US Olympic Team
US Olympic Team
How is the US Olympic Team gonna be chosen this time around? Last I remember there where several national tournaments (US,GG,Armed Services,Western trials,Eastern trials,PAL?) that the winner (& 2nd at the US championships) makes it to the Olympic Trials and after that the Trials winner goes to a Qualifier (3 in total IIRC) and if he wins one he makes it to the Olympics. Is it still like this or did it change as I believe it has.
It's basically the same, except all the qualifiers lead to the U.S. Championships and not the old Olympic Trials. The winners of the (2006) PAL, Armed Forces (2007) and National Golden Gloves (2007) will automatically advance to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Championships. The winners of the Eastern, Western, Mid-Western, 14 Regional champs, 4 military champs and the NMU team will advance to the U.S. Championships but not the quarterfinals.
The Box-offs is a 7-day double elimination tournament with 8 boxers in each weight class who qualify based on the results from the U.S. Championships. The winner of the Winners bracket and the Challenger's bracket will compete against each other the last two days. If the Winner wins, he is automatically on the Olympic team. If the Challenger wins in the first bout, they box a second day. The Challenger has to beat the Winner twice to make the team.
The Box-offs is a 7-day double elimination tournament with 8 boxers in each weight class who qualify based on the results from the U.S. Championships. The winner of the Winners bracket and the Challenger's bracket will compete against each other the last two days. If the Winner wins, he is automatically on the Olympic team. If the Challenger wins in the first bout, they box a second day. The Challenger has to beat the Winner twice to make the team.
In addition to the winners of all the events listed by Mel, we could also have at-large entries into the U.S. Championships. The only ones of which I'm aware, are the boxers that are on the Pan Am Team who do not qualify any other way. If they already qualified by winning the National PAL like Terrance Crawford and Adam Willett did, then they don't get the at-large big. If they qualify by winning the National GG like some of the Pan Am Team might, then they would again not need or receive the at-large bid.
Is anyone aware of any other at-large entries?
Is anyone aware of any other at-large entries?
At Large status, techinically, is given to those boxers who were unable to participate in their District or Regional tournaments because they were representing USA Boxing at the time. This "At Large" starts as soon as the boxers are notified of their participation in a USA Boxing event and extends to 10 days after they come home. Considering that all the distriction and regional tournaments were and are at different times, it's not going to be cut-and-dried when determining At Large status. An example would be any of the boxers who participated in the England Dual last year whose district or regional tournaments were held during that time would be considered At Large.
Whew! That's a mouthful!!!
Whew! That's a mouthful!!!
Okay so than all the tournaments that you mentioned (PAL to the ones leading up to the US championships) all get you an entry to the US championships. Than the quarterfinalist at the US championships come back at a later date & get a chance at the Olympic team in a double elimation tournament. Did I get this right? Is there no qualifier tournaments with other boxers from the "Americas" like at the last Olympics?
All boxers in the quarterfinals of the June U.S. Championships advance to the Box-offs in August (that's 8 boxers per weight class). What I described, based on your questions, is how the U.S. will determine their Olympic team for 2008. To answer your newest question, once our team has been determined, they will then participate in the three Olympic qualifying tournaments: World Championships in September and two Americas qualifiers in 2008 (time and date TBD).
Hope this clarifies the process.
Hope this clarifies the process.
Okay thanks just wanted to make sure I had it right. I'm an amateur fan, but its so hard to keep up with amateur boxing nowadays when its never on TV (like the good ole days of the amateur sports show on TBS) & I only know what the announcer (who tends to overhype things) says at local amateur shows. So do you have to win the Olympic qualifying tournaments or only place? Seems as if a 3rd place finish in the World Championships should get you into the Olympics.
Tony - overhype something, never!!! LOL.fenix wrote:Okay thanks just wanted to make sure I had it right. I'm an amateur fan, but its so hard to keep up with amateur boxing nowadays when its never on TV (like the good ole days of the amateur sports show on TBS) & I only know what the announcer (who tends to overhype things) says at local amateur shows. So do you have to win the Olympic qualifying tournaments or only place? Seems as if a 3rd place finish in the World Championships should get you into the Olympics.
Boxers have to place at the tournaments, but how high depends on the boxers weight class. Some weight classes have to advance to the finals or semi-finals while others may only have to make it to the quarter-finals.
