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Lead Stories: Friday, November 21, 2008

SoundOFF: Was the US Olympic Team a Disaster?

Posted August 24th, 2008 at 6:01 PM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns, Olympics

In a piece for Sports Illustrated’s online Olympic coverage titled “Putting U.S.’ so-called ‘disaster’ Games in the proper context“, Tim Layden lays out the numbers. His conclusion: “It is clearly stretching the truth to call Beijing a disaster for USA Track and Field. It is also stretching the truth to call it a success.” Other writers, such as USA Today’s Dick Patrick, ESPN’s Luke Cyphers, and the Washington Post’s Amy Shipley have all commented on a percieved underperformance.

The final numbers: seven gold medals, 23 total, and 40 top-eight finishes. How does this compare with the USA’s historical numbers? (1983 Worlds are substituted for the ‘84 boycott games, and the Sydney numbers are before BALCO-related sanctions.)

Year	Golds	Medals	Top-8	events
2008	7	23	40	44
2004	8	25	42	43
2000	10*	20*	35*	43
1996	13	23	47	41
1992	12	30	51	40
1988	13	26	50	40
1983	8	24	43	39
1976	6	22	46	36
1972	6	21	41	36
1968	15	27	48	34
1964	14	24	44	34

While it’s not a true low point in terms of gold medals, remember that there were many fewer women’s events in 1972 and ‘76, and the USA women contributed zero golds and just three medals to the team totals in each of those Olympics. All things considered, it’s probably the weakest outing ever, but not by much. So why the general perception of failure? Several reasons spring to mind.
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Olympic Trials Countdown

Posted June 9th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Seventeen days and counting. I got my Olympic Trials tickets in the mail today.

They are bright, shiny, colorful and artistic. They are also literally irreplaceable because the meet has sold out. For a brief moment I thought about going to the bank and putting them in the safe deposit box. Then I decided that would be a bit too much … or would it?

The ticket package, among other things, told me what could and could not be brought in to Hayward Field. You wouldn’t think they’d have to say that prohibited items include illegal drugs, explosives and guns, but I guess we do live in a litigious society. Absent from both the “OK” and “Not OK” lists were computers. What’s an online journalist to do?
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