Olympics 2024

I was just watching archery. I didn't know they had mixed doubles teams, one man and one woman.  

As a young man I was pretty fair at archery, but I sure wasn't shooting consistent 9s and 10s like they can.

Track and field events are starting.  I always like watching the shot put and discus since those were my events when I was on the track team in high school, but I wouldn't have a chance - those guys can throw twice as far as I could ever do.

In reply to stuart in mn :

from 70 meters away!

I typically shoot at 20 yards, back that up to 50 and it is a wildly different animal. 75 I might as well just close my eyes.

alfadriver said:

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

What defines them as cheater glasses?  That the lens is a correcting one?  Lot of people need corrective vision anyway, why not make sure everyone has it available?  The only other thing I could "protest" is the accuracy of the lens placement. But how is that cheating?  

Yeah the only thing particularly special about fixed position shooting specs is the form factor. There's no magnification and nothing that can't be done with a regular pair of prescription glasses and some tape. 

The thing with the Turkish guy is he's a two-eye shooter, which is no unusual for someone with military training, or who is a multidisciplinary shooter, or someone who's dominant eye is opposite their dominant hand. Ultimately the goal is the same: Focus on the front sight. The cyberpunk competition specs are usually on kids with uncorrected vision and strong, young eyes. So the lenses will be tweaked for sharpness and glare control and tack-sharp focus on the front sight. Rifle shooter will also frequently use some kind of iris to reduce light intake and create three-points of alignment with the rear peep sight and front pin.

Still, go to any local shooting match and you'll see plenty of folks accomplishing the same thing with regular glasses and tape. The high-end gear just makes it easier and more adjustable (and also looks cool AF).

The level of human precision in this sport is just baffling. I know what a USPSA target looks like from 10 yards away, and I know the number of times I've just flat missed putting a hole anywhere on those five or so square feet. These folks are shooting dime-sized bullseyes while squeezing the trigger between heartbeats. They basically human benchrests.

Mr_Asa said:

Mndsm said:

Streetwiseguy said:

I haven't been following the thread, but have we talked about the cheater glasses the shooters are wearing?  Seems wrong to me, but them's the rules.

IDK, the turkish guy that took Silver showed up like he rolled out of bed with his Vision Worlds on and sent it. 

Similar to the Average Joe event for comparison, we need:

Walmart Special Events - everyone gets spec equipment. Its what the average person can afford.

All The Drugs - no limits.  No anti-doping.  Lets see what can be done.

SNL did a skit on the all-drugs Olympics back in the 80s at the peak of the steroid scandals.

In reply to alfadriver :

It's like traction control and flappy paddles. To me, it removes some of the human element.  Or, closer to topic, the bodysuits that the swimmers used for a while, which I think were banned.  You can't compete without the million dollar stuff to help.  Shave, put on a speedo, and swim.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

How are glasses anything like the shark swimming suits?  They are just eyeglasses that look high tech. They don't hold your arm more steady, which is more like the lower drag of the suits 

Still, how are those glasses such a step up from regular glasses?  It's still a lens put in front of your eye. 

aircooled said:

I heard of an idea that would be a fun add-on to the Olympics:  Take the winners of some of the competitions and have them compete with an "average Joe" (e.g. Alpha).

I think it would be impressive to see how badly they would beat Alpha ().  Obviously, the more violent sports should probably be avoided, but with something like swimming or running, the speed difference, from even a "common" person, even in good shape (Alpha?) would be ridiculous.  Kind of like that famous comparison shot between an F1 and GT3(?) going through Eau Rouge.

Many years ago, in small town Ontario, we had an invitational track meet and we hosted a couple of American kids. The young lady was the first alternate on the American Olympic 4x100 relay team. We lived right across the street from the track and I was there with my 4 year old watching her practice. "Daddy, can you race her?"...So she gave me a 20 meter head start, and then a 40, and finally a 50. She won all three "races" handily. I never did try against the young man....he was a pole vaulter..

alfadriver said:

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

How are glasses anything like the shark swimming suits?  They are just eyeglasses that look high tech. They don't hold your arm more steady, which is more like the lower drag of the suits 

Still, how are those glasses such a step up from regular glasses?  It's still a lens put in front of your eye. 

I guess the question becomes where does corrective equipment become an advantage. I wear corrective lenses on a daily basis. I am also a cross sighted shooter, so I would look EXACTLY like this guy at the line, except I have a beard. Do my lenses give me an advantage? How far does that advantage go? Should that be allowed in other sports to "even" the playing field? I can't really walk straight, should I get motorized shoes or nah?

Really, the rules are arbitrary. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn't. Simone biles happened to be able to spring 8 feet into the air and do more flips in one shot than I will ever accomplish in my life. She is also a foot and a half shorter than me so she can't reach my cereal boxes. She has a size advantage that makes her really good at gymnastics. I can... Reach the top shelf. 

In reply to Mndsm :

The "problem" with corrective vision is that a pretty significant part of the population requires it just to get by, let alone to be able to compete when your vision is really required.  And then to regulate it to a degree so that people who *need* corrective vision don't get an advantage to those who don't....  Especially when it's so very hard to really determine who needs what- since it requires the user to tell a person what is clear and what is not.

But how much can a single lens, that has to be attached to your head, do?  

Besides, we do allow for competitors to have shoes.  And those can correct the gait, gaining an advantage or recovering a deficit however you want to see it.  Where that gets gray is when the shoes actually help recover step energy- which is now the state of the art of running shoes.  

Dave's race just finished- BMX mens and womens final happened today.  Really fast race- just 1/4 or so, and it goes by in a blink of an eye.

akylekoz said:

He has a cat.

Crazy specialized custom gun = Totally normal.

Off-the-shelf shooting eyewear = OMG WTF!!!

Y'all need to tune in at 9:30 eastern tomorrow morning to catch kayak cross. It will be on the next 3 days and is stupid fun, crashy, and something most of us wouldn't be able to attempt, let alone finish. 

In reply to bbbbRASS :

Oh good lord, I hope they have some good rib protection.

I used to whitewater kayak several times a week on the big Ottawa River. Kayak cross looks like a riot. I'd try that.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I've taken many a bow to the ribs. The PFD does a pretty good job. The face is much worse...

I remember Evy (our USA medal winner) paddling as a little girl on the Nantahala. Awesome to see her doing this!

In reply to stuart in mn :

And she's his best coach.

bbbbRASS said:

In reply to Keith Tanner 

I remember Evy (our USA medal winner) paddling as a little girl on the Nantahala. Awesome to see her doing this!

She'll be a senior at Davidson (go Cats!) this year and this is her second Olympics! Great to see her get the Bronze. I read that she met and hung out with Steph Curry on the boat on opening night.

In reply to bbbbRASS :

So kayak cross is basically "let's make slalom into a head to head race!" 

What other sports can we do this to? Hurdling, but only one hurdle? Swimming but only one lane? Skateboarding vertical but all the skaters are out at once? Javelin and shot put from opposite sides of the field?

NBC cuts away from the conclusion of an exciting cycle race to gymnastics, because Simone Biles.  

My money is on Michelle Tyson in women's boxing in 2028.

The men gymnasts ring competition is on this morning.  The strength of those guys is mind boggling.

stuart in mn said:

The men gymnasts ring competition is on this morning.  The strength of those guys is mind boggling.

my shoulders hurt bad enough putting a shirt on getting out of bed. I can only imagine. 

akylekoz said:

I saw a good tweet about this guy:

"I love how he looks like going to the Olympics is on his to do list today but ain't his whole day."