What happens when a federation doesn't support its athletes

[andy]

We had some talk over the winter about squad selections and why certain people weren't in certain squads, training weekends that weren't appropriate etc etc. I can't remember the exact details but I remember some chat about it.

Anyway, this is the kind of *storm that can happen when a national body doesn't select who is clearly the only athlete of choice http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18233018

Doesn't look in any way good for GB Taekwondo (other than the obvious press time)

[andypat]

The suggestion is that there selection criteria (which are not in the public domain) may be a little suspect!

[mharky]

I think it's still very possible for a national governing body to select their best athletes for an international competition and not support them...

[AndyO]

Taekwondo has been tearing itself apart for a while now as BTCB has control of all the (considerable) funding from Lottery and has concentrated this in supporting a very small number of athletes at the expense of supporting the wider sport all over the country. This has resulted in the Scottish Federation (TKDSL) declaring UDI and applying for governing body status for the sport in Scotland (sound familiar?) due to complete frustration at the way BTCB seeks to impose its will on the whole sport. BTCB has sought to have Scottish athletes banned from national and international competitions in an extended display of petulance. Clubs in England have suffered in the same way, but have not yet got to the point of rebelling. This is likely to come to a head after the Olympics are out of the way.

Aaron Cook is a real star of TKD in Britain and a great role model for all aspiring athletes, and I'm assured a really decent bloke. BTCB has other athletes who have a real chance of medals at the Games, but the belief is that the failure to include Cook in the team put forward to BOA for Games selection is entirely due to him leaving the GB squad (giving up Lottery support in the process) because he didn't think that the training and coaching being provided were doing him any good. His results since have vindicated his decision.

[Meat Market]

Could they not just have a fight to the death to see who goes? I've always thought that it would be interesting to have a contact sport version of orienteering - opening it up for massed start formulae. Even if it was just one leg per race that was opened up for violent conduct, it may prove a hit with spectators.

A similar initiative has proven popular in the world of chess

I'm sure Scotia's Dalkeith upbringing would ensure more podiums. Make it happen Ed Nicholas!

[madmike]

I'm sure Scotia's Dalkeith upbringing would ensure more podiums. Make it happen Ed Nicholas!

au contraire Grassie old boy - Scott is far too nice and not scary enough: we would be much better bringing Big Jon out of elite retirement and getting D B-J back from the Aussies, they are more the kind of men you want in Fight-O

First rule of Fight-O.....

[Meat Market]

I'm sure a slight rebranding of EUOC's successful night series so that we are fighting IN the night rather than with it would provide a popular night variant of Fight-O. Big Jon's height and power advantage would probably lead to MAROC domination of the Deeside Night Cup for years to come. I am sure they could adapt their popular "extra points for fastest leg" concept to "extra points for most blood drawn at control 13".

I am planning a pilot Fight-O event with pyrat filmed by Brooner at the Jukola. Who wants in?

[pyrat]

Aye, hopefully it will be muddy.

[rocky]

I am planning a pilot Fight-O event with pyrat filmed by Brooner at the Jukola. Who wants in?

That rings a bell. Has it not already happened? Oringen 2002, day 5 run in? Pre camera phones and YouTube unfortunately!

[Red Adder]

On the face of it it makes BOF seem paragons of organisation ability compared to the Taekwondo officialdom. Its the equivalent of telling Chelsea they aren't good enough for next years Champions League - and Macclesfield Town will take their place.

[Meat Market]

I am planning a pilot Fight-O event with pyrat filmed by Brooner at the Jukola. Who wants in?

That rings a bell. Has it not already happened? Oringen 2002, day 5 run in? Pre camera phones and YouTube unfortunately!

Aye, hopefully it will be muddy.

2003 actually and although no cinefilm exists of the titanic battle on the run in there is photographic evidence of pyrat and myself getting hosed down by some scandinavian lovelies after a bit of friendly mud wrestling in lane 6.

For those enthusiasts of epic invoc/gramp battles of the past this was not a battle for 152nd place since unfortunately I had been disqualified for wearing a pizza box for a number earlier in the run.

Sorry for hijacking this discussion.

[AndyO]

On the face of it it makes BOF seem paragons of organisation ability compared to the Taekwondo officialdom. Its the equivalent of telling Chelsea they aren't good enough for next years Champions League - and Macclesfield Town will take their place.

to be fair, the athlete (it is believed) preferred by BTCB also won Gold at the recent European champs, so the analogy doesn't really work, but it does seem like cutting off your nose to spite your face

[AndyO]

...and BOA duly confirms BTCB selection (which they are almost bound to do) so Aaron Cook is out of the Olympics http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18373483.

there seems to be some selection controversy in other sports too http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/triathlon - strange that they would select an athlete as a domestique to help others rather than as medal prospect in their own right

[madmike]

...and BOA duly confirms BTCB selection (which they are almost bound to do) so Aaron Cook is out of the Olympics http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18373483.

there seems to be some selection controversy in other sports too http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/triathlon - strange that they would select an athlete as a domestique to help others rather than as medal prospect in their own right

Andy, BTAs point, said to the athletes beforehand, was prove you have medal potential by gettng a podium at World Cup races or we will pick domestiqes to help those that do get the medals - they didnt and so they did - not so strange to me

[Safety]

The Taekwondo selection does seem to be a farce, I assume it is due to a 1 athlete per event rule similer to the dilema facing Dave Brailsford with the Man's Match Sprint in track Cycling.

As for the Triathlon, picking Domestiques is a perfectly sensible idea for some sports. In the Men's cycling road race there will be 5 Team GB riders. It is well known that Cavendish is the best chance for a Gold medal, therefore, at least 3 if not all 4 of the others will be domestiques aiming to get Mark Cavendish to the finish in the best possible position. One rider may be sacrificed from this job and put into any breakaway, but that would still likely be as a backup plan rather than the main focus.

The idea of domestiques are relatively new in Triathlon with the introduction of pack riding at the elite level, but having someone there to "do the work" for your best athlete(s) leaving them slightly fresher on the run could be the difference between Gold and nothing at all. The fact that in the men's we have the Brownlee brothers, and Helen in the womens, head and shoulders above the other GB athletes, with real shots at the top prize. Means that Stuart and Lucy will be there primarily to support them on the bike phase of the race. Listening to the interviews after the last round of the world cup, they both knew that playing that role was their best chance at representing GB in the olympics. And it is a shame that any contribution they make is likely to go un-recognised by the general public as with any contribution by the domestiques in the cycling. In other "team sports" your right back / point guard / Goal Defence / etc still get the same prize and recognition as the striker / power forward / Goal Attack / etc despite them not being the "glory girl/boy" who actually makes the winning move.