WORLD ATHLETICS

[Gross]

The Yanks are wearing Nike kit with JO on the chest. Is that to do with Jesse Owen & the 1936 Olympics in Berlin???

[Mrs H]

yes!

[mappingmum]

Anyone else think these walking events are a complete joke?

[Mrs H]

9.58

[madmike]

He might even beat young Neville down the run in with that sort of pace Mrs H!

[Sunlit Forres]

Mappingmum - suggest you try doing 20K (running) and see how close you come to 84 minutes. Then you can decide whether race walking is a complete joke.

[mappingmum]

I have no doubt that these people are true athletes and very fast, but it is the rules of the "event" which I find bizarre. Moving as fast as you can ensuring a part of your foot is in contact with the ground at all times; why? Why not have a competition to see who is the fastest over 20km with a hand above their head at all times? Or 20km skipping?

How can you prove every single step was made in accordance with the rules? You can't.

Personally, I just can't see the appeal to the event, but acknowledge it has world wide following.

[Duncan]

How can you prove every single step was made in accordance with the rules? You can't.

Just like how you can't prove orienteers don't follow each other, even though following in orienteering isn't allowed in the rules. But hopefully that doesn't make orienteering a "complete joke" That said, I do tend to agree with you that race walking is a bit ridiculous. Just like other sports that originated in England a few centuries ago like, er cricket for example. Now if ever there was a sport with silly rules....

[madmike]

IHow can you prove every single step was made in accordance with the rules? You can't.

There are more marshalls than athletes and if they "lift" they get a couple of warnings and it's 3 strikes and you are out - DQ

[epocian]

Mappingmum said

Anyone else think these walking events are a complete joke?

Borchin did the last 10km of his race in 38.41
Personally I'd be over the moon if I could RUN anywhere near that time for 10km!

[mharky]

Bekele does 26:17...

Race walking is a joke. Race walkers are a joke.

The don't have bike races where you have to stay in the granny ring, they don't have swimming races where you have to.. oh, hang on... lets put all swimming events other than free-stye into that pointless category too.

[eddie]

race walking, lightweight rowing... i'm sure there are a few more.

someone once said to me if they have sports like that when are we going to see high jumps competitions for people under 5ft tall.

[mharky]

categories for boxing too... cage fighting know how it is, if you're small then you better be fast!

[graeme]

The don't have bike races where...

...you can use the fastest type of bicycle.

[mharky]

Don't confuse technique with equipment, they don't have race walking where you can use the fastest type of body...