Hard times for Britain's speed skaters
It's a cliché but it's true - the difference between winning and losing in sport is minute.
If you want a demonstration of this, go to short track speed skating. Britain went into the Pacific Coliseum with the aim of recapturing the quality that they had a generation ago.
Unofficially, we could claim a couple of gold medals in our past when Wilf O'Reilly won two demostration events in Calgary in 1988 while Nicky Gooch doesn't have to add an asterisk to his bronze from 1994. But after these two, our Olympic roll of honour comes to a bit of a grinding halt.
Both O'Reilly and Gooch remain close to the sport - the latter as chief coach - but, as direct as their input continues to be, it would appear, on Wednesday night's evidence, the distance between British athletes and medals is growing rather than narrowing.
The team went into the women's 500m, the men's 1,000m and indeed the men's team 5,000m with chances in all three and, one by one, the chances were snuffed out. I managed to do interviews in Beijing with three female athletes in tears (in archery, badminton and taekwondo) and have now added to that tally with Sarah Lindsay.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
She was disqualified in the quarter-final of the 500m before the first corner when she and Canadian competitor Jessica Gregg repeatedly jousted for the ice. Both skaters refused to give way and ended up in the padding at the side of the rink. After two attempts the officials ruled that Lindsay was at fault and she should be disqualified.
To finish your Games and possibly your Olympic career on such a moment would trouble anyone and Sarah confessed that, after throwing her helmet around the warm-down area, she was planning on an evening of more crying.
The men's team will perhaps be joining her after skating well below their ability in the individual and team events. Though Jon Eley has a slim chance to redeem himself, in truth the sport faces a bleak future.
The reality is that winter sports are going to have to fight harder than ever before for funding and support. The athletes are in Vancouver on less than 2% of the budget that the summer sports have generated. And UK Sport's policies have always rewarded those sports that have demonstrated medal potential. In another sporting cliché, British speed skating is seemingly no longer in control of its own destiny.
If Team GB do win medals at the Sliding Centre or the Olympic Centre, where curling is staged, then you can imagine the sounds from the speed skating apartment in the Olympic Village will be of anguish rather than joy.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~43~RS~)
In a previous life I won four gold medals at the Olympics between 1992 and 2004 and I now work at the BBC. Whilst I was part of the Beijing team for the BBC in the summer of 2008, my primary role is as reporter for 
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
I watched the event in question and quite frankly I was disgusted by the treatment of both female skaters, the judging decisions stank of home nation preference and general disregard for lower ranked competitors.
The second collapse only occurred due to the fact the canadian girl slipped and while falling made damn sure to haul down the British girl. The event as a whole is unfair anyway with huge advantage for inside track, especially if those on the inside get the benefit of the doubt in any instance of "barging."
Really though, team GB doesn't stand a chance, we just don't have the capabilities to compete on a global stage in such events so I don't see why we should waste the money trying. When you look at the number of events we compete in compared to the number we dont it hardly makes a difference whether we're there or not.
Complain about this comment
Yes I agree that in sport the aim is to win but to say that we just don't have the capabilities to compete on a global stage in such events so I don't see why we should waste the money trying. This is ridiculous.
The reason we are not in the top 5 in the medal table is that we are not a nation that is bless with large amounts of snow; however all team GB have performed at on highest level and should be proud of that! Team GB have the capabilities to compete on a global stage otherwise they would not be there. If we do not try and push ourselves to be better what sort of message is that sending out. Especially when you consider the present climate where we want to encourage individuals to be active and try new sports. Team GB promotes sport and the participation in sport and that can only be a good thing.
Funding has always been an issue for us and will continue to be. Hopefully when the Olympics is over and the dust has settled we will see that the money spent on individual athletes in not a waste but an invested interest. Sadly only time will tell.
Complain about this comment
I also watched the event last night and was quite bemused with the decision to DQ one of the skaters over a collision whereby frankly no one was at fault. It's a contact sport, at least over who gains priority on the inside lane over the first bend and both the Canadian and GB athlete were vying for that spot on the track. if anything, on the second run it looked like Lindsay had a slight edge on her opponent. The DQ decision could have gone either way. Another re-run would have sufficed. You have to wonder if the Canadian athlete was given the decision simply because it was their home games.
A shame, and also a tough run on Elise too in the next heat where she had a case on being advanced after being shoved by the Korean athlete.
Whenever a major event pops up, there always seems to be a sense of underachievement within Team GB. You really can't cater for every single sport out there and satisfy everyone. If you focus on one particular sport, another is going to lose out on funding. No one nation is superb in every single event globally, so you have to take the rough with the smooth.
It's a bit of a vicious circle. Speed Skaters won't receive the funding necessary in order to compete for medals, but they must be seen as successful to attain that funding, and that they can't do that because they don't have the backing.
Complain about this comment
You don't need to be a biased Brit to know that singling out Sarah Lindsay in the collision with Jessica Gregg was unfair (and that is a BIG understatement).
The Canadian girl should have been disqualified and possibly banned, for her deliberate trip on the girl in black in the first race when both she and Sarah collided, to then claim after the start shown above, that it was only the Brit grabbing the Canadian and not that both were as bad as each other, just reminds me of a Specsavers advert.
Complain about this comment
I understand the need to compete on the big stage, but im just looking at the disparity between us and other competitors, not just in cold funding, but the whole infrastructure and natural conditions.
To even get close a HUGE amount needs to be spent, to both make up for our poor conditions and sub standard facilities. I seriously doubt that is ever going to happen, not with coverage like this and low interest from the general populace. Thats why i think its better just to cut our losses and leave the entire competition, drop the funding completely and place it somewhere else where it might get us something.
Complain about this comment
I think the specsavers are really for the audiences in the UK! Both girls merited disqualification. Lindsay entered the corner on equal terms and SHE entered the Canadians track lane. That's why. As for Christie... there wasn't even a case. Hence the lack of post coverage on this site.
The reality is this: NONE of the GB skaters were good enough to win a medal. Unless something crazy happens like in salt lake city to aussie Bradbury, the chances of a medal were from slim to non-existent.
Unless we have a much more "international" outlook into our sport and be more realistic to what standard we are, we are never going to be competing against the rest of world, bar the birth of someone with flukey god-given blessing of talent, who needs no money, and is a world class athelete.
The financing of atheletes in GB is not competitive to other countries. The dedication and training And financing of the koreans is 10 fold to what the brits have done. And I'm sure a lot of that is down to funding. The US, Korea, Japan etc have far better attitudes to sponsorships and endorsments from major companies, as it's seen to be patriotic to do so. Uk companies are far less generous. How can a small country like Korea, come out of the cauldron, and become leaders in track skating? Fantastic funding and EXTREME hard training!!!
If we want to see Team GB get some medals... with skill rather than luck, then we need wholesale cultural attitude change. The article shows exactly the attitude we need to change.
Complain about this comment
There is no "track lane" though, all skaters had equal rights to try and gain the inside track as it is a huge advantage (read: essential to win) to have. I agree though that if they were dead set on disqualifying one then both skaters should have been dsq, but as I said above, they wouldn't dare dsq a canadian skater in front of their own crowd even though she essentially was the only one with a false start against her name hence two faults.
Christies case was weak, there looked to be a barge in the back as the other skater came through, but lack of replays made it impossible to be sure either way, and even if she had a case it would never had stood with a head aussie judge anyway.
Your views on funding very much reflect mine, only I dont see why it should be supplied at all if we are just there to fill in the "also competed" list. Either the investment goes up to match other countries or stop wasting our money.
I think the same applies for the BBC coverage, theyve thrown a not insubstantial (i would like to see the actual figure) amount of money to get coverage but it is so sub standard it might aswell not be there.
Complain about this comment
There is an imaginary track lane or track path as you can't just step into an opponents way like she did... She clearly was not in front enough to be able to cut into the edge of the inside lane like that. She ended up side barging her opponent. Restarts are for accidents, or grey area decisions. I felt it was too clear cut and rightly she was dsp'd.
I agree it shouldn't be a "comfort" to the olympics and funding should be made correctly. But throwing money at grassroots levels is exactly what companies also do elsewhere... and that will keep our kids off the street and make come champions surely?? But I agree... put up or shut up time!
I have to add athletes are themselves are partly to blame. Maybe it's a cultural thing. Having been in Korea for many years, the work ethic and dedication is scary. Yes, the dedication of some GB athletes like Redgrave and Pinsent are amazing, but I feel they are a huge exception to the rule here. To argue with myself, incentive and rewards are important for motivation. I guess it's mostly in football. Mind you have you seen the companies sponsoring the teams? Samsung, Etihad etc etc!!
Complain about this comment
This is ridiculous! How can you say either of us are not capable of medalling when i myself could have overtaken the silver meddalist in my race and sarah only just got beaten by her at the line! we dont need good luck to medal we just dnt need bad luck either! although its not my decision the referee made two harsh decisions and we should have both been in those semi finals. and your saying theres no hope for the future im 19 years old been reacing on the circuit for three years and ive come 11th in my worst distance. I have a lot of experience to gain and even with a harsh decision off the refree i come 11th at my first olympic games. My team mate jack whelbourne is only 18 years old as well and finished a respectable 16th in the 1500m. i hope you choke on your words on 4 years is all i can say.
Complain about this comment
Also im 19 yers old and mike your posting stuff about me like you speed skate yourself. I doubt that you know as much bout the sport as i do and i think you should consider my feelings in what your saying! I tried my best and i did take a bump so either way i wasnt fairly knocked out...
Complain about this comment
i also have a lot of respect for matthew pinsent, as he achieved amazing things! but i have belief that in four years us short trackers can too
Complain about this comment
Elise, great to see you give the athlete side of the story. Just a wee word of warning - having been involved in high performance tennis in the UK for a couple of years before moving to the USA don't expect people to have a clue what they are talking about when it comes to sport. People will support you, and there are plenty of great posts on this website, but a lot of people use it to criticize because there is no come back!
If the BBC were serious about supporting the sport maybe a post games 'reality check' show demonstrating your training routine and life would be interesting. And how it compares to other countries. The USA has relatively little funding, for a country its size anyway, and yet seems (to a lay viewer anyway) to have a stream of competitive male speed skaters? Any views you have would be very interesting!
Keep on cheering on the rest of the team, and give a good luck to all GB competitors you see today! Down here in Texas we don't get a vastly diverse view of the games (we see Americans and Canadians) but hoping to read of medals soon!
ps. Must be an incredible experience to be at the Olympics at 19 and the possibility of 3(?) more in your career!!!
Complain about this comment
I can't believe Sarah Lindsay could say her disqualification is preference to the Canadian. Obviously she is upset. In the replay it quite clearly was her elbowing and pushing the Canadian. I think anyone who thinks the Canadian is at fault needs their eyes tested.
Anyone who manages to get to the Olympics has worked hard and has dreams to fulfill. Playing fair should be part of that dream.
Complain about this comment
Matthew Pinsent is correct in a lot of what he is saying. The majority of the GB short track team and Team GB for that matter are not medal contenders and will have to fight for their funding.
The real reasons for this is the levels of investment that other nations such as Korea in short track, put into their Winter Sports. GB short track can only dream of putting in place an elite programme and development system that the Koreans have for their national sport. If like most summer sports, winter sports recieved money to fund talent and development rather than just podium funding then perhaps this dream would be a reality.
The funding bodies continue to part fund winter sports despite all the research they pay for indicating that part funding sports does not work and the only way to truly compete is to fund the sport bottom to top especially if the other nations are doing this (good reading is The Global Sporting Arms Race by V de Bosscher et al). So why do they continue to do this - well the sport budget is not a limitless pot so someone will always loose out!
Why are GB cycling the best in the world? Because everything about them is the best - coaching, equipment, talent id & the list goes on. But this has to start somewhere, we haven't always been the best, in Atlanta 1996 we won no medals on the track! It took 12 years to be the dominant force they were at Beijing 2008 perhaps because they had to overcome nations that had put systems in place many years before GB, such as Australia.
The funding bodies have a no comprimise approach, which is the best approach as it rewards success, but there will always be limited success for those sports with no funding to create a world class system from the bottom to the top of their sport.
So yes winter sport & short track are receiving record amounts of funding and they have benefited immensley from it, which can be seen in the improvements in performances but it will not produce whole teams of medal contenders until we can match the other nations investment and expertise.
So every 4 years when GB winter sport suddenly comes under the spotlight and the media & the nation is disappointed with the generally 1 or 2 medals that will be won remember it is not 1 single issue such as lack of mountains that will prevent us from moving forward but the multitude of contraints that the winter athletes accept, yet still at times beat the worlds best (the most priviledged) athletes.
Winning medals costs a lot of money and if we don't want to pay out - since I'm guessing not many people would be happy with a tax increase to fund our winter sports fully - then we need to be content with the outcomes and expect us to fall further behind as other nations keep investing more and more to stay at the top of the table.
Complain about this comment
To Elise at 9, 10 and 11 - and having established that it is indeed you
I really didn't mean to imply that you or Lindsay were not capable of winning medals - I'm sorry if that wasn't clear. Just that the judging decisions and the results last night had big implications for the sport in the UK.
Unlike Lindsay you have other events to focus on now, put all of your efforts into them and do your country and indeed your sport a huge service.
I can't think of a better sign off than the British supporters banner hung out at the Coliseum "Skate fast, turn left, Go Team GB"
Complain about this comment
Nice to hear your own personal view on the matter(s) in hand Elise. You've done yourself and Team GB & Scotland proud this week out in Vancouver, as have the rest of the entire team.
You'll get your armchair critics that will sit from behind the comfort of their own computer monitor, and some of them, believe it or not, are relatively knowledgeable about the sport.
I heard Hugh Porter at home mention this was your first Olympic experience, so you've put up a great showing for someone so young, but feel really bad for Sarah. I guess these things just happen.
Complain about this comment
Elise, in no way am I saying (or have said) you have no prospect. But with the standard set by the Koreans, Chinese and the US in both the mens and womens, I did not see any of the GB team being favourites to win a medal. Any posts involving you was not a personal criticism but a point of view of the race itself. The referee (who I assume everyone agrees is an expert) has the same point of view. Now I respect athletes who argue against a decision but every athlete has to abide by the referee. I see nothing wrong in backing up that decision as a viewer.
In fact if you read my posts my criticism is mainly towards the lack of funding and long term views of funding for sports in general. In no way is this a personal attack on you or your team-mates. So the question I put to you is should funding stop in your direction because none of you got a medal? My reply was of course not... in fact increase it!
Shorttracker's example made of the cycling GB team is perfect. Great funding and organisation. They went unto the olympics with "favourite" written all over them. Simply put.. you get what you pay for.
Yes, I could be just a layman viewer... or I could have had 16 years in olympic standard sports and spent 8 years training and studying in Korea in my sport, including fitness work with a korean ST skaters... and raised over £100,000 in corporate sponsorship over the last years for youth development. Either way I should be able to stake my case in an open forum!!!
Elise, I appreciate you did your best and I appreciate your youth. And your right... I'm not a skater. But if you are to get gold in the future, the onus is not on just you. It's the sports bodies, sponsors... the whole country, to allow you to dedicate 110percent of your life to the sport, which your fellow competitors in Korea are doing.
I doubt you would disagree with me on that.
PS
Ben don't think you are some elite sports master on this forum. Your 2 years doesn't allow you to make that assumption.
Complain about this comment
(PS continued).. that everyone else here has no sports experience.
Complain about this comment
I think the comments made by tamarru and mike are absolutely appaling. if they actually knew anything about short track, the amount of time and effort the athletes put in, and about the lack of provisions made for the winter athletes in general, then they wouldn't be quite so quick to slag the athletes off. The GB team is made of people from only 4 of 8 clubs in the UK. If short track was as popular in the UK like it is in Korea, China, America or infact Canada where there is an ice rink on every street corner practicly, then of course it would be expected that we came away from the games with medals. Unfortunatly football seems to be the only thing on British minds and yet we are hardly 'world class' at that either, regardless of the millions of pounds the players are paid and how much is poured into that. If some of the money was shared around, then possibly we would be in better standing.
I also watched the start of Sarah's 500m, and if you knew anything about skating you'd know that no one has priority on the start, and that they are often physical as everyone jostles for position. I feel the referee daren't disqualify a Canadian on home soil for fear of the repercussions from the media and the crowd, and so the only way to stop the same thing happening again (which would've done as both skaters were quite rightly determind to get to the corner first) was to disqualify Sarah.
Mike you say you could possibly have 16years in olympic experience, but your comments on here make you sound like you have none. I think Elise has done an excellent job at defending herself and her team mates, and wish her all the best for her remaining distances. I hope you show these armchair critics what team GB are actually capable of. Despite the obsticals they face...
Complain about this comment
This debate on wether or not your Team GB speed skating team needs help is exactly the same argument we have had in Canada for years, After failing to win gold at home TWICE, we embarked on a journey to rectify our "glad to have just competed mantra" Brits say they are not a "winter" powerhouse, you could be! with Scotland being the birthplace of Curling. Canadians gripe about not being a "summer" country yet with determination, and yes funding we perform fairly well in many sports. Make no mistake we are not OZ but it came down to supporting our athletes. Our current "Own the Podium" ia modeled after Australia's funding of it's teams. If a country of just over 21M people can churn out winners, we as a nation of 34M should be able to as well. and the UK with 60M plus should achieve even better results. It's means corporations and all levels of government need to step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is! You never used to see it here but now federal. provincial and civic govt's FUND! as do many Canadian corporations, Also you need to get youngsters into winter programs early! It is still a work in process but we have started. And it is showing results. Athletes need ample cash to train and if it means your speedskaters train in Canada or the US so be it! If Australia can win gold at a Winter Olympics GB should be able to win big as well, We're obsessive in regards to hockey, curling, skiing yet can produce world class runners, swimmers, rowers, etc, perhaps if Britian could see past football, rugby and cricket on occasion you could produce more world class Winter Olympians. It is so easy to gripe and whine at the medal count we did for years but eventually you realize time to get to work. Perhaps your time could be 2014 or 2018 and beyond it was a long time coming for us, and it could be in your future as well.
Complain about this comment
How hard is it to find somewhere that is a perfect guide to gold...
Look whatttt i found!!! Guide of Who To Watch Out For Gold: http://www.lionsdenu.com/category/sports/thecoachs-vancouver-2010-olympic-guide-to-canadian-gold/
Complain about this comment
Mike, you don’t have to be ‘some elite sports master’ to have a valid opinion on this. You were right in saying you didn’t say that Elise has no potential, but in your first post, you state ‘of the GB skaters were good enough to win a medal’. Despite the final results in the 500m showing no medals for the Brits, one racer was disqualified and the other was knocked out in third, whilst receiving a bit of barging herself. Had elise gone down in her race rather than stayed up and raced, would her opponent have been DQ’d?
You’ve also mentioned that the commitment shown by the athletes, like the auther of the blog Sir Pinsent and his ex-team mate Sir Steve Redgrave, is a huge exception to the rule? I would love to know where you get that idea from? With no disrespect to Sir Matt intended at all, how can you say that the dedication shown by him is a huge exception? Do you know what the current short track skaters (and most probably every other GB Winter Olympian) have to do to get to the pinnacle of their sport? Taking Elise as an example, she left her home in Scotland and moved to Nottingham 3 years ago to try to fulfil her potential, and she’s still only 19.
All too often in Britain’s media, dedication and commitment is only brought to the attention of the public after success. Yes Sir Steve, Sir Matt and team-mates, all trained very hard to win the gold medals, but had they not come first or grabbed a medal, I don’t think the dedication and commitment shown by them, would have been as greatly recognised as it has been by the media. In no way am I having a go at Mr Pinsent here, but I think the truth is, the majority of Britain’s Olympians are all extremely dedicated to their sport. But this dedication largely only gets broadcast to the public with success. I would be interested to hear your point on this Sir Matt, do you think you would have the (definitely deserved) recognition you have now, if you hadn’t won a gold medal?
Mike I think your points about funding are valid, but to bring into your argument the dedication of the athletes is quite simply wrong. Until you know what they have to go through to get to this point in their careers, to slander them in the slightest is wrong. I take the view that for the performances shown by the GB athletes in these games so far, has been brilliant considering the lack of funding in all Winter Sports by the BOA. I think I read the budget for funding is something like 2% of that for the Summer games?
Complain about this comment
It is great to see a young athelete defend herself so passionately and articulately on her.
As Elise has stated she could of overtaken the eventual silver medalist she is only 19. She also has a very graceful skating action and will only improve with age in my opinion. I would also rather that she does get frustrated when things do not go her way show me a good loser and i will show you a loser full stop.
My last point is that if she was given the same level of funding as say the cyclists or indeed the rowers that she could of been challanging for a medal in what i believe to be her weaker event and i have no doubt she will only get better particularly for four years time.
Complain about this comment
I am very glad to see that Elise has defended herself because all to often people criticize an athlete's on their performance with out knowing anything about the sport or the athlete in question who might have performed out of their skin but are deemed as a failure by both the public and media.
As someone who tried to make it to Vancouver and has team mates competing in Vancouver as we speak I find it despicable for people to say that the current members of Team GB do you not have the dedication it requires to compete at world class level!!
Remember these are the best athlete's Britain currently has to offer and instead of whining about it why don't you help create the future winter Olympian which many coach's do on a voluntary basis's because it not only take sacrifice from athlete's but also coach's.
I suggest that if you don't think they have the dedication to compete with the very best well that you first of all see them train and if you think it is so easy why don't you try it and see how far you get with it.
Some of the people writing on this have no idea the dedication or sacrifice it takes just to make it to the Olympics. The obstacles that British winter athletes have to over come would stagger many people if only they new the full truth and weren't so quick to criticize and do the usual British trait of being negative.
I would like to say good luck to all the British speed skaters and I hope you can make a point in the last day of track action. I will be shouting at the TV for all its worth.
Complain about this comment
You're right xcskiing22, I think the barriers and obstacles preventing Winter Sports Athletes are much greater than those for the Summer Athletes. Funding and weather the most obvious ones, as well as popularity of these sports. It's something that should seem pretty obvious for people to realise in this country, but sadly a lot don't, and demand medals. I don't think it is far wrong to say, that for any Briton to get into a Winter Olympics games and meet the criteria, is a success in itself, regardless of the performance at the games.
Complain about this comment
Speedfan... please re-read my posts. My points were about increasing funding so as increase and better those conditions. You can slag off the referee as much as you like but, using your argument, I assume he "knows" more about skating than you?
da9... please re-read. My point about "some elite sports master" was exactly that. Ben assumed I had no sports experience. I believe everyone should have a say. That's whether they are practitioners or not. The "you don't skate" argument is redundant. As I pointed out if the referee was on this board you couldn't argue against his expertise... and he had the same opinion of the race. He has more experience in this sport than even Elise... But I, personally respect all opinions.
My point or lack of dedication and commitment was a bit harsh I agree. I am not arguing that Pinsent and Redgrave are the only athletes to have done so. Indeed I personally know many who are. But my point is more general. I do question the dedication of some athletes in GB (and I state here I am NOT aiming this at Elise!). We shouldn't be afraid to. If we are demanding medals from our athletes, then sometimes the 110% isn't good enough as other athletes who are giving 200%! I also argued with myself that funding can be the root of this problem. The example being is that many athletes in Korea don't have to have a job as their lives are funded.
If we take our GB blinkers off and watch these competitions, we can be more realistic about improving our athletes. That means being realistic about where we stand in the world in our respective sports.
The media will of course highlight the successes. That's whole other story. But patting on the back for "effort" isn't going get medals. And I promise you every athlete would rather get a medal!
We can sit here and say "You've done so well considering the lack of money etc" or you can angry and say "why can't you get proper funding to get you a medal?". I'm just choosing the latter.
Complain about this comment
Does make me smile that assumptions are if one is criticizing here, then he/she must know nothing and have no experience about competitive sports!
To be straight: yes I do have the experience, yes I do voluntary work and yes I do raise money. And I probably shout louder than most at supporting Team GB!
Complain about this comment
Mike, I was wasn't making any assumptions about my 'expertise' in sport at all. I was merely pointing out my experience in a sport that has received a lot of criticism for not winning grand slams every year... I respect your views and aimed to point out that a lot of people know what they are talking about; but you can't tell me everyone writes with here perspective?
My only view on your post is that the generalisation about funding towards sport is just that - a generalisation. You can't put all the success down to money as many countries do not fund their athletes to the level we do at all; there are many more factors!
Anyway, sorry to rant; just felt my post was wrongly taken...
Good luck GB!!!!
Complain about this comment
Elise, I have the impulse to do something I never usually do, participate in an online forum. This has grabbed my attention.
I just wanted to say that Matthew Pinsent is right...please, please dont let what has been written here affect you, because at the end of the day it's simply chit chat, nothing more.
Concentrate on what you need to do and prove your critics wrong.
I for one will be staying up now to watch your next events and urging you on.
Complain about this comment
Ben, I appreciate the clarity and your views. With perspective? maybe but maybe not. It's too difficult to judge on the net!
I also agree that money is not the sole key to success, but it's a huge factor in the lesser known sports. Funding for athletes to pay rent, train and diet properly... not to buy them ferrari's (ala football!!).
There are many factors I agree, but was merely keeping on point to the article.
Complain about this comment
I just wanted to float a more general idea about athlete funding (which was sort of the topic of the thread before it got side tracked).
Essentially why do athletes get funding at all? What is the benefit to our society of professional athletes? What is the value of a gold medal? What justification can be put forward for spending money on speed skating as opposed to education?
Obviously many professional athletes are self funded by market forces (footballers) or by sponsership or prize money - they clearly provide a product that is in demand. But why should money be spent by society to allow athletes to pursue careers that give no obvious benefit back to the country?
If it is purely national pride at stake then I would like to point out that I would take more pride in international educational or healthcare leagues than in olympic medal tables.
I am certainly happy to be educated on this point and look forward to hearing the arguments in favour of funding athletes in overlooked sports.
Complain about this comment
Bravo Elise, I think your comments are very brave, and that you and your fellow athletes are doing a magnificent job of representing our country.
The years of hard work and training have put you in a position whereby you are one of the top 10 or 20 Skaters on the planet right now. In life there will always be detractors but I would wager none of those detractors have ever, or will ever be able to say that about anything in their lives. I hope the funding continues to be at a level that allows you to compete but even if it doesn't I suspect you would not allow that to stop you competing.
Well done for being there and good luck for the future.
Complain about this comment
Athleticskeptic I think you make some valid points that I would imagine are similar to the millions of non sport fans in the UK.
My argument for sport is that there is much more at stake than just medals. You hear in the press about 'broken Britain' but imagine the sense of pride and togetherness that could be achieved if England (sorry if your Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish) won the World Cup in the summer or Team GB excel even further at London 2012. I am not saying that sport is the whole solution to our nations problems, but the evidence shows that sport can play a huge role in improving health, reducing youth anti social behaviour, increasing community cohesion, improving educational attainment and contributing to many other troubling issues.
There are 3 stages to sport - school sport, community sport and elite sport. Without any single one of these the others do not exist to their full potential, so if there was no elite sport, where would all those young people with dreams and aspirations go. It is only the same as someone dreaming to be a Doctor yet there is not enough money to pay for anymore Doctors. This is where my argument regarding providing opportunities for everyone applies, just because the traditional GB sports are the ones that most people are interested in does that mean we should overlook the minority? And if the minority had what the majority had, would they be as successful as the big sports? Well this is what we believe in society, if we help the under priviledged then they will have the potential to succeed just as much as anyone else. Also with participation in sport so low (around 20% nationally) this actually suggests that people don't want to do our traditional sports and it is time to try something new!
So anyones view will always be influenced by what they think is important, but of the 2 things you think are more important research shows that sport can play a major role in improving these, which is why the department of health and the department of children schools and families have targets in this area.
Can we ever put on value on an Olympic medal? As with most things, it is only worth what anyone willing to pay for it - which is more and more every year. So we value a cycling, rowing, sailing or athletes medal very highly because we are willing to pay probably as much if not more than other nations to get these. Yet we obviously don't value winter sport medals very highly as we are not willing to pay anywhere near what the other nations will pay.
I'm guessing I'm not going to convert you fully to my way of thinking but maybe it gives you a different perspective!
Complain about this comment
Shorttracker, you also make some valid points! I accept that sport can be a rallying point to bring people together. However your example of football is unfortunate as it makes my point - the sports that people engage with, that really have this power, are the ones that fund themselves by popular consent.
While it should be the goal of any society to realise the maximum potential of all its citizens (regardless of their level of actual ability or the nature of their talent), in a time of limited resources it is surely more important to direct our efforts towards goals that benefit society as directly as possible.
Sponsoring elite athletes may give hope and inspiration to disadvantaged children, and maybe even offer an escape route for the odd gifted individual, but putting the same money directly into schools should provide a more lasting and meaningful benefit, and for all children not just the lucky ones.
Complain about this comment
The discussion is moving in many different directions but to chip in with opinions to some of the issues raised.
I dont think it's possible to divide recognition from success (da9 in 22 and others) there are many hundreds of people who dedicate themselves to an almost insane degree to reach an Olympic team and of course only a fraction who make it. and of those selected only a small number win medals and get some sort of recognition. The criteria for media coverage simply cannot be how hard you train. Dedication however necessary is just one of the building blocks involved in success.
In Britain funding is controlled by UK Sport which is itself given money from the National Lottery. This is divided between the sports according to their capability of winning medals on the world stage. UK Sport has a no compromise policy (read more at www.uksport.gov.uk) which essentially gives priority to medal chances. on the site you can see while the summer sports get over 250 million GB pounds between them the budget for the winter sports is less than 6 million. For many this is controversial but the structure has been studied and copied by many countries (indeed "Own the podium" had drawn on some of the key elements).
however it is far to simplistic to think that you can simply buy medals with a top grade funding package. Thankfully sport is more complex than that.
The point I was reinforcing with the blog is that UK Sport will be making the decisions for Sochi in 2014 based on the Vancouver results. Take a look at the UK Site and see just how the funding reflects the results from Turin - top funded sport skeleton after winning the sole British medal in 2006. If short track cannot post a better result than they have so far this Games then I'm sure their funding of 900,000 over four years up to Sochi will be under threat.
As evidence for this just ask shooting, judo and hockey what happened after Beijing.
I'll happily continue contributing to the discussion as long as it carries on - and many thanks for your comments so far.
in the meantime I have to turn to the Stanley Cup!
Complain about this comment
i am sure for anyone with a short track background will agree with my statement.
who has ever seen a disqualification on the 1st corner of a short track race??
whoever wrote that referee "knows more" then the others who have written of their disgust of the bad calls they are simple wrong. this is underlined in my case below....
i competed for 18 years in 100's of comps including world cups for my country and have never seen this call at international or domestic level! on the start everyone runs the shortest distance to the 1st block. often skaters get squeezed on the start and if falls happen before the middle block the race is recalled and all skaters restart.....period!
the referee which disqualified sarah lindsay is no "expert". i am sorry to say the olympic referees clearly are not the best in the sport. the one is question is not a regular world cup and domestic referee (thus making random calls which everyone else can see different, how he got the job is beyond me).... this "expert" crawled out the woodworks for a free trip to the olympics and does it every 4 years! this referee is the same idiot who gave the disqualification of the korean kim in 2002 olympics (possibly the worst descision in the sports history...and also in favour of the home nation, which was to ohno of the usa!) the dq was a joke and robbed the sarah of a chance she worked very hard for. consider that sarah lead her previous race 500m until the last 1 metre and that skater who pipped her to the line ended up with silver, simply unfair and cruel.
Short track is an unpredictable sport and the best don't always win. for example in 2002 olympics korea got no male gold medals in short track! The british team are the strongest collectivly the team has ever been. every member has indiviually made a top 15 world result in the past 12 months. infact in the relay the mens team have medaled regularly at euros and world cups in the past 4 years in addition 2 members medaled indiviually at world cups in 500m. which is why they have fair funding. every skater has been very competitve and SO FAR this games although all the major descisions have gone against them. i feel for both elise and sarah who both had extremly harsh ones.
i wish our team gb all the best in the rest of the distances. the team is a real credit to the nation. for a non winter sport nation to really be a medal contender takes alot of strength and character. congrats so far and keep up the good work!
Complain about this comment
I'd just like to wish Elise all the best with the 1000m & 1500m. I'm glad you stuck up for yourself & the sport in general on this blog. You're the most promising & competitive young skater I've seen racing for team GB in years.I've seen some dodgy calls in my time & I have to say I think Sarah's dq was pretty unfair. Personally I think both of you put up a creditable performance in the 500m. Ontrack is right, it is an unpredictable sport & the best skaters don't always win individual races. I haven't raced in years, but I'm still a keen follower of the sport & I hope funding isn't cut for the sport, as I know how vital it is for our skaters to get adequate ice time for training, in order to be competitive. It would be a real shame to cut support for the sport based on a couple of unlucky incidents.
Complain about this comment
The funding is terrible, considering the state of the flat we live in
Complain about this comment
I fully recognize that we can't simply "buy" a medal. But I've felt for the lesser popular sports that the lack of basic funding is a problem. And I still feel that UK Sport has a responsibility to these sports as they are funded by organisations such as the National Lottery, in the same way that BBC are funded by the license payer, and should not only go after ratings popular programs. It's important that the underdog is given time as you never know where the gold is going to come from.
When UK Sport announced it's toughening of it's policy to direct resources to medal potential, it was in reaction to the lack of medals. How to choose potential is certainly a tough job, but I sometimes feel they overlook too many. But this is a grey area I've argued for many years.
An element that is also missing here is the UK somewhat is the commercial sector. Certainly from the countries I have worked in, I have noticed sponsorship from commercial businesses is less forthcoming in the UK... be it from the big corporations to the individuals. Asian companies certainly sponsor grass root organisations more than the UK. I certainly wish "corporate patriotism" would grow here...
Complain about this comment
If the referee was on this forum, I'm sure he would be able to pull out his credentials and argue with any skater about experience and the decision.
My point of the referee wasn't that he is always right but to argue against the case "you don't agree in favour of GB so you must know nothing"!!! Though you consider him incompetent, there are obviously enough people in skating to be calling him an expert! Ohno certainly thinks he's good!
Complain about this comment
Btw,I wouldn't consider Korea a winter sport country. Their first gold outside of short track skating have come in these olympics. With probably another in figure skating.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Elise, forget everything that has gone before and focus on your next race.
You have awesome potential.
Never has British Short Track seen a female skater with so much potential at such a young age. 19 years old and already a European medal holder.
Awesome.
Historically British short track was dominated by the men. It is changing. You are part of that change and it is fantastic to see.
Complain about this comment
Good for you Elise for sticking up for yourself on here, i short track speed skate for nottingham and understand just how hard you train on a daily basis. Your making all the british speed skaters very proud and so are the rest of the team. Keep up the good work, continue to make us proud and good luck i know you guys are trying your hardest and i know you will do great :).
Complain about this comment
Elise - to paraphrase Matthew's banner some more:
"Skate fast, turn left, & NOW PUT EVERYTHING ELSE BEHIND YOU!!! Go Team GB"
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEgsoAO0QBc
i appologise that this isn't the most prefessional clip, this was put on youtube by a fan ater the girls relay was one of the latest victim of the same referee i spoke about.... another bad choice....as i said, this referee doesn't know what he is doing. i hope for the sake of a great sport that this judge is kicked out by the isu (international skating union) for repeated dubious calls.
Complain about this comment
Here's a video with the other view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3tBhp7n3yo
She does seem to push the chest? Is that legal?
Complain about this comment
How Much Funding Did The G.B. Short Track Team Receive For The 2010 Olympics ? Which I Believe Comes Indirectly From The Lottery.
Complain about this comment
A bit late in the day, but Matthews comments are absolutely correct. The current problem in many sports including Short Track is Parent Power.
When Short Track was very successful in the UK, the sport flourished with almost 20 clubs made up of adult skaters who competed at a high level every week up and down the country. Races were held every Saturday night before the public and there was always a steady influx of new skaters into the sport. Then after GB won the first unoffical World event in 1977 the sport started to go international. This was still not a problem until the racing was moved away from the public and held in isolation to give the skaters better ice. This immediately starved it of its lifeblood. The next killer was to bring in skaters under the 16 years old limit...that alone was not the problem, if the youngsters were not integrated into the adult clubs... we then had lots of pushy parents getting involved and the be all and end all was to make the National Training Squad. The regular racing and competitions started to dry up and the standards fell to a level not worth watching. Adult skaters were in decline and all the emphasis was placed upon the development of the youngsters who might or might not stay the course up to adult level....mostly not. The sport today has 4 or 5 small clubs with mainly children as their members...the racing is watched only by the parents and the few good skaters and some not so good stay and train permanently at the centre of excellence in Nottingham. The amount of money thrown at the sport down the years has been obscene for the return and the National Coaches are not the smartest things on two legs. The sport in UK has no future. It had a great past and was a great sport with many fine skaters from all over the UK. As with everything in life, the broader the base, the bigger the pyramid. There is little or no base in the uk Short Track scene and the couple of World Class skaters we currently have appear to make us punch above our weight.. We might just throw up the odd gem now and again, but the future looks very bleak for what was once a great sporting spectacle.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS