200m men's Olympics

[Matty_Jack04]

Just watching the men's 200 semis which johan Blake one in 20.01 secs, now I'm getting so frustrated watch these athletes stroll through there heats 'conserving energy' . This paticular events world record set at 19secs by michael Johnson 13years ago anyone watching that race could see that in Blake went all out there he definitely would have troubled that world record....why not just go for it?

[CropleyWasGod]

Just watching the men's 200 semis which johan Blake one in 20.01 secs, now I'm getting so frustrated watch these athletes stroll through there heats 'conserving energy' . This paticular events world record set at 19secs by michael Johnson 13years ago anyone watching that race could see that in Blake went all out there he definitely would have troubled that world record....why not just go for it?

The Olympics aren't about records, primarily. They're about winning.

[Matty_Jack04]

The Olympics aren't about records, primarily. They're about winning.

Pretty sure if u break world records you'll win the event as well

[CropleyWasGod]

Pretty sure if u break world records you'll win the event as well

What would be the point in breaking the WR in the semi if that meant he couldn't compete as well in the final?

Bolt just said it "it's all about getting through".

[Matty_Jack04]

What would be the point in breaking the WR in the semi if that meant he couldn't compete as well in the final?

Bolt just said it "it's all about getting through".

Blake was close to a stop by the time he got to the line no way would he have risked injury pushing himself a little more, probably more risk with slowly as quickly as he did

[Speedy]

Just watching the men's 200 semis which johan Blake one in 20.01 secs, now I'm getting so frustrated watch these athletes stroll through there heats 'conserving energy' . This paticular events world record set at 19secs by michael Johnson 13years ago anyone watching that race could see that in Blake went all out there he definitely would have troubled that world record....why not just go for it?

Bolt holds the world record now. Im sure he.beat it at the last olympics.

I see your point though and it makes it more interesting now that other athletes have been disqualified for similar.

[HibsMax]

Bolt holds the world record now. Im sure he.beat it at the last olympics.

I see your point though and it makes it more interesting now that other athletes have been disqualified for similar.

I thought the same thing when the girls were kicked out of the badminton. They had already qualified which meant they were playing a nothing match....but were booted when they didn't try. I know they were trying to fix the draw by losing but why make them play a nothing game. It's difficult. It seems like only certain athletes need to try ALL the time.

[blackpoolhibs]

I thought the same thing when the girls were kicked out of the badminton. They had already qualified which meant they were playing a nothing match....but were booted when they didn't try. I know they were trying to fix the draw by losing but why make them play a nothing game. It's difficult. It seems like only certain athletes need to try ALL the time.

Good point Max, never thought of it that way before? :agree:

[CropleyWasGod]

I thought the same thing when the girls were kicked out of the badminton. They had already qualified which meant they were playing a nothing match....but were booted when they didn't try. I know they were trying to fix the draw by losing but why make them play a nothing game. It's difficult. It seems like only certain athletes need to try ALL the time.

It's a different situation, IMO.

In the badminton, the non-trying had a definite impact on the competition. Blake not running full-out had no impact. He won the race, qualified for the final, that's it.

[YehButNoBut]

There is money to be made in breaking world records at other athletic meetings throughout the world not at the Olympics, which is all about winning the big G.

[Allant1981]

Did bolt not get the olympic record at the china olympics? Thought he was getting very tight in the last 50m last night but shows how good an athlete he is that he managed to maintain his form right until the end, ive trained with some of the best sprinters in the country but nothing would compare to training with this guy, will be a legend when he stops running

[HibsMax]

It's a different situation, IMO.

In the badminton, the non-trying had a definite impact on the competition. Blake not running full-out had no impact. He won the race, qualified for the final, that's it.

You're absolutely spot on, that's what makes it tricky. When you boil it down though, it equates to the same thing - certain athletes do not have to try all the time. Others do. I'm not disagreeing with you. I've thought about this a bit. I don't know all the ins and outs but it's quite simple to avoid this - just make the draw blind so nobody can even try to manipulate it. I don't blame the Chinese team one bit for trying to make sure they had both their badminton teams in the final battling for gold AND silver.