Greatest Olympian

[robthehiker]

What is it about horse jumping that makes you feel it is not a viable Olympic sport? Many years go into training for both the rider and the horse. It is probably one of the most dangerous sports in the Olympics. Do you have to be under the age of 25 to be an Olympic class athlete? Granted that it is a sport that is relatively young (1700's) but there is a lot more that goes into it than just climbing onto a horses back and saying "giddy-up."

Canadian Eric Lamaze has won a gold medal in individual show jumping at the Beijing Olympics. It is Canada's third gold medal.

[katmills2005]

Yes, Rob. Comments made previously on the thread prompted my post.

I think its absolutely fantastic that someone has the physical capability to compete and win in the Olympics at his age.

[Colin]

What is it about horse jumping that makes you feel it is not a viable Olympic sport? Many years go into training for both the rider and the horse. It is probably one of the most dangerous sports in the Olympics. Do you have to be under the age of 25 to be an Olympic class athlete? Granted that it is a sport that is relatively young (1700's) but there is a lot more that goes into it than just climbing onto a horses back and saying "giddy-up."

Whoa easy there, my intention wasn't to offend. This is only my opinion and we are all entitled to one of those. I've ridden horses and know all to well that it is not an easy task I couldn't imagine trying to train one to jump. I was more concerned with staying on that beast.

In terms of riding events, I am more of the mindset that the horse is doing most of the work. Yes the rider and the trainer put in years and years of work, but in the end isn't it the horse that wins or loses? The articles and suspensions today are not the doping of the riders, but of the doping of the animals. I associate sport with pushing your physical limit to achieve your best not pushing the limit or an animal to achieve your best.

I also don't think you need to be 25 to be a top athlete, but 61 to me is not something you are going to see in many other avenues or sports. Show me a 61 year old tri-athlete (I am sure there are more than one) and I will cheer them on until I am blue in the face.

I just find it interesting that sports like Rugby Union, Cricket, Lacrosse (apparently Canada's official national sport), Polo (on horses) and even Golf are popular enough worldwide to hold major tournaments and draw huge international crowds yet are less fitting into the Olympic games that some of the equestrian events, sailing, or even handball. That's my issue.

So unless we are going to class Ian Miller as the Greatest Olympian of all time (the topic of this thread) maybe we can agree to disagree. Fair enough?

[Nervous Jock]

Not being a baseball fan, I won't really argue with you, but when compared to horse jumping (seriously Canada's silver medal winner is 61!!) or the talk of adding golf (!!???!!!!????) I think the Olympic committee needs to simplify a bit.

At least it seems to be a wee bit more inclusive

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

We are on a 20 minute break, so I'll try and chime in... In equestrian sports it is all down to the timing of the rider, as well as the willingness of the horse to respond to the rider. If you doubt equestrian sports are an athletic event, try competing in the Three Day Event-- cross country, arena jumping, and dressage.

But, more to the point-- it's not about winning, but competing that makes for a true Olympian. That said, my vote would go to someone like Karoly Takacs, the Hungarian pistol shooter who lost his right hand (his shooting hand) in 1937, taught himself to shoot left handed, and went on to win the 1938 World Championship, and take Olympic Gold in 1948 and again in 1952.

I agree about some of the "sports" now represented in the Olympics-- BMX, Ball Room Dancing, what next? How about skateboarding?

[Carolina Kiltman]

The Olympics, originally, were tests of skills that made for superior soldiers! They competed in the nude, and it is entirely possibly that at least a goodly share of the audience had no idea of which city state they represented. I have problems with some of the sports in the mix, but what is the true purpose? Where I have the biggest problem is with the jingoism that surrounds so much of who wins how many medals. That is not supposed to be the purpose, or is it?

[TheKiltedWonder]

The Olympics, originally, were tests of skills that made for superior soldiers! They competed in the nude, and it is entirely possibly that at least a goodly share of the audience had no idea of which city state they represented. I have problems with some of the sports in the mix, but what is the true purpose? Where I have the biggest problem is with the jingoism that surrounds so much of who wins how many medals. That is not supposed to be the purpose, or is it?

Didn't you know that the more medals your country has, the better its system of government? I thought that was common knowledge!

What I like about the Olympics is that they give athletes of less-marketed sports a moment in the sun, their fans a chance to watch them in prime-time, and us outsiders a chance to watch sports with huge followings in other countries that are unheard of here.
How many people follow swimming year-round? Outside of Australia I suspect there are very few. Or keep up with the results of a handball league? Discounting Germans and some Eastern Europeans the answer is, once again, very few.

I don't see anything wrong with competitions on a nation-by-nation basis. I think most spectators can cheer on the talent of all the athletes regardless of nationality. Look at the chinese basketball fans cheering on Kobe and the like, or Phelp's press around the world and so on.

[katmills2005]

I agree about some of the "sports" now represented in the Olympics-- BMX, Ball Room Dancing, what next? How about skateboarding?

I'm for skateboarding being added. In turn, some events should be cut. The problem comes from individual connotations of what is a sport and what is an Olympic worthy sport.

[Nervous Jock]

actually think the bmx is quite exciting

[The Ulsterman]

There's an article in today's Scotsman that says "THE remarkable achievements of Chris Hoy in Beijing by some way qualify him for the title of Scotland's greatest ever Olympian"

I'm sorry folks, but Scotlands' best Olympian of all time, was "Wee Geordie",...in his Father's Black Watch kilt!!!!

Neil.