Studio asked Denise Lewis about that - how many points in javelin did KJT need.
She refused to answer - "you don't think about it, KJT just needs to throw her best". It's that kind of insight we pay the pundits the big money for,
I think that kind of is insight. Don't answer the stupid questions. Say what the focus actually is.
Who knows how many points she needs. It depends on other people...and performance in another event....and you can't throw a javelin to a specific point target. Yet another example of an idiot not understanding sport....but numbers!
I prefer offering advice for free to people with no power or interest in making my recommended changes. That way I can never be proved wrong.
But the whole point of Heptathlon and Decathalon is numbers. If you want to watch people who are the best at any of the stuff they do, those events are available - the multi-event contest is about the trade-offs between person who is good at running, person who is good at jumping and other person who is good at throwing and how they compensate in their "weaker" events.
BBC says she needs to run the last race about 8 secs faster than her rival.
FFS: finally have a bit of afternoon to watch the action and it’s a choice between weightlifting (BBC), rhythmic gymnastics or breakdancing (Eurosport).
Come on, you're not telling me you didn't wander round with a bit of lino and a Tacchini tracksuit on back in the day.
Song and Gong go for China in the shot put. Disappointing that Bong didn't qualify.
Is everyone clear how much the gap between Thiam and KJT is (in terms of seconds)? Do we need more graphics?
As a completely unfashionable out of touch IT geek, it's particularly brilliant to watch the world's greatest athletes. Specifically them pulling clumsy nerd shapes as they are presented to the stadium before an event.
I'm sure I heard people banging on about how the Brits have lottery funded camps to practice baton handovers. So why is the technique they seem to have settled on is coming to a standstill and high fiving the baton over while facing each other? They've just been going on holiday haven't they?
I'm not an athletics coach, you understand, but I've watched two relay races now so am an expert. Obvs.
I often say that my favourite events are the multi-events. But that's obviously a lie. Because the modern pentathlon* exists. That's the one with five posh events, undertaken by entitled twats, that passes almost unnoticed, but nobody possess the equivalent establishment level power to prevent happening.
* Hunting (peasants), shooting (peasants), fishing (a contest between like intellects), duelling (fellow dilettantes), and persisting haemophilia in the bloodline (marrying your cousin), are the events. I think. Never been able to watch it.
There is something worse than modern pentathlon at the Olympics. I had forgotten (thank heavens for early onset dementia). Opening and closing ceremonies.
They should take a leaf out of my hosting toolbox. "Thanks for coming. Go home now."
Fin.
Late breaking news: The Paris t'lympics close has been delayed, while a repêchage in the breakdancing competition is conducted.
I can't help but wonder if the Olympic "Last one to blink" competition is still ongoing.
"It's just a bunch of Spanish players, and a bunch of French players, having a game of football. They aren't the best. What's the bloody point?"
Smurf on the 'lympic football final.
