Let me get one thing straight. I will never be offended by anything Piers Morgan says to me. He called me a “serial bronzer” on Twitter on Monday, adding that he only celebrates Olympic gold medals. This is coming from an Arsenal fan. I am also a Gooner and I know you can’t say you only back winners if you are an Arsenal fan.
Piers did this during Rio 2016 as well. So it is always trying to get a rise. I know that in his heart of hearts, he doesn’t really think that. And the thing is, you don’t even need to respond yourself, because the Twittersphere jumps on him.
But I really don’t care. The fact he knew that I won a bronze medal is a win. No offence taken.
What he said did provoke some angry reactions from other people, but that is what happens when someone berates you on Twitter. And they fight your battles for you, which is great. Because I can’t get offended or get into a fight with a man like that, because if I did I would never go on social media. It has to be tongue in cheek and I think he knows that.
Although there was no offence taken by me, there is a serious point behind what he and I were “embroiled in a furious argument” about (I wasn’t, but one publication termed it that). And that point is that it is extremely hard to even get to the Olympics. Basically if you are going to the Olympics, you know you are one of the best in the world.
In heptathlon, World Athletics only wants 24 people competing. And it sets a very high standard, of 6,420 points. If there aren’t enough people who have attained that mark, the rest of the field are invited according to world ranking points, which are gained according to results in various events.
The ranking system is not straightforward – it is actually quite complicated – but it is safe to say that it is very difficult to get to the Olympics. And even more so this time around with a lack of events due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Every athlete in Tokyo should pat themselves on the back for even making it there.
For Team GB, there is a tremendous amount of funding from UK Sport. But in athletics there will be athletes that have not had any funding but have still made it. And their aim will be to do well enough so that when the new funding comes in this winter they’d have done enough to get on it.
The impressive thing is that there will be athletes there who have not been supported financially – although they may have been supported in other ways like with facilities and such like – and that can be very tricky. But it makes you more resilient.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3BMLxhZ
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