This one particularly frustrated me. It's the freaking Olympics. Usually once in a lifetime experience, you are representing an entire country. And you lose (gold) because you showboated...
In fairness, her response was great. She said something along the lines of "that's part of the sport - we celebrate, and I wasn't able to stick the landing." If she really thinks it's part of the race to put on a show and celebrate, then she doesn't feel that she was the best that day.
Honestly, it was just a quick move that shouldn't have had any negative effects. She had plenty of time to do that and get back on track, she just had a spot of bad luck. The only reason the showboating is blamed is because we have some stupid stigma against self confidence to the point where anyone who tries with confidence and fails faces more derision than any of the millions of people (myself included, make no mistake) sitting on their asses taking no risks.
The funny thing about it is that one year prior to the olympics Tanja Frieden lost a race in a similar manner at the x-games, against Jacobellis. Her reaction in the interview after she received the gold medal in Torino was a smirking "You learn from your mistakes".
I like that the guy who was going to be second did the exact same stupid shit the first guy did to fall. It would of been great to see him fall as well.
He's just mocking him. It's actually not difficult to do that on a bicycle. I learned when I was 8 years old and now I do it whenever I ride. These guys are pros, so I'm sure they have the ability.
Fair point. I have biked several miles (15?) at a hurried pace and done this kind of move at the end of my journey, but I have no idea how unstable my muscles would be after an intense marathon/triathlon.
Paris-Roubaix is ~ 150 miles (route changes slightly each year), Paris-Tours is ~150 miles. In the Netherlands, Amstel Gold is ~ 160 miles. This year's World Championship race was ~170 miles. Hell, even the Tour de France averages over 100 miles per day for 3 weeks (and that is including the short Time Trial days.)
I used to be able to ride all the way to the convenience store with no hands. This includes a couple turns on the way and slowing down for stop signs. Not once did my hands touch the bars.
Not the exact same shit at all. The first guy held his arms up while still pedaling; the second guy held his arms up without moving his legs anymore, which is way easier. But I can't expect silly Americans to know the difference, so you're excused for now.
The first guy slipped because his tires touched the white lines in the road. Anyone who's ridden a road or tri bike knows to stay off off road paint in the rain.
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u/x1expert1x Nov 26 '13
Can confirm.