- 13 Sep 08, 07:29 PM
Well there are few words to explain David Weir's 800m race on Saturday night apart from saying 'He was robbed'.
David did everything right. He had confidence, and he figured out that the best way to run the race, was to go to the front and control it, and finish with devastating speed.
He called it his 'bogey' event, and he destroyed that myth with a perfectly executed race. As he came off the track he said to BBC reporter Phil Jones that he had never won an 800m race at this level, and thanks to the Australians, he still hasn't.
Little did he know that just a few hours after the ecstasy of winning, he would be left devastated because of a protest.
The first we heard of a potential problem was when a couple of guys who worked for Australian television came past the BBC commentary box and asked if we had heard about the protest. It took a while and some running around to find out what the story was.
It turned out that there were at least two call sheets around and the one that the officials had in the final call room was different to the one that the athletes had seen.
Kurt Fearnley from Australia raised his concern, but the race went ahead. That to me was a mistake.
If there was any doubt about the lane allocation then they should have let the guys go on to the track, but hold the race until they had sorted it out.
David won the race fair and square, and then afterwards the Australians protested that Fearnley (who thought that he was in one of the outside lanes), had ended up in Lane Two and had been disadvantaged, and the jury of appeal decided a re run was in order.
If Fearnley had felt that strongly about it then we have to ask why he didn't make more of it in the call room?
A more important question that needs answering is why was there more than one version of a call sheet around?
Instead Fearnley lost the race, and his team protested. It leaves a bit of a bad taste in your mouth.
An athlete decides what race tactics they are going to use, partly depending what lane you are in, but Fearnley is experienced enough to be able to adapt to the situation, you have to do that during a race anyway.
He didn't get around Weir at the start, chose to go in behind him, and as the race went on, he found that there was no way out. That is racing. That is sport, and it is tough.
To null the race is unforgivable. After the disaster of awarding the medals in the women's 5,000m and then ordering a re-run, why didn't someone in the call room or one of the qualified officials who was around just call a halt to it and clarify the situation.
The Paralympics is about winning medals and countries will do what they can within the rules to help their athletes gain an advantage.
However, this feels like a situation where the officials could have done more The guys who race on the track deserve better than this, and so do the fans.
The whole of the British fan base will be behind David Weir on Tuesday morning, willing him on. It would be cruel if he doesn't win the gold at the second time of asking. Go David !!!
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Comments
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Exactly, Tanni! David, you can and will do it!
I've been doing a little digging on the Net and found directly contradictory comments from the Fearnley camp - the protest was, according to his coach, that Fearnley could not execute his race plan from his lane and deserved a re-run. Yet, according to Fearnley himself, he didn't have a race plan...
"In the eight, I just like to take everything as it comes it's not my strongest event, I'd prefer to go maybe another ten laps before I have to sprint but I'll take whatever way I have to do it," he (Fearnley) said. (Taken from the ABC website)
So he didn't have a race plan, was happy to take the race as it came and then says he had a race plan he couldn't execute AFTER the race he messed up in, and luckily for him, has left himself a loophole.
Gamesmanship in the extreme, and behaviour that reflects very poorly on Team Australia.
I can remember thinking how unfair it was that you had to compete against athletes less disabled than yourself, Tanni, due to the vagaries of classification, but I don't ever remember you protesting about it.
C'mon GB, get behind Dave Weir - no more negativity! He's a winner.
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I think both the decision to appeal and the decision to uphold the appeal both bring great shame to these games.
If there is any justice, David will win the rerun and Fearnley will finish out of the medals.
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If there is any justice then David will win the re-run!
But all this shows up Team Australia in a very bad light indeed.
I personally feel that their actions are very much against the spirit of the Paralympics.
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For comments see the 606 blogs lots of them.
What are the Stats for people winning from lane 2 in the 800 compared to lane Kurt was supposed to be in. Which lane would most competitors wish to be in?
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I can't ever imagine this ever happening in the Olympic 800m. As others have said, any problems with the lane order should be addressed before the start of the race. Though it's a big disappointment for us in the UK to hear such news, I can't imagine how devastating it must be for Weir right now.
Whatever happens in the re-race, he has done us, and himself, proud.
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Several things arise from David Weir's 800 meter race.
a. Why was there more than 1 lane list.
b. If the Australian competitor knew he was in the wrong lane, why was there no protest at the start.
c. Would the Australian competitor have protested if he had won Gold.
When O When will someone teach our Australian cousins the art of "Losing Gracefully"
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I am in complete agreement with Dame Tanni and her analysis. The Australian Officials are showing themselves as being spoil-sports at GB's successes over their meager totals; and the IPC as cowards in the face of any Appeal - witness their fiasco over the Shelly Woods' race! Is there any way GB can appeal against the Australian Appeal and does GB have any representation at these Appeal meetings?
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Sounds like a dose of the "Whineing 'Strines".
Mates, sort it out before the start. Protest or don't protest, it's your call, but do it at the right time i.e. when something can be done about it and before it's too late. Otherwise it's just sour grapes. Woz-y, Woz-y, Woz-y beaten?
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Can anyone tell me where they found the comments from kurt fearnley about winning the 800m they need to be sent to my contacts at uk athletics, etc.
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Well - if there was a whingeing event, Australian would win gold, silver and bronze!
I presume if the whingeing Oz had won that would have been OK?
They get more pathetic with every sporting event - we wiped the floor with them in the Olympics and now we're doing it in the Paralympics.
I can't believe that the protest was upheld - he knew he was in the wrong lane when he lined up - so why did he not complain then - because he knew David would probably beat him - and having to re-run means an extra load on the Brit! Sportsmanship - the Ozzies have never heard of it - shame on them as a nation! I'm glad I'm not one - I'd never lift my head again!
Come on David!!
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Talk about groundhog day !!
what can anyone say about this result !there were no crashes like the 5000m final
there was no impedment from anyone walking onto the track.
The only problem was which athlete started in which ever lane they were designated to begin the race.
So firstly where ever you start in a race everyone has the same chance its about what happens at the finish that matters. If i was kurt i would be happy with a silver and reside myself to the fact that i didnt step up to the challenge when it mattered and didnt produce the goods to get a gold !
Kurt has to analyse his own performance not that of where he was at the start when he had two laps to sort that out but where he was at the finish.
And as for shelly and dave this is where the true sportmanship and british true grit comes into force, Because they are above all this!
because no matter how many times the auzzies want to contest a race or any other nation.
Dave and shelly will go out there no matter what and prove that they have already got a gold by getting on that start line again and again no matter how many times they want to do a rerun and no matter whatever the outcome.
So bring it on the auzzies and americans and anyone else who wants to protest a fair race the brits are ready for you !
So dave get back on that podium where you belong and go for gold because you cannot deny a true champion !!!
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Hi there, I posted the earlier comments regarding the Fearnley quote. I don't think this will let me post a link, but it's from the ABC Australia website - an article headed
Aussies fly into athletics finals
Posted Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:42pm AEST
Updated Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:08pm AEST
The website address is abc.net.au - you should be able to find it through a search engine's details.
I hope you can pass these on, Daretotread, and that justice will be seen to be done, be it on the track or through officials. The page has a link to email the story directly.
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Thank you And.
This is being passed to the various sporting bodies concerned, UK Athletics, IPC, etc so that David can be re-instated hopefully.
The IPC are appalling apparently I hear on the grapevine that the appeal judges who heard both the uk and aussies were british....
i ask people to send emails to the ipc, beijing olympic committee and uk athletics so justice is done....also we musn't forget david.....please send all your wishes to him via this site....i am sure it will help raise his spirits for the last few days......keep blogging........lets show the aussie cheaters....
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the Australian obviously didn't feel too bothered or strongly about the 'wrong lane' positions PRIOR to the start of the race.. beucase he probably felt there was a probability he could win the race regardless.. in any case.. before he or his reps shoudl have voiced their concerns there and then.. it smacks of being a sore loser to protest about the mis-posiotning AFTER the race BECAUSE he lost.. fair and square..
it's not fair.. and DW will be truly robbed of his gold medal..
all these after race protestations.. valid if something unforeseeable happens during the race.. ie. a collision forcing out alot of competitors.. but prior to a race.. such as different placement that was their chance to 'rectify' the situation .. anythign else after the race has actually gone ahead.. fair and square .. it's jsut 'tough luck' really.. at least that's how I feel..
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I am in full agree with you Tammy.
You would have thought the IPC would have learnt something from the last debacle earlier in the week.
Surely it is up to Mr Fearnley to have brought up the mistake in the lane draw to the authorities before the race?
Who is this faceless appeals committee who has allowed this travesty? How can the Australian protest be upheld on the basis that Mr Fearnley was disadvantaged by being boxed in? This was an 800 metre race where the participants were not required to stay in their lanes so how can he be disadvantaged?
It is this faceless appeals committee that should be closely scrutinised because it is their fault for allowing this ridiculous decision.
I surely hope the British team will protest strongly, just as they did at the Taekwondo event in the Olympics.
Having to rerun this race surely must disadvantage and disrupt the preparation of all the participants of that race who may be taking part in other races in the programme.
Finally, I think shame and vilification should be poured on the Australian team for putting in the protest in the first place. This is surely against the spirit of the games and can only breed contempt and cynicism within the paralympic movement.
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It is beyond belief. The pathetic protest and the decision to hold a re-race. It brings shame to both the Aussies and the IPC.
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I wholeheartedly agree with everything that has been posted so far. Having followed the Olympics and Paralympics for many years I have been appalled by some of the judging decisions this year in both games. I could not believe the decision that was made today in the 800m. The Australians have let themselves down completely. I thought that they believed in fairplay as much as us Brits did. Well you live and learn don't you.
I don't think we'd be having a rerun if Kurt Fearnley had won the gold medal. This is bad sportsmanship.
I also believe that David Weir is a battler and will win the rerun and I wish him the best of luck in the rerun, the 1,500m and the marathon and I hope he wipes the floor with every Aussie that he comes up against in the future.
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Just as the Paralympics are really starting to take a hold in mainstream media coverage and interest throughout much of the country, not one but two failures by the IPC make a mockery of the Athletics track competition. I hope this doesn't detract from the genuine excitement and support that the paralympians are generating.
I still don't understand why Fearnley did not make a more vocal protest before the the race? I agree with Dame Tanni and the other comments here that he should have just adapted to that race situation and taken the result like a professional.
The Australians should be ashamed of their conduct, but then, considering their current attitude to recent British success, is it that surprising? I wonder if, had Dave Weir not been the victor, whether they'd have bothered protesting? Sounds like bad sportsmanship to me.
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How on earth can the Jury of Appeal overturn the race result. Yes there was obviously a mix up by officials in the lane allocations. Can anyone believe that this would lead to an athlete being 'Boxed In' if so then no one should be asked to start in lane two. In any race someone has to start in lane two and it is up to the athlete if they believe that they are in contention for a medal to ensure that they are not boxed in. Why if Kurt Fearnley knew that he had been allocated the wrong lane did he not protest before the start. I think that everyone including the Australians know that David won this race fairly and that the honorable course would be for them to withdraw their protest and let the result stand. After the fiasco caused over the 5000 metre one would have thought that the officials would be extreemly carefull and not bring more disrepute to the games.
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I hope that David Weir gets a look at the comments here, or at least gets the message passed to him that there are a LOT of people willing him on to win on Tuesday!
It's a matter of principle!
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I am new to all this - this is the first time I have followed either the Olympics or the Paralympics. However, it seems to me that a dangerous precedent is being set here.
If this sort of thing continues, nobody will feel secure with their medals. Anyone can complain about something really stupid or trumped up, and the people in charge will just call for a re-run of a race or event. This is proving all too easy to do. Either someone wins, or they don't, and that should be that. That's sportsmanship. Period.
If someone has genuine grounds for a complaint, which surely should be a rare occurrence if the tried and tested rules of the Olympics are properly adhered to, the complaint should be put in immediately, be dealt with immediately and properly, and that should be the end of the matter. If there's a problem, no medals should be given out till it's resolved. It's simply terrible to give someone a medal and then demand it back. It makes a nonsense of the whole thing, and causes needless distress to the athletes who are there simply to do their best for the honour of their country, to meet their own personal goals, and to give joy and a sense of pride to their fans and supporters. The Olympics and Paralympics should be a celebration of personal and team achievement, giving joy to all, but this sort of thing sours the joy and causes universal cynicism and bitterness.
There was that fiasco with the Taekwondo at the Olympics, and then Shelley Woods having to give her silver medal back after the wheelchair race crash. Athletes should not have to re-run events when they have won fair and square.
People are going to lose faith in the whole ethos of the Olympic movement if this sort of thing continues.
I can't imagine how David Weir must be feeling. He's battled against a viral infection (can't imagine how he could even compete when feeling so ill - it's a credit to the man) and when he finally won his gold (properly and legitimately and after showing his excellence as an athlete) everyone was overjoyed at the rightness of it, and he must finally have felt that things were going to be OK after all. He must feel jinxed now. How could anyone treat him like this after all he's been through? I hope it will not make him cynical and bitter. We cannot afford to lose such an excellent athlete. We cannot afford to lose the young, potential Paralympians and Olympians who may not have sufficient faith in the system even to get started.
What kind of justice is it when a verdict is reached, and there is no appeal? There must be literally millions of people around the world who are totally outraged at these fiascos, who want to see justice done. Are they just going to be allowed to get away with it?
I am disgusted.
WheeliePlatypus
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I agree, this is nothing but sour grapes protesting. Was there a mistake made? Yes, but this should have been raised before the race even started. It's absolutely pathetic to wait until after the event to state the problem.
If common sense prevails, the re-race will be cancelled and Weir will get his earned gold. We should learn that if we want things we're due, we have to state AT THE TIME why that's the case.
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as if the pomms woudn't appeal in the same situation
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If he knew he was in the wrong lane he should have done something about it before the race, but he went through with it and should just live with the result and I'm not a pomm and I think the decision is not right.
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No matter the result of the re-run on Tuesday, David Weir IS the 2008 Paralympic 800m Gold Medalist. The Aussies can hang their heads in shame for pulling this stunt. David has battled his way thru these Games and finally got his Gold Medal only to have it snatched away by poor losers and a very weak appeal situation.
SHAME ON YOU AUSTRALIA!!!!
DAVID WEIR, YOU ARE THE CHAMPION.
Hopefully there will be no medal for Australia in the re-run, it may teach them a lesson on sportsmanship.
Go on David, the whole of the United Kingdom is behind you!!
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The questions that need answering are these:
1) Was the Australian competitor aware of his actual lane draw in the "calling room" prior to the race?
2) If so, did he make any protest?
3) If he did make a protest, why did he still go on to the track and compete? Did any official tell him he had to or he would be disqualified? Or was it his decision?
4) Why did he not ask for his team management to be brought in?
5) How experienced is the Australian athlete?
6) Is this what actually happened?
a) The Australian athlete knows his lane draw as he goes into the race.
b) The official caller gives the wrong lane draws.
c) The Australian athlete knows that these are the wrong lane draws but decides against making i) a protest or ii) a strong protest because:-
He wants to see how the race pans out and if he's not satisfied, he's pretty sure he'll be able to protest then so as to have hos cake and eat it.
Call me cynical, but I can't help thinking that 6) sounds rather likely...
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I live in Australia and this story does not surprise me at all.
In 8 years of living in Sydney i have seen the level of resentment to British sport rise and rise with Britains increasing success.
Sport is everything to Australia. It is what they are known for and are proud of. But sadly it is turning a nation of 'one proud and honest sportsmen' into the WORLDS whingers.
I went to an international sports Uni in Sydney and even people from Countries such as Brazil and Spain had noticed the Australian arrogance.
The countries reputation is changing for the worse all the time
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just posted on the bbc disability website
the decision to rerun daves race has been overturned and the gold medal stands!!!!.
There is a god !
The right decision which should never of been protested stands.
So dave you go out there and receive your medal that you so rightfully deserve!
Focus and get on with your races and bring home some more medals !!
You can never deny a true champion
PURE GOLD !
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Great news this morning, thanks for aussie link, I am sure David didnot sleep a wink, lets hope he can recover
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If the decision overturning is true, then thank God for that!
I've never seen so much pathetic whinging and whining in one blog!
First the Olympic boxing, then Hamilton, now Weir. Everything that happens in the world of sport these days is 'unfair, unfair, unfair'. No football clubs seem to protest results though, when they know their player dived to get the winning penalty.
Actually I just now see it's Fearnley himself who withdrew the protest. Good on him. He said after sleeping on it, he still thought his situation was unfair but felt that no other competitors were to blame - thus unfair to 'punish' them I assume.
Also worth noting he followed the correct channels and lodged an official protest and to my knowledge didn't go whining to the media. The only whining I've heard is here, but everything worked out fine and Weir gets his (thoroughly deserved) gold. You can all dry your eyes.
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My understanding is that Kurt was not the only competitor in the wrong lane, and that many of the competitors would have choosen lane 2 to start from. Also if you were David would you have slept last night, come on they know he has been ill, and then to deprive him of a nights sleep whilst deciding to do the right thing is real good of Kurt
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Perhaps those who accused the Australians of bad sportmanship and losing ungracefully, might now like to withdraw those comments and apologise?
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Yes, my heart bleeds for David and his lost sleep (sic). I think you're clutching at straws for justification there.
Look, regardless, there was an improper situation that disadvantaged an athlete (the degree to which can be debated) and a protest was lodged through official channels for judgment. After time to think, the athlete in question has since withdrawn his protest because he did not want to place his colleagues/opponents in an unfair situation.
This is a fantastic result! If you're going to still whine about that because somebody lost sleep, then there's just no hope at all that the whinging will ever cease.
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Mido_9 - there is no way on earth Weir would have made an appeal in the same situation. For one thing he would have been sure he started in the right lane in the first place, something that seems to be beyond Kurt.
paksta - people on this blog were making perfectly valid points. The ones doing the whinging where the Aussies. I think it'd good that after a nights sleep Kurt has realised he cannot with a clear conscience go through with this farce, but that's about all the credit he deserves.
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I just found this link to Fearnley's BLOG.
http://www.kurtfearnley.bigblog.com.au/index.do
Creates a few questions and also clears a few up. But were behind you Dave! Show him how to race a 1500m!
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KirstyMHarris
No, many weren't making valid points. They were generalizing that Australians were such terrible sports, and ironically moaning about the curse of whingeing.
When the British team felt that the officials disadvantaged them in able-bodied taekwondo, they protested. And it is right that they should do so and follow the laid out procedures. It's not whinging, it's appealing for a judge to oversee whether a result was fair.
Same goes for McLaren in F1 after Hamilton had his win stripped. McLaren counter-appealed there. (And wasn't there a lot of whinging from the fans btw! Always the victims unless they're winning). Hamilton himself (despite the fact that it's a harsh situation for him) at least seems level-headed about it. Good on him and I wouldn't begrudge him an appeal.
No, I've not heard any 'whining' in the media from the Australian team yet. It's all just here on this blog and still it goes on, despite an honorable acknowledgment of his peers by Fearnley.
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paksta - the difference is that here there were no genuine grounds for appeal. Kurt knew he was in the wrong lane before he came on the track and had ample opportunity to sort it out before the race. He chose not to and complain only after he didn't win. I think there was doubtless a lot of political maneuvering behind the scenes that lead to this reversal, in all honesty. But the fact that Kurt belatedly withdrew his appeal does not change the fact it was outrageous in the first place.
Furthermore, you seem not realise that David has two more events still to compete in when you mock someone for pointing out the impact it might have had on him. Do you think all this was ideal preparation for his 1,500m race today?
If you cannot see that the appeal was out of line in the first place then you must have very blinkered vision is all I can say.
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So - what has actually happened?
Someone has pointed Australia to the "sportsmanship" entry in the dictionary!
Now the Aussies are saying they have been wrongfully accused of cheating. Well - perhaps if they'd thought it through before opening their big mouths they could have avoided embarrassment - now they just look stupid - what's new!
Re the Taekwondo - that was a completely different scenario, as was the F1 appeal. It was in Kurt's control and he could have complained BEFORE he lost - thereby not looking a complete a..ehole - something tells me he has been ADVISED to withdraw his complaint. A real sportsman wouldn't have made it after he lost the race.
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I feel that we should all applaud the australian Team for their re-think and subsequesnt request to the Jury of Appeal to allow David Weir's medal to stand. Perhaps they read the comments section of the BBC web site? Whatever the reason, they behaved with honour and we should now put this behind us and wish both David and Kurt the very best in the races they are both competing in over the next few days. I hope that the Officials of the Jury of Appeal have learned from this situation and that future appeals are not decided without full thought and investigation.
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Now the Aussies are saying they have been wrongfully accused of cheating.
---
Nobody is saying that. I don't think Fearnley cheated. A protest is an appeal to a judge to decide whether a result is fair.
And didn't T.G. Thompson say he actually did bring it to their attention before the race? Of course he's not going to launch a full inquiry trying to prepare mentally during the final moments before an Olympic race.
Just mindless and irrelevant race-based generalizations, lack of magnanimity and general whining is all I see here.
Re KirstyMHarris:
Perhaps you are right that I had been insensitive - I withdraw my sarcasm with apologies to Weir. I had not considered upcoming events when I mentioned his lack of sleep. Still, I don't think Weir's physical condition should be a factor in the judges decision.
For this to have been a relevant point, one would have to postulate that Fearnley placed the protest and foresaw the judges decision with the intention of disrupting Weir's sleep in preparation for future events. That's quite a conclusion to leap to. And if he was so underhanded, he could have just let the judges' ruling stand.
For the record though, I disagree with the initial ruling and think that the right situation was ultimately reached. I just also think that:
- Fearnley's nationality is irrelevant, (British sports fans play victim at least as often as Australian)
- theoretically unbiased judges agreed with Fearnley appeal,
- He was under absolutely no obligation to withdraw the appeal and yet did so. There's no point playing him as villain anymore.
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Phoenixbots,
Nice comment - cheers to you.
In any case, it's fun to argue about all this stuff from the stands, but it's the guys themselves laying years of work on the line.
I agree. Good luck to both of them!
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Thank goodness that justice and common sense prevailed.
Good on the Australian management for withdrawing their protest. It should have been made BEFORE the race, not afterwards, when their participant lost.
Questions need to be asked of the IPC and their organisation. Two debacles within the space of a few days is really not good enough. I hope there will not be anymore disasters this week.
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At last, common sense has prevailed and David can finally receive his well earned Gold Medal.
Congratulations David, you would always have been the Champion in many eyes anyway.
Hopefully this debacle may help sort out situations ahead of races in future and not tarnish the sports concerned.
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GregBrighton - looks like we can add another debacle to IPC;s track record:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7615106.stm
How can someone be reclassified twice in the same games, in such a way as to be denied a silver medal?
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Can't wait to see the medal ceremony for the 800 metres on Paralympics Today. I hope they don't edit out the awarding of the silver and the handshakes between Weir and Fearnley.
At least then we'll know from their faces whether both of them believe that KF has done the decent thing.
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WOO-HOO! The right result, and well done to Kurt Fearnley for standing by his comments (see first reply in this blog) that he didn't have a race plan and was happy to take the race as it came. Kurt will be kicking himself that he got his tactics wrong, but David Weir simply got his so very, very right.
The Australian coach/officials who lodged the initial protest don't come out of it quite so well, and in the light of other comments here, maybe it's time for a radical change in their approach - whining about results isn't what we should associate with Australia.
Now for the next episode in this saga - the 1500m....
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Absolutely ridiculous how many events seem to be decided afterwards by whether appeals should stand and races be rerun etc.
The shot putter issue concerns me - someone being reclassified after the event and therefore stripped of a medal. It's doing the Paralympics no favours at all.
This lane draw thing is ridiculous - Weir won the race, that's it. And to have an appeal upheld then overturned makes things look even worse.
And as for the rerun which saw Shelly Woods (I think) slip from silver to bronze. I'm sorry but crashes are a part of the sport - and even if it's not your fault those tactical enough to avoid being caught up in a crash shouldn't be penalised and stripped of their medals - you don't see it in things like cycling or speed skating for example.
If three people cross the line they should get the medals - and if one of them caused the crash they can be DQ'd afterwards. Events should only be rerun if the medalists aren't decided.
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I agree full heartily with Tanni someone who is prepared to speak out for injustice. The IPC seem to have a problem and the explanation that was given this morning was very confusing from the Australian official who was trying to shift the blame.
I am pleased though that David Wier has got to keep his Gold, perhaps this comes after the fisaco of Shelly Woods.
It is the principle there is no need to kick a stick because you were placed in the wrong lane after the event and make disabled athletes suffer, because someone has a disability this is pure and physical mental torture and is painful.
Perhaps this is because of the Iranian wheelchair fiasco it is like Ade state Thumper has eaten my homework, really this is pathetic.
No i agree with Tanni that the IPC will have to start being more professional and stop acting like silly children and there are far worse things i could say, so i will end now.
David (wheelchair user)
Frinton on Sea
Essex
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Pleased to see Dave getting his medal today.
Quite liked Ade's quote about thumper eating his homework :o)
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Tanni Gray Thompson - you are a biased disgrace to the sport!!
And David Weir is a bad sport - watch the
Video - Weir decries lack of sportsmanship on the BBC sports page.
I was watching this rubbish on the BBC Sports paper and couldn't believe what I was hearing. David Weir sounded like a spoilt little kid...'I wanted to go home'. And this guy thinks himself worthy of a gold. What a joke. What a joke the BBC is as well. You have given the Australian athlete Kurt Fearnley and the Australian team a bad name and image, just because you distorted the truth and reported only half the story to generate revenue. Kurt didn't know about the lodged protest until after the race, and the Australian team was following a process. You want to point the finger at anyone; it should be the official at the starting line who was aware of a problem. Get of your high horse BBC and Team GB or should you be called Team SB. Kurt Fearnley was a great sportsman. Maybe the readers should watch this video on the BBC Sport website and see what a disgrace both the BBC and David Weir really are.
An apology to Kurt and the Australian team should be made.
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Go GB the Hypocrites.
You would have and still do protest against things if they don't go your way.
Give it up GB, everyone in the world is sick of you and your empire attitude. David Weir is a loser in my books.
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Tanni Gray Thompson - what a loser!
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Hopefully the "flamers", (objectionable comments) by Pigmy71 will be removed, but just in case, can I point him to what newspapers in Australia are saying:-
"WHEELCHAIR racer Kurt Fearnley will not force a re-run of the 800m, telling officials to disregard his appeal and award the medals as decided last night.
Fearnley and the Australian team launched an immediate appeal after yesterday's race, after the triple Paralympian was allocated the wrong lane which he claimed "severely hampered" his race." (Australian online newspaper)
Fearnley himself lodged the appeal, according to the newspaper. So, reports conflict.
Fearnley later withdrew the appeal - perhaps due to the circumstances outlined in my first comment in this blog?
He was going to take the race "whatever way he had to do it," he said. On the day, he couldn't because he got his tactics wrong, so duly put in his objection.
Sanity finally prevailed however - Weir has the medal.
Good luck to both Weir and Fearnley in their remaining races, and well done Kurt Fearnley for your sporting conduct.
As for your other comments, Pigmy71 - they are beneath contempt, as well as being factually incorrect.
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Pigmy 71,
I find your comments to be beneath contempt - the fact of the matter is that the protest would have affected the other athletes who as far as I'm concerned were innocent bystanders - frankly, I put the blame on the officials during the race.
Anyway, I don't suppose winning multiple paralympic and world medals as well as becoming a household name count for much in your world
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It may have been Judi Dench who, when asked, "Why do you call yourself Dame?" replied "I don't, the Queen does.."
Dame Tanni is a class act...
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Boo Hoo, cry me a river! You have perfectly proven what a bunch of hypocrites the British really are.
Have a good read of all the comments in this section and then have the audacity to say that mine is beneath contempt! Maybe in your world of hypocrisy this is just (And and Jollygrandsamster).
You don't need to be a household name or have several gold medals to be the most gentle, honest, inspiring and tough individual. Once again that just proves how superficial you British are. I have a family member, and three very close friends, all disabled (my family member severly disabled) who have endured some horrendous and painful experiences and moments in their lives, yet are the most gentle, kind generous and positive people god has put on this planet. They are absolutely awe-inspiring and incredible people. They don't look for glory or to be a household name, as its often the silent achievers that change the most lives. The fact that they are still alive and have experienced life is enough for them.
So, superficial 'And' and 'Jollygrandsamster' if you wish to be that shallow and rate success on materialist value such as being a household name or winning a gold, be my guest, i wouldn't expect anything less of you.
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"Give it up GB, everyone in the world is sick of you and your empire attitude. David Weir is a loser in my books."
Good job you're the only one reading from that particular "library", isn't it!
What a WUM!
You carry on with you vitriol Pigmy71, you're giving the rest of us a welcome laugh (AT YOU)! :D
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Pigmy71, you get the Wind Up Merchant of The Month award... happy now?
For what it's worth, I'm also disabled. I have hemiplegia, a form of cerebral palsy. I would like to think of myself as gentle, honest, inspiring and tough. I've worked all my life in extremely demanding professions, both physically and mentally. I am proud of what I have achieved.
I would have loved to have been a Paralympian. Back in the day there just weren't the opportunities in disabled sport for me, I concentrated on academic achievements instead. I come from a sporty family, my father was a basketball international, and I love to watch sports, live when I can and via TV when I can't.
Enough of me! After all, I'll never be a household name. This blog by Dame Tanni was about David Weir, a man who has striven to be the best he can be. In doing so, he has become inspirational. Were I forty years younger I would be pestering my parents to find me opportunities to compete in the Paralympic stage. I hope tomorrow's Paralympians of all nations will say that David and Kurt inspired them to compete.
Incidentally, I truly wish that Kurt Fearnley had stayed on the track today, he didn't deserve to go off like that -that was cruel too. Blame the weather, though, nobody else.
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AND.....my intention was not to be a wind up merchant, but after reading all the postings on this blog, and how one sided they were, I felt compelled to put my view forward. Perhaps I was a little emotive, but I dont appreciate biased reporting. Also, the video on the BBC website interviewing the 2 coaches tells a very different story to what was written in both the English and Australian papers. Goes to show, don't trust the press! and that my information was not incorrect, but obtained for a different source.
Incidently, I thought your last posting was great; very honest and exactly the point I was trying to make about not having to be a household name to be inspiring.
Congratulations to David Weir on his latest gold. He did very well in difficult condidtions. This time his interveiw and attitude reflected a gold winning performance.
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