Biles bails at the Olympics
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I'd never heard her name until this week. However, it seems that she was one of many girls abused by Dr. Larry Nassar, who was the doc for US women's gymnastics.
That's gotta leave a mark.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 12:54 last edited by Loki@george-k said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
I'd never heard her name until this week. However, it seems that she was one of many girls abused by Dr. Larry Nassar, who was the doc for US women's gymnastics.
That's gotta leave a mark.
Sounds nice but could be 100% irrelevant. If you are going to make that charge you need to back it up because it already sticks in too many people’s brains. Conspiracies R us.
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She choked but few people understand just how engineered everything about her routine is. To squeeze out that last amount of performance that no one else on the planet can do requires another level of precision. If just one aspect failed, for example lost for a nano second while twirling, then it could happen over and over again.
This is not like choking because someone is unprepared or naturally too self conscious or fearful, or abused by someone or PTSD. It’s more like an element in the brain that goes from automatic to being processed in real time.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 13:01 last edited by@loki said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
This is not like choking because someone is unprepared or naturally too self conscious or fearful, or abused by someone or PTSD. It’s more like an element in the brain that goes from automatic to being processed in real time.
Yeah, and it´s not like this is her first rodeo. She is an Olympic champion, and world and national champion many times over (I think undefeated in every competition since 2013?). Clearly, this was beyond nerves.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 13:19 last edited by
Her decision was described as "brave."
I'm not sure that that's the correct description.
"Tom Brady, fearing being tackled and injured during the 4th quarter, courageously dropped out of the game. The second string QB failed to make any 1st downs, and the team lost."
I'm not disputing, or even criticizing, her decision. I'm bemused by the way things are being reported.
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Her decision was described as "brave."
I'm not sure that that's the correct description.
"Tom Brady, fearing being tackled and injured during the 4th quarter, courageously dropped out of the game. The second string QB failed to make any 1st downs, and the team lost."
I'm not disputing, or even criticizing, her decision. I'm bemused by the way things are being reported.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 13:29 last edited by@george-k said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
Her decision was described as "brave."
I'm not sure that that's the correct description.
"Tom Brady, fearing being tackled and injured during the 4th quarter, courageously dropped out of the game. The second string QB failed to make any 1st downs, and the team lost."
I'm not disputing, or even criticizing, her decision. I'm bemused by the way things are being reported.
Call it what you want. Russia took home the Gold. They won and it was painful watching our team lose. I don’t think any viewer thought Simone bravery>Russian Gold.
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@george-k said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
Her decision was described as "brave."
I'm not sure that that's the correct description.
"Tom Brady, fearing being tackled and injured during the 4th quarter, courageously dropped out of the game. The second string QB failed to make any 1st downs, and the team lost."
I'm not disputing, or even criticizing, her decision. I'm bemused by the way things are being reported.
Call it what you want. Russia took home the Gold. They won and it was painful watching our team lose. I don’t think any viewer thought Simone bravery>Russian Gold.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 13:36 last edited by@loki said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
I don’t think any viewer thought Simone bravery>Russian Gold.
I never said that, did I? I also never besmirched the Russians for their win.
But, her "courage" did cost the US the Gold Medal.
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@loki said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
I don’t think any viewer thought Simone bravery>Russian Gold.
I never said that, did I? I also never besmirched the Russians for their win.
But, her "courage" did cost the US the Gold Medal.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 13:40 last edited by Loki@george-k said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
@loki said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
I don’t think any viewer thought Simone bravery>Russian Gold.
I never said that, did I? I also never besmirched the Russians for their win.
But, her "courage" did cost the US the Gold Medal.
Sorry did not mean to imply you did. Competition is about winning and on some level choking is choking.
She could redeem herself with a comeback win and/or she could have an amazing career after on the topic of choking and coaching elite athletes through choking and how to prevent.
The science of what is going on in the brain during extreme stress is still young and it’s a podcasting boom.
I read the accounts all day and then I watched late last night. I was somewhat shocked by the gap between what was said and what I saw. That is what I meant by viewer.
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@george-k said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
@loki said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
I don’t think any viewer thought Simone bravery>Russian Gold.
I never said that, did I? I also never besmirched the Russians for their win.
But, her "courage" did cost the US the Gold Medal.
Sorry did not mean to imply you did. Competition is about winning and on some level choking is choking.
She could redeem herself with a comeback win and/or she could have an amazing career after on the topic of choking and coaching elite athletes through choking and how to prevent.
The science of what is going on in the brain during extreme stress is still young and it’s a podcasting boom.
I read the accounts all day and then I watched late last night. I was somewhat shocked by the gap between what was said and what I saw. That is what I meant by viewer.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 13:47 last edited by Catseye3@loki On the choking question, did she or didn't she, I'm thinking you hadda been there to answer that with any usefulness. That is, you hadda shared in the struggle to gain the peak -- in rain or shine, in sickness or in health, in good mood or bad.
Armchair "Olympiads" can't know. Just as we cannot know what is involved in the climb to the Olympics. We can read all about it, but we can't know, not really.
We're like the brat in Jon's Funny Pics post, watching an Olympiad's outstanding performance but wobbling a half inch upon landing: "This guy sucks."
My immediate -- and profoundly ignorant -- reaction to Biles' dropping out was, "damn her; if she couldn't handle the heat she shoulda stayed out of the kitchen," and my emotional self still kinda feels that way. Not that I'm proud of that. But my sensible self does know better.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 13:56 last edited by
I'm not really willing to pick her apart, pro or con. I just wish her the best.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 14:11 last edited by
I´d love to see more focus on the 3 other Team members who competed with this disability and won the silver.
Biles is an amazing gymnast, and she has been on top for nearly a decade. It´s unfortunate she will not be competing in the all-around, but there are a lot of other highly-skilled gymnasts in the field and it will be exciting to see how the competition plays out now with this opening.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 14:32 last edited by
She choked and she and the team paid the price. Fine, end of a sad story.
The stuff about courage sounds like wishful thinking.
Her net worth is still $10M+, she'll be fine.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 14:36 last edited by
Not quitting would have been even more courageous. But now she can be an advocate for mental health or something. If she has a publicist, and I'm sure she does, that publicist sees this as a net positive.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 18:36 last edited by
From here on out, it's all spin.
Better to have done your best and fail.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 19:03 last edited by Loki
I am not rushing to judgement yet.
It’s the hottest news event going and there is a need for media on all sides to feed it.
The Russians won, we came in second. Whether Simone perceived a risk for the team to fall out of medaling and was unselfish is the question.
My personal competitiveness tells me Silver is a hell of a lot better than nothing. The drama around others standing up to extreme pressure and performing without prep was thrilling. Edge of the seat thrilling.
Anyone who thinks they know what was in Simone’s head is way over their skis at the moment.
If some are saying white privilege (think CRT) has created toxic competitiveness is full of shit.
Final thought, watching Simone on the vault and one other routine before she dropped out is quite telling that she was crashing, very predictive.
If you didn’t watch the entire event your are missing too much to speak with any authority.
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I am not rushing to judgement yet.
It’s the hottest news event going and there is a need for media on all sides to feed it.
The Russians won, we came in second. Whether Simone perceived a risk for the team to fall out of medaling and was unselfish is the question.
My personal competitiveness tells me Silver is a hell of a lot better than nothing. The drama around others standing up to extreme pressure and performing without prep was thrilling. Edge of the seat thrilling.
Anyone who thinks they know what was in Simone’s head is way over their skis at the moment.
If some are saying white privilege (think CRT) has created toxic competitiveness is full of shit.
Final thought, watching Simone on the vault and one other routine before she dropped out is quite telling that she was crashing, very predictive.
If you didn’t watch the entire event your are missing too much to speak with any authority.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 19:16 last edited by@loki said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
I am not rushing to judgement yet.
It’s the hottest news event going and there is a need for media on all sides to feed it.
The Russians won, we came in second. Whether Simone perceived a risk for the team to fall out of medaling and was unselfish is the question.
My personal competitiveness tells me Silver is a hell of a lot better than nothing. The drama around others standing up to extreme pressure and performing without prep was thrilling. Edge of the seat thrilling.
Anyone who thinks they know what was in Simone’s head is way over their skis at the moment.
If some are saying white privilege (think CRT) has created toxic competitiveness is full of shit.
Final thought, watching Simone on the vault and one other routine before she dropped out is quite telling that she was crashing, very predictive.
If you didn’t watch the entire event your are missing too much to speak with any authority.
I saw her events, and agree something was wrong. But, greatness is not only how physically talented you are, but also how mentally tough you can be.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 19:25 last edited by
There are certainly more sane ways to retire.
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wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 19:34 last edited by
@jolly said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
But, greatness is not only how physically talented you are, but also how mentally tough you can be.
It's just sports, greatness is overrated. It's not like lives are at stake. Just do your best without hurting yourself, have fun, and call it a day. If you get hurt doing sports or playing games or doing any leisurely activity, just take a break, recover, and have fun another day.
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@jolly said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
But, greatness is not only how physically talented you are, but also how mentally tough you can be.
It's just sports, greatness is overrated. It's not like lives are at stake. Just do your best without hurting yourself, have fun, and call it a day. If you get hurt doing sports or playing games or doing any leisurely activity, just take a break, recover, and have fun another day.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 19:36 last edited by@axtremus said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
@jolly said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
But, greatness is not only how physically talented you are, but also how mentally tough you can be.
It's just sports, greatness is overrated. It's not like lives are at stake. Just do your best without hurting yourself, have fun, and call it a day. If you get hurt doing sports or playing games or doing any leisurely activity, just take a break, recover, and have fun another day.
Say Ax, is there a way to block moderators on the forum?
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@jolly said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
But, greatness is not only how physically talented you are, but also how mentally tough you can be.
It's just sports, greatness is overrated. It's not like lives are at stake. Just do your best without hurting yourself, have fun, and call it a day. If you get hurt doing sports or playing games or doing any leisurely activity, just take a break, recover, and have fun another day.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 19:41 last edited by@axtremus said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
greatness is overrated.
Sez who? By what standard?
If it wasn't for thinking about and having fascination with greatness, life would be considerably less interesting than it is.
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@jolly said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
But, greatness is not only how physically talented you are, but also how mentally tough you can be.
It's just sports, greatness is overrated. It's not like lives are at stake. Just do your best without hurting yourself, have fun, and call it a day. If you get hurt doing sports or playing games or doing any leisurely activity, just take a break, recover, and have fun another day.
wrote on 28 Jul 2021, 20:19 last edited by@axtremus said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
@jolly said in Biles bails at the Olympics:
But, greatness is not only how physically talented you are, but also how mentally tough you can be.
It's just sports, greatness is overrated. It's not like lives are at stake. Just do your best without hurting yourself, have fun, and call it a day. If you get hurt doing sports or playing games or doing any leisurely activity, just take a break, recover, and have fun another day.
An acceptance of one's own mediocrity is very zen, but probably not typical of world class athletes.
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wrote on 29 Jul 2021, 01:47 last edited by
My pastor weighed in on this issue...Thought his take was interesting. In his youth, he never made the Olympics, but he did finish in the top five NCAA pole vaulters a couple of times.
He thought she should have competed. The time to step aside was before the Olympics started. Let the alternate gymnast get her mind in the right place for competition. Once you commit, you commit for the team. He referenced Kerri Strug, who couldn't hardly walk, but still completed her vault to help her team.