the GAA example is off
Its a team sport where physical contact is very prevalent, hence 12 years v 16 years becomes a health and safety issue..
Gymnastics and swimming, for example is you against the clock/judges. Your opponent is not physically engaging you..
Plenty examples where 14/15/16 year olds beat/outperform older competitors in sports like gymnastics..females!
You won’t see that in GAA/soccer/rugby/boxing/tennis. A team of 12/13/14 year olds won’t beat teams of 15/16/17 year olds. All down to the physical maturity being a clear factor in a physically engaging sport
She's in with a chance of making the final if she can maintain her form from today - fair play to her.
Needs real consistency. She scraped through today..
I saw her interview and she said her entry into the water was her main problem - it was untidy a few times and probably cost her points. She says she hopes she can improve on that aspect.
I think mental pressure should be a factor as well though. We believe and have ruled that voting, smoking, drinking and sex are all too much and too big a decision for a 14 year olds mind despite the body being as physically capable as an 18 year old so why is the huge mental pressure of the Olympics ok.
Well, through history quite young competitors have been winning gold, silver and bronze..
So, seems they can and have dealt with the environment and the competitiveness and the pressures.
Also, not everyone is the same. Some people, even young people thrive in environments where others feel stressed and pressured.
It’s not always huge mental pressure. It’s down to each individual. You cannot label all them as having to deal with and suffer “huge mental pressure.”
But as I pointed out out society does label them all the same. They are all "underage" for certain things and winning a medal at 14 doesn't mean you are ready for the pressure that comes after
Not with you here..
Labelling all them as having to deal with huge mental pressure at the games is what I am talking about..
Hasn’t stopped many young competitors from medaling
And as I said, nobody can know or say they all suffered huge mental pressures..
The games themselves set no age limit to compete. Different sports bodies do, of course.
It’s a mountain out of a molehills. If a 13/14 year old is the best in the world at something, absolutely allow them show it to the world.
That's a fair point about the medals. Winning (or losing) an Olympic medal at age 12 or 14 could certainly put a lot of pressure on them. It might not be the actual competition that is the problem but the associated stuff before and after.
Round 2 of the golf starting at 11:30, any channels showing it live?
Throughout history.... are we going there???
As well as the Olympics, the ancient Greeks had some ideas around paedophilia and pederasty that would not sit too well with modern society, so I don't suggest we go there to be honest!
It's just wrong IMHO, just because they can doesn't mean they should.
Natalya Coyles starts her Pentathlon competition tomorrow. She always does well at the Olympics. 9th and 6th in 2012 and 2016. In the latter she only qualified at the last minute. This time she is qualified for two years and presumably has peaked for this moment.
my prediction is that with no bad luck in the riding, she will take a medal.
RTE showed a fair bit of R1 last night so presume they'll be doing the same tonight. NBC golf channel obviously showing it too if you have access.
Looking ahead to Kellie's fight, I watched the Dubois - Seesondee match and thought Dubois actually shaded it and should have won. The Thai boxer is certainly tough and will throw a fair few punches but I'd say Kellie would be very disappointed not to come out on top - she's good enough to go through to the final.
That's a rematch of their 2018 world final which Kellie won of course but only after an epic encounter that could easily have gone either way. Tough fight but I'd say she's a better and more confident boxer now she has so much more experience behind her and hopefully good enough.
Yes, it's certainly no walkover and could well be a split decision. The Thai boxer is tough and will come at her. But she might actually suit her better than the Algerian the other night - Kellie said she found her very tall and awkward and rangy and was struggling to get near enough to land blows.
Thought she landed plenty the other day tbh, looked very good. Have every faith in her anyway. See Potkonen in the other sf, 40 years young! That would be a good final if it happened. One step at a time though!
Leona Maguire just teed off for R2. 8 shots off lead now, needs to find a few birdies today.
And it seems she's found them. She's -4 for the day.
Kellie on.
Twice warned to box. Brutal..
Kellie wins round 1 3/2
loses round 2
You want to win an Olympic semi? Start boxing/trying/fighting..
Kellie through. Was close. Split 3/2
Needs far more actual action to assure a win..
But we’ll take it. It’s a gold medal match..
Great boxing Kellie!
Clever fight. Out point. Don't over engage with a fighter with fast hands at amateur. You don't make a brawl out of it.
She will need a lot more actual fight and action if she wants to take gold..
I know it’s her style, but a boxer has to be able to mix it up. She can’t cross fingers and hope.. More engaging and punching and throwing in the final
Wouldn't agree at all. Michael Carruth won a gold tiying up a Cuban. And just out pointing.
Also different styles for different fighters. That was perfectly done. Kellie isn't Katie Taylor and fighting to her strengths. She tries to 'engage more' she'd more than likely take more hits.
She's performing every fight.
Brazilian winning this handy. Good punching display. Kellie has better feet.
Plenty 1-2s and movement will be effective against the Brazilian. Kellie sits back and hopes to peck and poke to a win, and she will lose..
Definitely a fight she can compete in, but needs to make it happen
The judging in Kellie's fight was all over the place, the judges who thought Kellie won Round 1 flipped to Seesondee later and vice versa
Could have gone either way
Anyway, great to see her in the final
https://twitter.com/damien_omeara/status/1423150673261174784
That’s all well and good if you keep winning
But you need to be a little more assured. That was a 3/2 that easily could have swung the other way..
Nobody is saying be reckless and brawl, but you can be more offensively engaged, committed and intense.
You need to win these fights. Not just compete and then hope the judges award you the fight.
When a referee is warning you (both them) 2/3 times to engage, you should realize that to win this fight, you need more.
Wasn’t all over the place.,rounds 2/3 quite close. That can lead to flips
