Summer Olympic Deaths/Dead Medallists

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,689]

All this British success is really getting on our Commonweath cousins' tits. So honez, are you a whingeing Aussie or does the old dual nationality see you celebrating 27 golds so far?

 

Or do you not give a flying f**k either way?

I don't begrudge anyone their medals. Well done to all I say.

This nationalistic total medal haul thing has always struck me as being stupid anyway.

Who cares if some nation picked up ten golds for tiddlywinks, synchronised swimming and shotgunning clay UFOs? Those don't hold a candle to a gold in the 100m, 200m, 110m hurdles, etc. as far as I'm concerned.

I applaud the athletes (note: this does not necessarily include tiddlywinkers or equivalent), swimmers, etc that have achieved the best they can do, regardless of medal status.

 

I believe for something to be considered a valid Olympic event it has to be specifically measurable, that is; first past the post, thrown further, jumping higher, etc. Anything subjective (that gets a difficulty rating or artistic merit for example) should be booted.

Agreed. GB's only won one 'subjective' medal (in gymnastics) by my calculations, mind. Oh, and boxing.

 

Still, it's been quite enjoyable doing well for a change.

[themaninblack 2,112]

All this British success is really getting on our Commonweath cousins' tits. So honez, are you a whingeing Aussie or does the old dual nationality see you celebrating 27 golds so far?

 

Or do you not give a flying f**k either way?

I don't begrudge anyone their medals. Well done to all I say.

This nationalistic total medal haul thing has always struck me as being stupid anyway.

Who cares if some nation picked up ten golds for tiddlywinks, synchronised swimming and shotgunning clay UFOs? Those don't hold a candle to a gold in the 100m, 200m, 110m hurdles, etc. as far as I'm concerned.

I applaud the athletes (note: this does not necessarily include tiddlywinkers or equivalent), swimmers, etc that have achieved the best they can do, regardless of medal status.

 

I believe for something to be considered a valid Olympic event it has to be specifically measurable, that is; first past the post, thrown further, jumping higher, etc. Anything subjective (that gets a difficulty rating or artistic merit for example) should be booted.

 

You guys have a chance of Gold in the Mens' Pole Vault...watch out for Steve Hooker!

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

Major General Francis Nyangweso, the head of Uganda's Olympic Committee has spent most of his time in Beijing critically ill in hospital. He's now about to be flown home - he suffers from cancer, diabetes and heart problems. He hasn't missed much action from his countrymen, they've yet to win a medal. One of his many previous jobs was Army Chief of Staff during Idi Amin's time in power.

 

Moving on, here's the Population Adjusted Olympic Medal Table, good to see Mongolia doing better than Britain.

[themaninblack 2,112]

Major General Francis Nyangweso, the head of Uganda's Olympic Committee has spent most of his time in Beijing critically ill in hospital. He's now about to be flown home - he suffers from cancer, diabetes and heart problems. He hasn't missed much action from his countrymen, they've yet to win a medal. One of his many previous jobs was Army Chief of Staff during Idi Amin's time in power.

 

Moving on, here's the Population Adjusted Olympic Medal Table, good to see Mongolia doing better than Britain.

 

No John Akii-Bua, see....

[honez 79]

Moving on, here's the Population Adjusted Olympic Medal Table, good to see Mongolia doing better than Britain.

That's an interesting way to do it, much fairer I think. Another take would be medals won/Olympic team size. It always make feel sorry for the smaller nations during the opening ceremony when you see a lone flag bearer and his mate walking along behind some huge team.

[Dave to the Grave 11]

It always make feel sorry for the smaller nations during the opening ceremony when you see a lone flag bearer and his mate walking along behind some huge team.

I think that's the best bit.

[One shot Paddy 1,206]

You guys have a chance of Gold in the Mens' Pole Vault...watch out for Steve Hooker!

 

 

Good call Sir!

[themaninblack 2,112]

You guys have a chance of Gold in the Mens' Pole Vault...watch out for Steve Hooker!

 

 

Good call Sir!

 

I know my Athletics stuff. I predicted at work that LaShawn Merritt would win the 400m and er, that Usain Bolt would win in 19.56s....

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

Kerryn McCann - Medal-winning marathon runner, now either aggressively fighting or already beaten breast cancer, I can't figure out which.

 

Kerryn McCann is now suffering from liver cancer.

[themaninblack 2,112]

Kerryn McCann - Medal-winning marathon runner, now either aggressively fighting or already beaten breast cancer, I can't figure out which.

 

Kerryn McCann is now suffering from liver cancer.

 

What's her obit chances?

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

Larry James, 1968 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder for the 400m is suffering from colon cancer.

 

 

Larry James has died. Picked by two teams on the DDP.

[The Miser 18]

Larry James, 1968 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder for the 400m is suffering from colon cancer.

 

 

Larry James has died. Picked by two teams on the DDP.

 

 

Just beat me to it!

[The Unknown Man 584]

Larry James, 1968 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder for the 400m is suffering from colon cancer.

 

 

Larry James has died. Picked by two teams on the DDP.

 

It's a party pooper bonus for the two teams if he gets a UK obit.

[themaninblack 2,112]

Larry James, 1968 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder for the 400m is suffering from colon cancer.

 

 

Larry James has died. Picked by two teams on the DDP.

 

It's a party pooper bonus for the two teams if he gets a UK obit.

 

If that happens, Wormer He's a Dead Man etc goes into 2nd place...

[VSBfromH 74]

Kerryn McCann - Medal-winning marathon runner, now either aggressively fighting or already beaten breast cancer, I can't figure out which.

 

Kerryn McCann is now suffering from liver cancer.

 

Kerryn McCann has died

[themaninblack 2,112]

Kerryn McCann - Medal-winning marathon runner, now either aggressively fighting or already beaten breast cancer, I can't figure out which.

 

Kerryn McCann is now suffering from liver cancer.

 

Kerryn McCann has died

 

There goes my Joker!

 

Congratulations Already Dead - 13 points come your way...if pukka obit arrives.

[Banshees Scream 110]

Kerryn McCann has died

Kerryn McCann receives obituary from the Guardian.

 

It's very sad. I was hoping she could defeat it. We must treasure all the days we live and value all that we have in our lives.

[Lard Bazaar 3,799]

Kerryn McCann has died

Kerryn McCann receives obituary from the Guardian.

 

It's very sad. I was hoping she could defeat it. We must treasure all the days we live and value all that we have in our lives.

 

Bloody hell - I agree with Banshees. You're right, you must take every opportunity thrust at you in this godforsaken existence. I must go and lay down in a darkened room with a bottle of Chardonnay.

[VSBfromH 74]

Kerryn McCann has died

Kerryn McCann receives obituary from the Guardian.

 

It's very sad. I was hoping she could defeat it. We must treasure all the days we live and value all that we have in our lives.

 

Very sad indeed. I was there to see her win the Commonwealth gold in 2002. A very small field, if I recall correctly, but she was without doubt a very talented and determined athlete.

[VSBfromH 74]

Harry Hill

 

No, not that one. This one "won a bronze medal at the Berlin games in 1936 in the 4,000m team pursuit" and "was the oldest surviving male winner of an Olympic medal" (not sure if that's in the world or just UK).

[Canadian Paul 97]

Harry Hill

 

No, not that one. This one "won a bronze medal at the Berlin games in 1936 in the 4,000m team pursuit" and "was the oldest surviving male winner of an Olympic medal" (not sure if that's in the world or just UK).

 

Why can't a journalist just take two seconds to do even a quick search for some of the junk they print? Among older surviving male winners of an Olympic medal are Joaquim Fiuza of Portugal, Godfrey Rampling of England (and father of Charlotte Rampling), Marcel Cosmat of France, Gustav Lantschner of Austria, Attilio Pavesi of Italy, Emile Allais of France, Britton Chance of the U.S.A., Sandor Tarics of Hungary, Leo Pinto of India, Joseph Galibardy of India, Bill Roycroft of Australia, Herbert Morris of the U.S.A. and Hans Schnitger of the Netherlands. These are just the ones that I know about. Many of these people are fairly famous in the sports world, and some even had articles written about them last year about their being alive. Two bit journalism here.

 

So to answer your question VSBfromH, neither in the world nor the UK.

[Octopus of Odstock 2,197]

Why can't a journalist just take two seconds to do even a quick search for some of the junk they print? These are just the ones that I know about. Many of these people are fairly famous in the sports world, and some even had articles written about them last year about their being alive. Two bit journalism here.

 

So to answer your question VSBfromH, neither in the world nor the UK.

 

No excuse for it, CP, but I'd better mention this is a local paper. Local journalists are the shittest of the lot, but they're also keen to impress. Most of the time they have to report on boring council meetings or a cat getting stuck up a tree, so the death of a Olympic medal winning sportsman is reasonable news for Bury. My local does the same - everything is magnified locally. I'm sure it's the same in the US & elsewhere. Anything that makes your dreary local town more exciting has got to be taken.

 

After all, the most exciting news story in Aylesbury for aeons has been the man who lived in a house of rubbish - it even made The Sun - gazooks!

 

 

If the Telegraph or the Times did it, however, I'd be appalled.

 

If Hill gets a full UK obit (and he might, but it might take time), then an unique pick for The Final Whistle.

[VSBfromH 74]

Kamila Skolimowska, who at 17 won the first ever gold medal in the women's hammer event when it was staged for the first time at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney has died during a training session in Portugal aged 26.

 

If anyone picked her on the DDP, I'd be very surprised!

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

Former Olympic boxing champion Chris Finnegan has died aged 64.

[Canadian Paul 97]

A while back I was complaining about how Godfrey Rampling never got any credit for being both the oldest British Olympian and very likely* the oldest gold medal-winning athlete and there was some doubt expressed as to whether or not he was alive.

 

Well, to the best of my knowledge, The Independent finally got it right (only under the assumption, of course, that "last surviving gold medallist from the 1936 Games" means "from Britain") and included a very high quality photo to boot, just before he turns 100 on the 14th of May. He looks pretty good given his age, but I heard that he's fairly unwell, which is why I was surprised to see this.

 

*Incidentally, if you care about trivia, the only older gold medallist who I cannot confirm as being either alive or dead is German rower Joachim Spremberg. If he were deceased, then Rampling would be the oldest.