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[Chuckie]

So the Norwegians straight up refused to go the 10k because they would have no chance to medal? What does Norway-GAF think of this? Apparently Norway is angry.

I think it devalues the medals a bit..

How does it devalue the medals? They retreat because they (think) they would not have a chance any way.

If Vanessa Mae would refuse to do the slalom, does that devalue the medal for the slalom too?

 

[electristan]

Boy has lift!

Winner of the Nordic combined, Jørgen Graabak

 

[Gentle Rodriguez]

How does it devalue the medals? They retreat because they (think) they would not have a chance any way.

If Vanessa Mae would refuse to do the slalom, does that devalue the medal for the slalom too?

You're comparing Bokko and other Norwegian skaters to some girl that ended last by a country mile. A medal might not have been realistic but what would have been competition decided not to compete and it makes getting a medal easier and, in my eyes, that devalues the medals.

 

[LNBL]

 

[Ulumsk]

Poor coach.

 

[rSpooky]

anyone know the personal bests of the Dutch skaters?

 

[soepje]

Poor coach.

He still has the same coach right?

 

[Tha Robbertster]

He still has the same coach right?

Yep.

 

[electristan]

That is going to be a long hard 10K

shitty of Norway to not even try, really against the spirit of the games

 

[Arjen]

anyone know the personal bests of the Dutch skaters?

According to Wikipedia.

Sven Kramer: 12.41,69
Bob de Jong 12.48,20
Jorrit Bergsma 12.47,42

 

[Solo]

Hamelin, what the fuck????

 

[rSpooky]

According to Wikipedia.

Sven Kramer: 12.41,69
Bob de Jong 12.48,20
Jorrit Bergsma 12.47,42

Thanks , so they can do this!!

I cannot see live so have to look on the website updates

 

[zroid]

Trick events always looks so much scarier and more difficult on skis than snowboards. Seems like so much more could go wrong. Maybe it's just because I know the feeling of wiping out on skis but I've never boarded myself.

 

[Parch]

Hamelin, what the fuck????

No kidding. Ice conditions are part of the game you have to deal with. The sport is crazy enough with disqualifications and crashes without falling on your ass all on your own.

 

[Solo]

The sport is crazy enough with disqualifications and crashes without falling on your ass all on your own.

TWICE.

 

[Gentle Rodriguez]

TWICE.

Thrice if you count brother Hamelin.

Kramer skipped the 1500 to focus on the 10 000...

Kramer has barely ever even practiced the 1500 and only saw it as a bonus, he never had a chance of even coming close to a medal. The entire Norwegian team declined to compete, making it the first time in history that there are no Norwegians competing on the 10k. I'm not saying they should have competed btw, I'm just saying this weakens the competition for everyone involved.

 

[kottila]

You're comparing Bokko and other Norwegian skaters to some girl that ended last by a country mile. A medal might not have been realistic but what would have been competition decided not to compete and it makes getting a medal easier and, in my eyes, that devalues the medals.

Kramer skipped the 1500 to focus on the 10 000...

 

[Parch]

Putting the pursuit after the 10k is stupid. The field would be better if it was the last event.

This makes sense. Endurance races should be last, but probably not considered exciting enough to wrap up the speed skating event.

 

[kottila]

Thrice if you count brother Hamelin.

Kramer has barely ever even practiced the 1500 and only saw it as a bonus, he never had a chance of even coming close to a medal. The entire Norwegian team declined to compete, making it the first time in history that there are no Norwegians competing on the 10k. I'm not saying they should have competed btw, I'm just saying this weakens the competition for everyone involved.

We have no chance of coming close to a medal either (and we left our best 10k racer home due to political bullshit). our skating team is awful at the moment, the sport might be dying out as bicycling has had a real upswing and is taking the endurance talents that aren't going into athletics or skiing.

 

[Arjen]

This isn't going to be a sweep, Lee is definitly going to beat de Jong's time.

 

[Hrothgar]

Lee was terrible at the 5k though. Bart Swings might be more dangerous.

 

[Gentle Rodriguez]

Lee was terrible at the 5k but Swings needs a pb. I think Swings still might get it though.

 

[Pedrito]

Oh god those screams.

 

[Hrothgar]

Yeah, Swings will be faster than de Jong, unless he collapses.

 

[Oersted]

Oh god those screams.

Again? Who?

 

[Merino]

Swings is looking good. Too bad for the sweep.

 

[soepje]

Swings is slowing down again though.

Holy S. Bergsma.

 

[Hrothgar]

Slow rounds by Swings now, we still have a chance. He is collapsing!

 

[Arjen]

Wow, Bergsma is on a roll

 

[Pedrito]

Again? Who?

American Lyman Currier in the halfpipe.

 

[BlackBuzzard]

Lol Kramer has some competition. Rest of the world step up your game.

 

[Merino]

Unbelievable skating of Bergsma

 

[PjotrStroganov]

Kramer skipped the 1500 to focus on the 10 000...

Another skater took his place though.

 

[Gentle Rodriguez]

Oh my. I thought Kramer had it in the bag.

 

[Oersted]

Btw, no doping case so far? I mean, the IOC should atleast pretend that they care..

Edit: Thanks Pedrito

 

[SJRB]

Total annihilation haha, I love how the Dutch are dominating.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Man, dutch people sure can skate.

 

[Peru]

Btw, no doping case so far? I mean, the IOC should atleast pretend that they care..

Biathletes, including Russian, caught right before the games started.

 

[Pedrito]

The american sled seems way faster than the canadian. So many mistakes and still in the lead.

 

[Oersted]

Biathletes, including Russian, caught right before the games started.

Thats all? Lol

 

[PjotrStroganov]

Kramer skipped the 1500 to focus on the 10 000...

Loving the fact that a Korean skater is the olympic champion to beat. Korea is traditionally a country of sprinters. I think though that he won't beat bergsma and Kramer.

 

[zroid]

The american sled seems way faster than the canadian. So many mistakes and still in the lead.

yeah forreal

 

[PjotrStroganov]

Lol, Lee is constantly slipstreaming on the crossing. Good tactic.

 

[Oersted]

Loving the fact that a Korean skater is the olympic champion to beat. Korea is traditionally a country of sprinters. I think though that he won't beat bergsma and Kramer.

Its even funnier when you consider he was a shorttracker.

 

[Hrothgar]

Oh dear Kramer

 

[soepje]

Soo.. silver?

 

[PjotrStroganov]

Godsamme!

 

[Pedrito]

Upset in the making!

 

[LNBL]

Goddamn this is TENSEEE

 

[spekkeh]

What the hell's happening. Kramer should switch to the wrong lane to mask his defeat.