go on to Paris.

Tom Daley could go either way I think. I think James Guy will stay on. He's a similar age to Peaty and with just 3 years to go to Paris I don't see him quitting.

[Occasional Hope]

It could raise his profile in time for SPOTY, but I bet a footballer wins.

[Taffy2]

Yes I know re Strictly. Hope he does well.