2022 Olympics

[Anonymous]

^^ wanted to add, RUSADA, the Russian anti-doping agency somehow has the authority to dictate her suspension, even though the country is suspended from participating in the Olympics. That’s screwed up!

[Anonymous]

I love snowboard cross--but it makes me so anxious to watch. I was really delighted by the team race results tonight though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't think we should have children, yes 15 is a child, competing at this level. It isnt just the abuse and work that the olympic kid is subjected to but all the others angling for that place. It is crazy that if your kid is an actor they can only work a certain number of hours a day but if your kid is an athlete you can grind them into the ground as much as you like.

This is the root of the issue. She’s 15, so while she’s allowed to compete at a senior level, she follows different rules. If this were revealed 6 weeks ago, Russia could have stripped her of her Russian title (the event she was tested for) and then sent her right off to the Olympics, because at 15, there’s no minimum requirement for suspension. If she were 17, she’d be automatically suspended by WADA and the IOC for 2-4 years.

Instead, the test surfaces in the middle of the Olympics, and Russia can’t hand wave it. The “suspended” her the day the story broke, and then immediately lifted it the next day so she could use the practice rink. The problem with all of this is that athletes under 16 can’t be held accountable for their actions, then they shouldn’t be competing. Expect the age requirements to change.

Even gymnastics has been 16 for senior events since the mid 1990s.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t the age hinge on Olympic year?

I think people are forgetting that Tara Lipinski was only 15 when she won gold (I think before the rules change?)

[Anonymous]

Gymnastics was changed because of the Chinese bald faced lying about the age of their gymnasts

Remember Bela’s epic rant about one gymnast still having baby teeth?

[Anonymous]

American couple free skaters - wow! Loved the artistry and grace …

[Anonymous]

Is anybody else noticing a weird affect / accent with Mikaela Shiffrin? Initially (not knowing much about her) I had assumed she was not a native English speaker, but she is. What's up with this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anybody else noticing a weird affect / accent with Mikaela Shiffrin? Initially (not knowing much about her) I had assumed she was not a native English speaker, but she is. What's up with this?

No? She talks fast though.

[Anonymous]

Did I hear correctly that Kamila is allowed to skate but won’t get medals ceremonies? What kind of BS is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did I hear correctly that Kamila is allowed to skate but won’t get medals ceremonies? What kind of BS is that?

She can't help it that she shares water glasses with her grandfather who has heart problems! [/actual russian defense]

[Anonymous]

Adults screwed up her chance to get a medal. The coaches and medical team should've checked on all medication and anything else they put into their bodies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adults screwed up her chance to get a medal. The coaches and medical team should've checked on all medication and anything else they put into their bodies.

Why do you assume that this wasn’t part of a well thought out doping regime and that the only mistake was getting caught?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adults screwed up her chance to get a medal. The coaches and medical team should've checked on all medication and anything else they put into their bodies.

She went through the "factory." That's her coach's way to describe her system. She would have probably not had this chance to medal if she didn't go there. Don't believe me? Check out all the other equally talented kids skating for other Russian coaches. Adults screwed up by getting caught. Not an "oops" moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adults screwed up her chance to get a medal. The coaches and medical team should've checked on all medication and anything else they put into their bodies.

We weren’t born yesterday, Svetlana. The term is “state-sponsored doping”.

[Anonymous]

they obviously meant to dope her. I doubt she was fully aware of the situation. She's a child.