8-12-08 Olympic Thread

[mj4cy]

This is an older questions, but why did one of the US women gymnasts have to vault twice? and why didn't Shawn vault twice?

[BryceC]

You have to do two vaults to compete for the individual medal, and Shawn isn't going for an individual medal in vault since it's sort of her weakest event.

[bootcy]

You have to do two vaults to compete for the individual medal, and Shawn isn't going for an individual medal in vault since it's sort of her weakest event.

Shawn actually receives the highest vault scores on the US team and is one of only a few that can pull off the vault she does.

[cybsball20]

It's actually more about specialization. Shawn's main goal is the All Around, the gymnast that did two vaults isn't going for the All Around. If she were to spend extra time working on a second vault it would take that much more time away from her other events...

[guitarchitect7]

You have to do two vaults to compete for the individual medal, and Shawn isn't going for an individual medal in vault since it's sort of her weakest event.

Since they only do four events, and the uneven bars is her weakest, then yeah I suppose you could say its in her bottom half of her events after beam and floor, but she is still darn good at it.


The question is a good one though and I don't specifically have an answer. But my understanding is kind of what BryceC was mentioning. Since Shawn is going for the all around, while others have a specific event, I believe they do two to be sure they get a high enough score to qualify, and to win!

[chrishull14]

It's actually more about specialization. Shawn's main goal is the All Around, the gymnast that did two vaults isn't going for the All Around. If she were to spend extra time working on a second vault it would take that much more time away from her other events...

This is pretty much word for word what her coaches and the commentators said is the reason.

[jdoggivjc]

You have to do two vaults to compete for the individual medal, and Shawn isn't going for an individual medal in vault since it's sort of her weakest event.

I dunno- saying that the vault is Shawn's weakness is kind of like saying that the change up is Johan Santana's weakest pitch - I wish I had that kind of weakness...

[hobbsfan27]

I really hope USA can pull a shocker and get gold.

[Knownothing]

When does Lolo run. Also is she the favorite for the gold in the hurdles?

She is one of the best looking athletes I have ever seen.

[ISUKyro]

Did I miss women's beach volley ball?

[BryceC]

I dunno- saying that the vault is Shawn's weakness is kind of like saying that the change up is Johan Santana's weakest pitch - I wish I had that kind of weakness...

Well it's one I know she has personally said she's not great at and took a lot of steps to improve at it after the fall at the worlds or whatever a few years ago. Like cysball said, it's not so much she's not good at it, obviously she is. She's just going for the all around. Same reason Nastia doesn't do multiple vaults.

[hobbsfan27]

When does Lolo run. Also is she the favorite for the gold in the hurdles?

She is one of the best looking athletes I have ever seen.

Not till next week.

[mj4cy]

I really hope USA can pull a shocker and get gold.

Umm they're the favorite and only got 2nd in prelims due to injuries and a couple falls. Thus, it's not really a shocker.

[hobbsfan27]

Here they go they are playing beach volleyball now.

[cstrunk]

Rogers and Dalhausser are fun to watch. Much better than diving.......

I really hope gymnastics doesn't take three hours tonight because I've got to get up at 5 AM tomorrow.