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Post by katlady on Aug 1, 2024 15:38:32 GMT
Do you agree with the rule that only 2 gymnast per country can be in an event final? Is there any other sport (swimming, diving, track, skating) that has the same rule?
I know why the rule was implemented, and I know the US was on the committee that drafted the rule, but I don’t agree with it. The event finals are an individual event, not team. It shouldn’t matter what country the gymnast is from.
I feel bad for Jordan Chiles. She was in the top 4 for All-Around!! Top 4!! She should be competing today along with Biles and Suni.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 1, 2024 15:41:10 GMT
I don't agree with it, either.
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lisaknits
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,483 
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Post by lisaknits on Aug 1, 2024 15:45:45 GMT
I don't agree with it either!
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 1, 2024 15:46:56 GMT
It could go either way .
Our government has representative by population, but only two Senators per state, whether 1 million people or 100 million people.. Is that fair?
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 1, 2024 15:48:41 GMT
It could go either way . Our government has representative by population, but only two Senators per state, whether 1 million people or 100 million people.. Is that fair? I don't think that is fair, either, but I am not sure what that has to do with the Olympics. IMO, there should be guidelines that allow the best to be in the competition. Chiles is one of the best and she should be allowed to compete. It doesn't really have anything to do with the US being a bigger country. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 1, 2024 15:51:47 GMT
It is not about country!!!
It is an example of how things are done. (OP stated you stated that the US was on the committee.)
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 1, 2024 16:01:14 GMT
It is not about country!!! It is an example of how things are done. And you stated that the US was on the committee. I’m confused about your post. But I didn’t say that. The OP did. I personally don’t know why it was implemented but I don’t think it is fair to the athletes. |
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Post by ILoveToScrapPea on Aug 1, 2024 16:03:12 GMT
It doesn’t make any sense to me either.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 1, 2024 16:04:22 GMT
It is not about country!!! It is an example of how things are done. And you stated that the US was on the committee. I’m confused about your post. But I didn’t say that. The OP did. I personally don’t know why it was implemented but I don’t think it is fair to the athletes. Apologies about the misquote ... |
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Post by Bridget in MD on Aug 1, 2024 16:04:50 GMT
I didnt even know this was a rule!
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Post by katlady on Aug 1, 2024 16:11:00 GMT
It is not about country!!! It is an example of how things are done. And you stated that the US was on the committee. I’m confused about your post. But I didn’t say that. The OP did. I personally don’t know why it was implemented but I don’t think it is fair to the athletes. One year Russia had 4/6 spots on an event final. Japan’s men had 5/6 spots on an event final. So they came up with this rule so everyone has a chance. Even Gabby Douglass was left out of an even final once because she was the 3rd American. |
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Aug 1, 2024 16:19:28 GMT
I'm not wild about it. I get why they did it and still do, but I wonder if there is another solution. Top three? It just doesn't seem right that you can qualify into the top four and not get a chance to compete in the AA just seems so wrong. It's a competition to award the best gymnasts in the world, how can you do that if the top ones aren't even competing?
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 1, 2024 16:22:04 GMT
The Olympics isn't the World Championships, it is a friendly competition between countries so the priority is to have as many countries as possible competing. In wrestling only 1 person per country can compete in each weight category (DH is a former wrestler so the only reason I know this  ). FWIW, the US was fully in support of this restriction after Romania swept the gymnastics competition in Sydney. |
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Post by katlady on Aug 1, 2024 16:22:26 GMT
I'm not wild about it. I get why they did it and still do, but I wonder if there is another solution. Top three? It just doesn't seem right that you can qualify into the top four and not get a chance to compete in the AA just seems so wrong. It's a competition to award the best gymnasts in the world, how can you do that if the top ones aren't even competing? I was thinking maybe allow the top 8, no matter what country, and then 2 per country for the remaining field. |
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Post by katlady on Aug 1, 2024 16:24:10 GMT
The Olympics isn't the World Championships, it is a friendly competition between countries so the priority is to have as many countries as possible competing. In wrestling only 1 person per country can compete in each weight category (DH is a former wrestler so the only reason I know this ). FWIW, the US was fully in support of this restriction after Romania swept the gymnastics competition in Sydney. That is true this is not the World’s, but to many athletes the Olympics is on a higher pedestal than World’s. It only happens once every 4 years. |
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 1, 2024 16:28:26 GMT
The Olympics isn't the World Championships, it is a friendly competition between countries so the priority is to have as many countries as possible competing. In wrestling only 1 person per country can compete in each weight category (DH is a former wrestler so the only reason I know this ). FWIW, the US was fully in support of this restriction after Romania swept the gymnastics competition in Sydney. That is true this is not the World’s, but to many athletes the Olympics is on a higher pedestal than World’s. It is different from the World's and only happens once every 4 years making it more elusive for athletes to add a medal to their trophy wall for sure, but you can't support a rule after your country is blocked off the podium one year and cry it is unfair and should be removed a few years later when your team could possible sweep the competition. |
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Post by katlady on Aug 1, 2024 16:33:08 GMT
That is true this is not the World’s, but to many athletes the Olympics is on a higher pedestal than World’s. It is different from the World's and only happens once every 4 years making it more elusive for athletes to add a medal to their trophy wall for sure, but you can't support a rule after your country is blocked off the podium one year and cry it is unfair and should be removed a few years later when your team could possible sweep the competition. This rule has affected US athletes before. I mentioned Gabby Douglas in Rio. Some US girls were left off of AA before too. There were cries of unfair then too. |
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 1, 2024 16:40:43 GMT
It is different from the World's and only happens once every 4 years making it more elusive for athletes to add a medal to their trophy wall for sure, but you can't support a rule after your country is blocked off the podium one year and cry it is unfair and should be removed a few years later when your team could possible sweep the competition. This rule has affected US athletes before. I mentioned Gabby Douglas in Rio. Some US girls were left off of AA before too. There were cries of unfair then too. Not to be rude, but honestly so what if it's affected them before? Why is it unfair when they know going into the competition they are competing with their teammates for the two spots available? It is the audience who doesn't know the rules that are crying "unfair" not the gymnasts. |
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Post by katlady on Aug 1, 2024 16:45:40 GMT
But you can be athlete, know the rules, and still think it is unfair. You just aren’t vocal about it.
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Post by Merge on Aug 1, 2024 16:46:31 GMT
It could go either way . Our government has representative by population, but only two Senators per state, whether 1 million people or 100 million people.. Is that fair? Ooohhhhh, now you're going to get this thread tagged politics!  |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 1, 2024 16:47:25 GMT
This rule has affected US athletes before. I mentioned Gabby Douglas in Rio. Some US girls were left off of AA before too. There were cries of unfair then too. Not to be rude, but honestly so what if it's affected them before? Why is it unfair when they know going into the competition they are competing with their teammates for the two spots available? It is the audience who doesn't know the rules that are crying "unfair" not the gymnasts. Yeah, and those of us in this thread are the audience. Nobody said that the athletes were complaining, we are having a discussion here. I’ve seen situations where there was a medal sweep and don’t recall thinking it was unfair, just that those were the top three. Sounds like in the past people higher up did have complaints about that and changed the rules. That’s unfortunate for the athletes that are affected by it now. Sure they know the rules, but I’m sure are still frustrated by it internally |
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Post by Merge on Aug 1, 2024 16:48:00 GMT
I mean, yeah, but there's unfairness in all kinds of sports. Some MLB teams play in a crappy division and get to go to the playoffs by being first in a crappy division, while teams that are better but come in fourth in a really tough division are left out.
Jordan Chiles plays in the gymnastics equivalent of the AL East. Them's the breaks.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 1, 2024 16:58:58 GMT
Not to be rude, but honestly so what if it's affected them before? Why is it unfair when they know going into the competition they are competing with their teammates for the two spots available? It is the audience who doesn't know the rules that are crying "unfair" not the gymnasts. Yeah, and those of us in this thread are the audience. Nobody said that the athletes were complaining, we are having a discussion here. I’ve seen situations where there was a medal sweep and don’t recall thinking it was unfair, just that those were the top three. Sounds like in the past people higher up did have complaints about that and changed the rules. That’s unfortunate for the athletes that are affected by it now. Sure they know the rules, but I’m sure are still frustrated by it internally I thought I was contributing to the discussion.  |
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Post by katlady on Aug 1, 2024 17:04:51 GMT
You are bc2ca. Appreciate your input. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 1, 2024 17:08:21 GMT
Yeah, and those of us in this thread are the audience. Nobody said that the athletes were complaining, we are having a discussion here. I’ve seen situations where there was a medal sweep and don’t recall thinking it was unfair, just that those were the top three. Sounds like in the past people higher up did have complaints about that and changed the rules. That’s unfortunate for the athletes that are affected by it now. Sure they know the rules, but I’m sure are still frustrated by it internally I thought I was contributing to the discussion. It seemed to me that you thought it was an irrelevant discussion because people shouldn’t think it was unfair. |
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Post by Darcy Collins on Aug 1, 2024 18:56:05 GMT
Swimming has same rule 2 per country per event. I actually think most sports do as there is a limit to how many athletes a country can send. I have no issue with it. Without it, a handful of countries would compete in each sport. I like to see it as a global competition.
For example Caleb Dressel who is the reigning Olympic record holder in the 100 free which he set when winning the gold in Tokyo could not compete in Paris as he finished 3rd in trials. There's no doubt he would have beat the majority of swimmers in Paris. At least he still made the games, there are many, many American and Australian swimmers at home watching who could have competed for a medal in their event without the rule.
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Post by KiwiJo on Aug 1, 2024 19:25:48 GMT
The Olympics isn't the World Championships, it is a friendly competition between countries so the priority is to have as many countries as possible competing. In wrestling only 1 person per country can compete in each weight category (DH is a former wrestler so the only reason I know this ). FWIW, the US was fully in support of this restriction after Romania swept the gymnastics competition in Sydney. That is true this is not the World’s, but to many athletes the Olympics is on a higher pedestal than World’s. It only happens once every 4 years. Another way to look at it, is from the point of view of the many small countries around the world. The Olympics and these sorts of rules, allow them to compete on the world stage, and also allows them an extremely rare chance of getting a medal for their country. Just look at all the countries competing at the Olympics who have NEVER won a medal. And yet they continue to send athletes (in some cases only one athlete because that’s all they can afford). These countries know it is unlikely that they will get a medal because no matter how talented their athlete(s) they cannot afford the same sort of training as the bigger richer countries. But having some limitations on the number of athletes from each country who can compete in a final, or compete at all, does allow them a chance. I think the Olympics is such a big deal, BECAUSE of these sorts of limitations that allow everyone a chance, not just the big and/or rich countries. Liechtenstein, for example, has competed in every summer Olympics since 1936, except for two. It has never won a medal, and has only one competitor this year, a cyclist. I have no idea whether there is any such limitations on cycling, but isn’t fantastic that Liechtenstein continues to compete?! |
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,696
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Post by mich5481 on Aug 1, 2024 20:52:39 GMT
It could go either way . Our government has representative by population, but only two Senators per state, whether 1 million people or 100 million people.. Is that fair? The reason for the Senate limits is to ensure that all states are represented equally - that way, larger states like CA, NY, and FL don't ignore the needs of less populated states. |
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Post by ~summer~ on Aug 1, 2024 21:30:49 GMT
I do agree with it.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 1, 2024 23:09:19 GMT
It seemed to me that you thought it was an irrelevant discussion because people shouldn’t think it was unfair. No, I answered because I thought it was an interesting thing to discuss. The OP asked if we agreed with the rule and if other sports had the similar rules. I do agree and knew of at least one sport that has an even more restrictive limit on competitors per country. I also love the underdog athletes who never make the podium but win the hearts of viewers. Britain's Eddie the Eagle ski jumper and the Jamaican bobsled team come to mind. ETA Out of curiosity I looked at the all around qualifiers and without the 2 person/country rule the US, Brazil, Japan and Italy would have each had 3 competitors taking half the available spots. |
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Formerly babyfeverpea 
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