Poor sportsmanship at Olympics

[Geoff_M]

Deflecting questions about her own two POSITIVE doping results by bringing up Phelps, who has never had a positive test, was a low blow and poor sportsmanship, IMO...

There, fixed it!

 

[jrmasm]

I think the analog to what Le Clos did to Phelps would have been Phelps celebrating in his direction, or wagging his finger at Le Clos... but he didn't do that. Given the fact that Phelps had redeemed himself from his 2012 performance and just re-set the all-time Olympic record for gold metals, I don't think what Phelps did post race was egregious.

As for Lilly King's comments regarding the reinstated Russian swimmer, I don't find them out of line either, particularly since she was answering direct questions on the Russian from the NBC reporter. However, I do think it was poor behavior on the part of the crowd to boo the Russian.

How about the crowd's treatment of Hope Solo?

 

[Geoff_M]

I have to agree. I thought this last night as well, Laurie and Madison gave both girls a standing ovation after their floor routines, but Gabby did not stand up.

I think people need to cut Douglas some slack. That's one big pressure cooker she's been in and while we like to think we'd have reacted differently, you cannot say for sure.

 

[pryncess527]

How about the crowd's treatment of Hope Solo?

She handled that so well! I read that her response to reporters was “I’m glad the fans had fun,” Solo said. “And if they had fun at my expense, more power to them.”

 

[Geoff_M]

How about the crowd's treatment of Hope Solo?

Ditto.

 

[declansdad]

I am sure that I can, but that stands out as the most egregious example of poor sportsmanship in my recent Olympic memory. Does this bother you?

When you isolate the one incident it does, but that was far from the only problem with that match.

 

[soccerdad72]

I think people need to cut Douglas some slack. That's one big pressure cooker she's been in and while we like to think we'd have reacted differently, you cannot say for sure.

I agree as well. You knew as soon as she didn't qualify for the all around final that the camera would be on her every moment of that final, just waiting for a moment or two that looked like she was not pulling for her teammates.

 

[cabanafrau]

IMO the classiest response Phelps could have given would be to get in the pool and let his swimming do the talking. A big part of the problem is the network constantly hyping every angle of his success and story. I think it's sad that Mama Phelps has had a lot more attention than most of our athletes, including a three-peat gold medal winner across three different Olympics. (Armstrong/cycling) It doesn't all need to be about Phelps, or Kerri Walsh Jennings either for that matter. It's a shame, network coverage is making me annoyed at an accomplished athlete who has worked very hard for her medals and I have a hard time watching her play because of it.

I have seen some really cool sportsmanship at the games -- Chinese gymnasts who are not performing up to expectations approaching the Americans specifically to hug them during rotations of events, an Australian swimming favorite telling a young Canadian newbie "that was really good" after a surprise showing in a heat(the newbie has gone on to become Canada's most decorated summer Olympian BTW), and a Venezuelan archer giving a genuine congratulations and heartfelt smile to her opponent after the German knocked her out in a preliminary round.

 

[jrmasm]

Every men's soccer game has an example of poor sportsmanship about every minute or so.

 

[Disney_traveler]

Sorry this is just my rant....its been building with every women's gymnastics meet I've watched starting with the one before trials.

I have to agree with all the Gabby Douglas nonsense. I've stated it on these boards earlier in the week, but it just keeps adding up. I could understand 'subdued personality' but she flat out looks like she could care less and doesn't want to be there EXCEPT for when they interview the team and she was smack dab in the middle. She's overcome obstacles, won medals, had a TV movie made about her, so she's famous. She's got the celebrity entitlement going on. Now that there are other athletes commanding the attention she's gone 'whatever'.

If you want to chalk it up to she's been there, done that, Aly has too and she isn't acting like that. If you want to chalk it up to pressure, they all have that, but Simone definitely does and she doesn't behave like Gabby. If you want to chalk it up to doing so well and being miffed about a rule or a decision, well, that includes Madison and Laurie and they were still pumped and cheering.

As for the hand over heart, any team I have been a part of we always all did the same thing for accepting awards, taking pictures, etc. if the team all had hand on heart, she shouldn't have been the odd man out. I've read she had hand on heart in 2012, so it isn't like she has always done that.

And don't get me started on when they showed her mom in the stands looking like a rap star jamming out to her headphones.

 

[ashley0139]

IMO the classiest response Phelps could have given would be to get in the pool and let his swimming do the talking. A big part of the problem is the network constantly hyping every angle of his success and story. I think it's sad that Mama Phelps has had a lot more attention than most of our athletes, including a three-peat gold medal winner across three different Olympics. (Armstrong/cycling) It doesn't all need to be about Phelps, or Kerri Walsh Jennings either for that matter. It's a shame, network coverage is making me annoyed at an accomplished athlete who has worked very hard for her medals and I have a hard time watching her play because of it.

I have seen some really cool sportsmanship at the games -- Chinese gymnasts who are not performing up to expectations approaching the Americans specifically to hug them during rotations of events, an Australian swimming favorite telling a young Canadian newbie "that was really good" after a surprise showing in a heat(the newbie has gone on to become Canada's most decorated summer Olympian BTW), and a Venezuelan archer giving a genuine congratulations and heartfelt smile to her opponent after the German knocked her out in a preliminary round.

Yes, I've been watching all the gymnastics closely (in the live feed as opposed to prime time) plus following it on social media. The good sportsmanship of these TEENAGE girls would shock those who just watch prime time and see the supposed rivalries blown up by the commentators. Aliya Mustafina (bronze all around) said that it was a pleasure to compete with Simone and have a team you can learn from and follow. Aly said that Gabby sent her a personal text congratulating her on her all around medal. The commentators and NBC love to push these rivalry narratives, but if you follow any of the sports closely, the good outweighs the bad all the time. These people compete with each other all the time, not just every four years. They're friends.

 

[wvjules]

So it's NBC's fault that Gabby didn't look supportive of her teammates? That's how I perceived her the past few nights. Sure she's under pressure and no one knows how they would react but from what I've seen, limited as it may be, I think she's not handling it well.

 

[HM]

IMO the classiest response Phelps could have given would be to get in the pool and let his swimming do the talking. A big part of the problem is the network constantly hyping every angle of his success and story. I think it's sad that Mama Phelps has had a lot more attention than most of our athletes, including a three-peat gold medal winner across three different Olympics. (Armstrong/cycling) It doesn't all need to be about Phelps, or Kerri Walsh Jennings either for that matter. It's a shame, network coverage is making me annoyed at an accomplished athlete who has worked very hard for her medals and I have a hard time watching her play because of it.

I have seen some really cool sportsmanship at the games -- Chinese gymnasts who are not performing up to expectations approaching the Americans specifically to hug them during rotations of events, an Australian swimming favorite telling a young Canadian newbie "that was really good" after a surprise showing in a heat(the newbie has gone on to become Canada's most decorated summer Olympian BTW), and a Venezuelan archer giving a genuine congratulations and heartfelt smile to her opponent after the German knocked her out in a preliminary round.

I wanted to LOVE this post. I find myself overwhelmed with a few athletes and sports by NBC, when what I really want to see is a good rounded view of all the types of sports during those prime hours from 8-12 each night.

I want to be exposed to things I haven't had a chance to see before. I felt so lucky yesterday to be home a bit during the day and saw some archery, Judo, sailing, badminton, dressage. I feel like I'd have to take a 2-week vacation to see anything besides Swimming, Gymnastics, Beach Volleyball, Track and Field the way NBC handles things.

And as to sportsmanship things you posted in your second paragraph.....I wholely agree. I've seen some great stuff between rivals this past week. Yay! So much more good than bad out there!

 

[Sanchez]

When you isolate the one incident it does, but that was far from the only problem with that match.

I agree that the head stomping was far from the only problem. In addition, Tancredi was charged with seven other fouls and received a yellow card. Despite her overly aggressive play in general she elected to step on the head of an opposing player. She should have received a red card and Canada should have been a player down to the best team in the world. Whining about the officiating after game and, incredibly, claiming that the officials were playing for the U.S. was beyond acceptable. In February of this year, in a 2-0 loss to the U.S., Tancredi continued her aggressive tactics without consequence. To top it off, the Canadian coach threw his second place medal into the stands. It seems as if poor sportsmanship is a systematic problem for the Canadian Women's National Team.

 

[JaxDad]

Aly said that Gabby sent her a personal text congratulating her on her all around medal.

But how many exclamation marks did the text have? And what emojis were included?

 

[declansdad]

I agree that the head stomping was far from the only problem. In addition, Tancredi was charged with seven other fouls and received a yellow card. Despite her overly aggressive play in general she elected to step on the head of an opposing player. She should have received a red card and Canada should have been a player down to the best team in the world. Whining about the officiating after game and, incredibly, claiming that the officials were playing for the U.S. was beyond acceptable. In February of this year, in a 2-0 loss to the U.S., Tancredi continued her aggressive tactics without consequence. To top it off, the Canadian coach threw his second place medal into the stands. It seems as if poor sportsmanship is a systematic problem for the Canadian Women's National Team.

Ya OK. If you don't see both sides of the pitch you are missing a lot of what is going on.

Herdman throwing his medal was stupid on his part but systemic, I don't think so.

Enjoy the rest of the Games.

 

[ashley0139]

So it's NBC's fault that Gabby didn't look supportive of her teammates? That's how I perceived her the past few nights. Sure she's under pressure and no one knows how they would react but from what I've seen, limited as it may be, I think she's not handling it well.

You see mere seconds of the entire time she was sitting there watching. You have no idea what she was doing the rest of the time. NBC loves to play up the drama. I don't blame them. They want the ratings. Mostly the drama is very overstated though. And even if she was disappointed, so what? She's a young girl who worked just as hard as the rest of them and didn't get to achieve her dream. Madi and Laurie were able to let go of that much earlier by not even competing in the all around. Gabby was watching them do something that by all accounts she should have been able to do as well.

 

[ashley0139]

But how many exclamation marks did the text have? And what emojis were included?

That's a fair question. We'd have to know the emojis used to know if she was really happy for her.

 

[cabanafrau]

I think people need to cut Douglas some slack. That's one big pressure cooker she's been in and while we like to think we'd have reacted differently, you cannot say for sure.

I really don't know much about gymnastics and only casually watch it when Olympics roll around. I know Gabby was a huge deal four years ago when she was even younger and I've heard a few bits and pieces about her over the years. Sounds like she doesn't have what a lot of her teammates do, a solid homelife under her feet to help shelter her from overwhelming attention and fame with such young success and all the baggage that comes with it. That's a lot for anybody to deal with, much more when you're very young and don't have a family to both protect you and rein you in. I saw a picture of our women gymnasts after victory and the top girl didn't look happy while the rest of the team was all smiles. It was a fraction of a second but the photo could give the impression she's sad or mad or anything else under the sun. Wouldn't surprise me if I watched video of the timeframe the picture was snapped I would be hard pressed to note the scrap of time she wasn't smiling.

As glorious as it is to get such HD images of this level of competition I think sometimes we forget that we're not there and aren't privy to every nuance as much as the network talking heads want us to buy into.

 

[mnrose]

I completely agree! I posted the same thing in another Olympics thread. I don't care about the hand not over the heart at all but she looked bored/angry/whatever. And last night when she didn't stand and applaud Simone and Aly, I was pissed. They are a team and she needs to act like a teammate. Even later when they do individual events the all should support each other. She is leaving a sour taste in my mouth lately.

She sees herself being replaced by Simone Bilas as the media darling, and all her $$$ leaving...that's why she's being so sour. She is not going down gracefully, is she?