The Official Olympics Thread (with the consent of the Chinese Gov.)

[orangeman]

Pure class ! Another medal.

[thejuice]

11-1, though I think Blanco might have had 2 more points but its irrelivent. c'mon the Irish. We cant run, throw or jump but we can box with the best of them.

[Rossie11]

Great stuff..
When a man can fight he dont need to be able to run!!!!

[Hardy]

Superb performance. Hammered the world Number two 11-1. The boxers really have shown the rest of Irish sport how to go about things.

[RMDrive]

Fair play to him. Great display. Watch out China (medals table)!!

[Main Street]

Blanco was out of it on his stool after the 3rd round.
Brilliant display by Sutherland, he made Blanco look very ordinary.

[The Real Laoislad]

Some amount of landed punches don't get a score..
Great to see another medal though

[passedit]

Superb performance. Hammered the world Number two 11-1. The boxers really have shown the rest of Irish sport how to go about things.

I'm afraid it just reinforces the stereotype. Maybe they should make drinking and shagging olympic sports as well!

[Hardy]

Ah passedit!.

[Mentalman]

Another great performance. He really really hurt him, Blanco just wanted that final round over without being counted out, he hads nothing left.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Superb performance. Hammered the world Number two 11-1. The boxers really have shown the rest of Irish sport how to go about things.

I'm afraid it just reinforces the stereotype. Maybe they should make drinking and shagging olympic sports as well!

Sure why not, they already have windsurfing and BMXing FFS. 

Fantastic display by Darren Sutherland - well done.

[passedit]

Ah passedit!.

Paddy is a moron. Spud thick Mick.
Breeds like a rabbit. Thinks with his p***k.
Anything floors him if he can't fight or drink it.
Round them up in Ulster. Tow it out and sink it.

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=k18kHNUw0b8

[its me again]

Ireland can mix it with the best at boxing and almost always win olympic medals

why can this formula for success not be used for other olympic sports

surely if money was invested and training methods changed we would be able to change in track and field events?

Boxing is on the up because of successes like these, if we challenged for medals in other areas it would no doubt increase the profile  of these sports aswell?

[Mentalman]

Ireland can mix it with the best at boxing and almost always win olympic medals

why can this formula for success not be used for other olympic sports

surely if money was invested and training methods changed we would be able to change in track and field events?

Boxing is on the up because of successes like these, if we challenged for medals in other areas it would no doubt increase the profile  of these sports aswell?

I think we have to be realistic about track and field, over the shorter distance we are at a disadvantage, not least genetically.

However we could be smarter in which sports we invest, similar our nearest neigbours or the Chinese, who are winning a lot of medals in women's events, or events where all out explosive speed are not necessary. We also need to get multiple competitiors into events, we've had too many injury knocks to athletes who carried our hopes, or people having off days. There wouldn't be as many off days if competitors had direct competition, or at least someone to share the burden. Of course, as usual, this should have been done 4 years ago, with the target being London in 2012, after all it's on our doorstep so travel/upkeep costs should not be high etc.

[An Fear Rua]

A lot of the brits success has been achieved with the aid of national lottery funding, and an annual "salary" to train/prepare. Do Irish athletes have the same advantages?