Great start for England at qualifiers

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 26 Feb 2008, 05:33

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic ... 263562.stm

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 26 Feb 2008, 06:02

Jeremy Pinsent said on Inside Sport that the expectation by the BOC is that we should get 12 gold medals in total.

I don't think we'll get any track and field. Maybe we'll get 2 gold in boxing and a few sailing, perhaps an equestrian.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 26 Feb 2008, 06:22

More detail here:

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3178- ... ifier.html

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 26 Feb 2008, 06:45

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Jeremy Pinsent said on Inside Sport that the expectation by the BOC is that we should get 12 gold medals in total.

I don't think we'll get any track and field. Maybe we'll get 2 gold in boxing and a few sailing, perhaps an equestrian.

I think Kelly Sotherton and Jessica Ennis stand a good chance of a medal in the heptahlon, Kluft may not be defending her title.
If he gets it right Phillips Idowu can get on the podium, but he needs more consistency. Paula Radcliffe gets one last chance to win something.
Christine Ohuruogu can improve and get a medal.
We have some decent 800 metres in the ladies race, and without a pacemaker it makes these races very tactical, so you can always get a surprise winner.

Add to that lot, we have very good medal chances in Kayak, Sailing , Cycling, Rowing, Tennis (Andy Murray).

I think this year will throw up quite a few surprise medals. Hopefully

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 26 Feb 2008, 07:49

Old bones Ian wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Jeremy Pinsent said on Inside Sport that the expectation by the BOC is that we should get 12 gold medals in total.

I don't think we'll get any track and field. Maybe we'll get 2 gold in boxing and a few sailing, perhaps an equestrian.
I think Kelly Sotherton and Jessica Ennis stand a good chance of a medal in the heptahlon, Kluft may not be defending her title.
If he gets it right Phillips Idowu can get on the podium, but he needs more consistency. Paula Radcliffe gets one last chance to win something.
Christine Ohuruogu can improve and get a medal.
We have some decent 800 metres in the ladies race, and without a pacemaker it makes these races very tactical, so you can always get a surprise winner.

Add to that lot, we have very good medal chances in Kayak, Sailing , Cycling, Rowing, Tennis (Andy Murray).

I think this year will throw up quite a few surprise medals. Hopefully

I think the lack of track and field potential tends to be paper over by our medals in "lesser" Olympic sports.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 26 Feb 2008, 08:00

one of the main areas is in the male middle and long distance, we don't seem to be developing world class athletes there.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 26 Feb 2008, 08:14

Old bones Ian wrote:one of the main areas is in the male middle and long distance, we don't seem to be developing world class athletes there.

The last one I can remember is Ovett, Coe, Cram.

Surely there was an Olympic medalist since in 800m+?

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 26 Feb 2008, 08:23

Peter Elliott is often over looked when it comes to remembering middle distance runners. Olympic Silver medal in Seoul for 1500m, and Worlds silver in Rome for 800m

n1ebf · Post by **n1ebf** » 26 Feb 2008, 09:41

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:
Old bones Ian wrote:one of the main areas is in the male middle and long distance, we don't seem to be developing world class athletes there.
The last one I can remember is Ovett, Coe, Cram.

Surely there was an Olympic medalist since in 800m+?

Roger Black came pretty damn close he ran 400 and 800 but was up against Michael Johnson in at least one Olympics - Johnson still holds the world record for both 400 and 200 I believe and they look safe for, I'd say, oh at least 50-100 years I'd say, by which time the planet should be too choked with fumes for anyone to think about running races. Thanks America, China and one or 2 others.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 26 Feb 2008, 10:14

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic ... 264955.stm

"Billy Joe Saunders moved to within two wins of an Olympic place after a tense 13-12 victory over Michal Starbala.......

slapbangwhallop · Post by **slapbangwhallop** » 26 Feb 2008, 14:07

Los Patricios not doing to shabby either!

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 26 Feb 2008, 21:15

NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:
Old bones Ian wrote:one of the main areas is in the male middle and long distance, we don't seem to be developing world class athletes there.
The last one I can remember is Ovett, Coe, Cram.

Surely there was an Olympic medalist since in 800m+?
Roger Black came pretty damn close he ran 400 and 800 but was up against Michael Johnson in at least one Olympics - Johnson still holds the world record for both 400 and 200 I believe and they look safe for, I'd say, oh at least 50-100 years I'd say, by which time the planet should be too choked with fumes for anyone to think about running races. Thanks America, China and one or 2 others.

Roger Black never ran the 800 metres in a world or Olympics.

No, we haven't had any medalists since 1988 at the 800 or 1500 metres. Two who could be worth mentioning though was a guy called Curtis Robb who was an awesome youngster in 1992 - made the Olympic final (at 22 or something like that) - finished I think 6th... but injuries occured and he was pretty much fecked.

Another fella, Matthew Yates - was considered among the favourites I think in 1992 (could be 1996)... he was the 3rd fastest guy in the year and seemed to be in good form. He completely lost his nerve though and famously didn't run in the Olympic final - he was in the toilet. He'd completely choked.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 27 Feb 2008, 04:17

Matthew Yates came last in his heat in the 1992 Olympics, in 1996, so never qualified for the final.

Don't think he made the 1996 team

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 27 Feb 2008, 05:06

No, we haven't had any medalists since 1988 at the 800 or 1500 metres

Poor Kelly Holmes has been forgotten about already...

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 28 Feb 2008, 10:13

Just seen that David Price lost to David Arshba 19-17, but the english team are going to appeal, as the boxer from Azerbaijan was warned more than 3 times for holding , but no points deducted. and David would have won on countback.

Great news for Billy Joe Saunders he won 15-5 against Kakhaber Zhvania of Georgia. Billy Joe is 1 fight away from qualifying for Olympics.

Here's hoping he does it.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 28 Feb 2008, 10:28

Swifty Smith is in the semis too.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 28 Feb 2008, 10:31

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3190- ... scara.html

Some pics too.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 28 Feb 2008, 10:59

Nice pics Ian, so near and yet so far for the boxers.

1 fight away from one of the great experiences of their life, alot of former champions still say the Olympics is the highlight of their career.

I went to the Sydney games, i thought they would be good, but it surpassed anything i could have imagined. Watching the sports you could see how much they meant to each competitor, they pressure makes the atmosphere electric.

ABA Boxing · Post by **ABA Boxing** » 29 Feb 2008, 07:15

Old bones Ian wrote:Just seen that David Price lost to David Arshba 19-17, but the english team are going to appeal, as the boxer from Azerbaijan was warned more than 3 times for holding , but no points deducted. and David would have won on countback.

Great news for Billy Joe Saunders he won 15-5 against Kakhaber Zhvania of Georgia. Billy Joe is 1 fight away from qualifying for Olympics.

Here's hoping he does it.

Price had his appeal turned down, but there are some rumors of Azerbaijan team being kicked out, not sure if this is just gossip and for what reason, so will have to wait and see!

Matt W · Post by **Matt W** » 29 Feb 2008, 10:53

Michael Johnson's records aren't as safe as I thought they would be when he set them. Jeremy Warriner will break the 400 record in the next couple of seasons I think and Tyson Gay may challenge the 200 record, although that will be tougher.

Watching Johnson smash the 200 record is probably the greatest sporting feat I've ever watched live (albeit on TV).

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Feb 2008, 10:58

Matt W wrote:Michael Johnson's records aren't as safe as I thought they would be when he set them. Jeremy Warriner will break the 400 record in the next couple of seasons I think and Tyson Gay may challenge the 200 record, although that will be tougher.

Watching Johnson smash the 200 record is probably the greatest sporting feat I've ever watched live (albeit on TV).

Still, for one man to hold both records and to beat his contemporaries with such ease, puts Johnson right up there with the greatest Olympians/athletes of all time.

Back to boxing, I watched Billy Joe Suanders fight with Jack Arnfield on youtube the other day and was really impressed with his mature attacking style.

He will make a fantastic pro once he trades in his vest. He really is an exciting talent.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 29 Feb 2008, 11:03

Matt W wrote:Michael Johnson's records aren't as safe as I thought they would be when he set them. Jeremy Warriner will break the 400 record in the next couple of seasons I think and Tyson Gay may challenge the 200 record, although that will be tougher.

Watching Johnson smash the 200 record is probably the greatest sporting feat I've ever watched live (albeit on TV).

He was a phenomenon, best athlete of my lifetime.

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 29 Feb 2008, 11:32

Khalid Yafai has won his FW semi and qualifies for the Olympics.

Great stuff, let's hope that the others can follow him.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Feb 2008, 11:40

SticknMove wrote:Khalid Yafai has won his FW semi and qualifies for the Olympics.

Great stuff, let's hope that the others can follow him.

Thats now two Brummies who have shored up Olympic births - great work lads.

Sounds like Khalid had to do it the hard way as well.

http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news ... ateur.html

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 29 Feb 2008, 12:02

Brilliant news, for the first time in years Britain will be sending a boxing team to the Olympics, not just 1 or 2 boxers