2021 Olympics Thread

posted by Ironman92

I don’t like where this might be going.

In the era of participation medals, it was only a matter of time before an athlete quitting was called "courageous".

posted by Al Bundy

Of course Phelps and Ledecki aren't going to criticize their former Olympic teammate in public

Probably not.  But a bunch of arm chair quarterbacks (like me) don't really have an experience comparable to judge from afar.  If this were her first Olympics and she had been touted based only on her potential, I would probably wonder about her toughness.  But she has already won at the highest levels - repeatedly.  So that tells me she is tough.  What happened here, I don't know.  But gymnastics seems like a huge mental game where you're watched in such detail.  Maybe her age factored in - maybe it's hard to be fearless in the air when you're 24 vs when you're 18.  Maybe this wasn't a problem for her until this week.  I don't know.  But I give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she's got good motives and wanted to do the right thing.  She's got a strong track record that backs that up.

posted by Al Bundy

The only elite athlete that I can think of who did something equivalent to this was Roberto Duran with his "no mas" fight.

And Oliver McCall's breakdown during his second fight w/ LLewis. 

(Not naming McCall as elite)

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

Probably not.  But a bunch of arm chair quarterbacks (like me) don't really have an experience comparable to judge from afar.  If this were her first Olympics and she had been touted based only on her potential, I would probably wonder about her toughness.  But she has already won at the highest levels - repeatedly.  So that tells me she is tough.  What happened here, I don't know.  But gymnastics seems like a huge mental game where you're watched in such detail.  Maybe her age factored in - maybe it's hard to be fearless in the air when you're 24 vs when you're 18.  Maybe this wasn't a problem for her until this week.  I don't know.  But I give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she's got good motives and wanted to do the right thing.  She's got a strong track record that backs that up.

Of course we don't know what it is like to be Biles, but on a message board we can give opinions on a topic without having been in that exact situation. We wouldn't have  pro sports or politics threads if that was a requirement.

I don't see why it so bad to say that Biles was elite in 2016 but sucked in 2021. If athletes do a sport long enough, they will reach a point where they decline. Most of them don't willingly quit in the middle of a competition.

posted by Al Bundy

Of course we don't know what it is like to be Biles, but on a message board we can give opinions on a topic without having been in that exact situation. We wouldn't have  pro sports or politics threads if that was a requirement.

I don't see why it so bad to say that Biles was elite in 2016 but sucked in 2021. If athletes do a sport long enough, they will reach a point where they decline. Most of them don't willingly quit in the middle of a competition.

Didnt seem like she was on the decline but she sure did cash in this olympic cycle.  Probably made millions on endorsements.  

posted by Fletch

Didnt seem like she was on the decline but she sure did cash in this olympic cycle.  Probably made millions on endorsements.  

Yeah, she was really leaning into the whole "GOAT" thing, and probably trying desperately to cash-in.  She's obviously a household name by now, but for the most part people only care about gymnastics every 4 years.  So this was probably her last shot to secure some nice endorsement deals.

She was "struggling" in the trials, with a number of mistakes but still over 2+ points ahead of second.  I also think she was leading the all round when she pulled out.

She comes out of this unscathed and probably ahead in regards to optics with the soccer moms and housewives.  Sports junkies and the like will look at it as a quitter.

posted by gut

Yeah, she was really leaning into the whole "GOAT" thing, and probably trying desperately to cash-in.  She's obviously a household name by now, but for the most part people only care about gymnastics every 4 years.  So this was probably her last shot to secure some nice endorsement deals.

She was "struggling" in the trials, with a number of mistakes but still over 2+ points ahead of second.  I also think she was leading the all round when she pulled out.

I saw that her net worth is $6 million, so she has already cashed in.

posted by Al Bundy

I saw that her net worth is $6 million, so she has already cashed in.

Comparatively speaking, no.  Michael Phelps is worth $80M.  Heck, McKayla Maroney is worth $3M.

She's still marketable, obviously, and in some respects maybe even more so.  But I think she choked away some BIG paychecks.

posted by Al Bundy

I saw that her net worth is $6 million, so she has already cashed in.

Not doubting this, but out of curiosity, how'd you find this out?

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

Not doubting this, but out of curiosity, how'd you find this out?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/much-us-olympian-simone-biles-210021591.html

posted by Al Bundy

https://www.google.com/amp/s/finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/much-us-olympian-simone-biles-210021591.html

Thanks for the link. 

posted by gut

Comparatively speaking, no.  Michael Phelps is worth $80M.  Heck, McKayla Maroney is worth $3M.

She's still marketable, obviously, and in some respects maybe even more so.  But I think she choked away some BIG paychecks.

Unless they do something stupid, they are all set for life.

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

Not doubting this, but out of curiosity, how'd you find this out?

https://lmgtfy.app/?q=simone+biles+net+worth

I mean Laurie Hernandez and her dad are still in the Trulicity commercials and she’s not even competing anymore. 

It’d be interesting if they’d bring Simone back for future Olympics for gymnastics commentary. I bet they still would.

posted by superman

https://lmgtfy.app/?q=simone+biles+net+worth

Moving home plate? Heightening the net?

Anyone watch a weird amount of the same thing? I think I saw every one of the America women’s 3x3 basketball games.

posted by Ironman92

Softball lost gold….seems like same team from 3 Olympics ago

Softball going downhill in the US…despite the insane travel ball numbers

Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman were the only holdovers from 2008. 

The NCAA's juiced ball and the lack of a large viable pro league aren't doing the U.S. any favors.

posted by gut

Comparatively speaking, no.  Michael Phelps is worth $80M.  Heck, McKayla Maroney is worth $3M.

When does she get to stop getting frisbees off of roofs? 

Never forget what was taken from us...