12/21/24
February 28, 2010
Russia Sees Red at Lack of Success This Olympics: Currently in sixth place in the medal count, Russia is struggling with its lack of success at the Winter Olympics relative to past Soviet glories. "The highest level of sports can raise the prestige of the nation, unite it. Yes, we need victories," three-time gold medalist Russian figure skater Irina Rodnina wrote in a front-page commentary for the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. "But how can we get them if the Olympic team is not in the mood?"
The interesting story is the rise of SE Asia -- not just the Koreans expanding their short-track expertise to the long track, but China taking medals in speed-skating and freestyle too.
The facilities play a part, I think. Speed-skating, figure skating and freestyle (and curling!) can be developed indoors with relatively low amounts of investment: it's a bit harder to build mountains for the Alpine events, or blanket areas in snow to develop talent for cross-country skiing.
posted by etagloh at 01:22 PM on February 28, 2010
the rise of SE Asia -- not just the Koreans expanding their short-track expertise to the long track, but China taking medals in speed-skating and freestyle
Better check your geography. You probably mean East or even Northeast Asia.
posted by owlhouse at 03:16 PM on February 28, 2010
I was about to say, hadn't seen much success from the Cambodian athletes this time around...
posted by evixir at 05:49 PM on February 28, 2010
Who cares about russians?! The only reason they did as well before was because of the large talent pool from all the occupied nations. Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, etc... There are some scary/sad folks there still pining for the ol' CCCP...
posted by StarFucker at 10:53 PM on February 28, 2010
These nations need to get over themselves. (Said someone from the country that earned the most gold medals of any nation ever in a winter games.)
posted by Drood at 04:52 AM on March 01, 2010
Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia. (Okay, point taken.)
posted by etagloh at 09:16 AM on March 01, 2010
Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia. (Okay, point taken.)
+1984
Excellent Orwellian reference.
posted by tommybiden at 11:00 AM on March 01, 2010
Boy, they sure don't sugar coat anything do they?
Us: "We are quite concerned and will launch an immediate investigation."
Them: "They are all babies. We did everything but blow them, (cough), and they proved they can't play against real players."
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:46 PM on March 01, 2010
In Russia, podium owns you.
/Sorry, couldn't help it. You can kill me now.
posted by owlhouse at 06:31 PM on March 01, 2010
They also struggle with a complete lack of sportsmanship since their ego hasn't downsized with their country.
posted by irunfromclones at 09:20 PM on March 01, 2010
The Russian President is calling for mass resignations of the coaching staff. Heads will roll....
posted by yzelda4045 at 08:46 AM on March 02, 2010
The Russian President is calling for mass resignations of the coaching staff. Heads will roll....
The heads have begun to roll. This guy's lucky it wasn't the 1960 Olympics. He might be on his way to the Gulag right now.
posted by Howard_T at 06:54 PM on March 03, 2010
They're not alone.