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Olympic Selection

I think that it is time to start asking questions about how the Olympic Wild Cards will be handed out. After the qualification tournaments, the selection panel should identify weights where they believe they have athletes with the best chance of competing at the games. Then there should be Olympic trials at those weights. Do we agree?

I think it would be wrong to simply hand them to specific athletes. Much healthier for them to win their place rather than having them given on a platter. It would not be fair to simply argue that some athletes are worthier because they have shown better international results, as for the majority (Ackerman not included) they are excluded from the chance to compete abroad because of the prohibitive costs.

American athletes, no matter how successful, must win their spots at Olympic trials. For a Home Olympics I feel it is important that athletes can at least say that they had a chance, especially after the 'Import' fiasco of the last few years.

Has anybody asked this question already?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sam Cooper on April 9, 2012 at 5:46pm

Although i agree it would be a good opportunity to hold an Olympic trials i think that the selection will be based on three of those chosen to attend the training camp ahead of the qualifying tournaments. I think its

Leon Rattigan

Nate Ackerman

Phillip Roberts

Krasimir Krastanov

Sasha Madarchyk

Miroslav Duykun

not sure if any others...

i dont think any one outside of this group wont get a look in due to:

not being good enough

not being eligible

not having spent time in the elite squad set up

the above individuals impressing at the British Championships in April

Maybe if the BWA annouced the weight and style they plan to use wildcards on (if nobody qualifies before) then it could make things interesting....could there be a call for a qualification tournament?

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Permalink Reply by Eyes Wide Open on April 9, 2012 at 8:29pm

I hope that is not the case. Ackerman is not part of the Elite squad and only finished third in a pretty average standard domestic competition. This has opened up a window for others to stake a claim, as if he can be considered then so can many others. From what I can see, the majority of British wrestling has been kept on the outside of the Olympic experience and that seems to suit the BWA. Not sure why?

An Olympic trials would at the least, involve the membership in what has been until now a closed party. If the athletes in mind are really that good then they should simply win the tournament and put all doubters to bed, building credibility at the same time.

Remember when Ackerman got selected for the Olympics and then got pinned by a then, inexperienced young wrestler. Morley was mat judge and refused to give what was clear to everyone in the room a pin. The presence of a BBC film crew, there to interview Ackerman afterwards, obviously had nothing to do with Malcolm's decision. Maybe that is what they would be afraid of?

I guarantee you that the BWA have an agreement with the BOA that a certain standard must have been reached in a certain tournament/tournaments that nobody else knows about. Then when the places are given, they will turn around and simply say 'well you didn't do ...' Such a practice is selective dismissal of other athletes chances.

There has to be trials in order to show transparency and re-involve others in the process.

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Permalink Reply by Reborn and Bred on April 23, 2012 at 7:52pm

A cynic might think that the BWA somehow gain financially for allowing Ackerman to tour the world masquerading as an Elite wrestler in GB Kit.

I appreciate he pays his own way but surely there is more to it than that.

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Permalink Reply by Reborn and Bred on April 23, 2012 at 7:56pm

Does anyone have any idea if there is any significance in Yana and Olga not going to this event............

2012 1st WOQ - Taiyuan China

27 Apr 2012

The following athletes will be representing GBR at the 1st World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Taiyuan.

60K - Oleksandr Madyarchyk

66K - Philip Roberts

84K - Nate Ackerman

96K - Leon Rattigan

63K - Sarah Connolly

Event Title: 2012 1st WOQ - Taiyuan China
Start Date: 27 Apr 2012
End Date: 30 Apr 2012
Venue:
Shanxi Sport Gymnasium
Jinyuan District
Taiyuan
Website: www.fila-wrestling.com
Contact:
Email:

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Permalink Reply by Reborn and Bred on April 23, 2012 at 7:58pm

Have the BWA given up on them getting passports or are they guaranteed to get two of the wildcard places and thus they are reluctant to send them on an expensive, tiring trip to China this close to the Olympics.

Whats your opinion Sam?

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Permalink Reply by Eyes Wide Open on April 28, 2012 at 8:45pm

Results:
Unfortunately nobody won a match

96kg (no Leon?)
84kg Nate Ackerman 17th
66 kg Philip Roberts 16th
60kg Sascha Madyarchyk 16th

http://www.foeldeak.com/wrestlingdatabase.php

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Permalink Reply by bill cooper on April 30, 2012 at 7:48am

anyone know what happened to Leon ?

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Permalink Reply by Sam Cooper on May 3, 2012 at 7:41pm

Final qualification event this weekend 4th May, and a big GB team out in Helsinki

4 May 2012

The following GBR athletes will be taking part in 2nd and final Olympic Qualification Tournament in Helsinki this weekend:

55K - Craig McKenna

60K - Oleksandr Madyarchyk

66K - Philip Roberts

84K - Nate Ackerman

96K - Leon Rattigan

120K - Chinu

60K - Damion Arzu

120K - Mohammed Hussain

48K - Donna Robertson

55K - Jayne Clason

63K - Sarah Connolly

72K - Chloe Spiteri

This link will keep you upto date on the action:

http://www.vantaacup2012.com/en/

looking at the entries list there is every chance of a good draw for one of our wrestlers as most of the big guns are already qualified for London 2012

http://www.fila-official.com/images/FILA/entries/2012/entries_05_he...

Good luck team GB !

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Permalink Reply by Sam Cooper on May 4, 2012 at 7:47pm

Nicholson in London next week to discuss BWA selection:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/wrestling/9246436/London-...

Interesting to read that Yana & Olga could still play a part if a last minute passport application is approved

On the Dykun case Nicolson comments:

“All I would say is that Myroslav had a lot of talent which potentially is going to waste, which is sad for him and sad for the sport,” said Nicholson.

“If it’s all proven, then it’s a personal tragedy and it’s a tragedy for the sport because he has performed well in the past when everything has been going in his direction, as his gold at the Commonwealth Games showed.”

I have to agree with him here

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Permalink Reply by Sam Cooper on May 4, 2012 at 8:12pm

Good video footage of today's qualifying action in Helsinki:

http://www.vantaacup2012.com/en/videos/125-qualification

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Permalink Reply by Eyes Wide Open on May 4, 2012 at 11:04pm

I have to disagree with you here Sam. It is not a tragedy, rather a victory. Citizenship aside, cheating is cheating. No one in their right mind would be using drugs recreationally so close to the Olympics, therefore it is safe to assume that this is for performance enhancement. It stinks on every level and if you ask me, a drugs cheat should have every medal they have ever won taken away from them to eliminate any doubt. Not to mention all the athletes who may have missed out on medals and valuable places as a result of cheats such as this.

Sam Cooper said:

Nicholson in London next week to discuss BWA selection:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/wrestling/9246436/London-...

Interesting to read that Yana & Olga could still play a part if a last minute passport application is approved

On the Dykun case Nicolson comments:

“All I would say is that Myroslav had a lot of talent which potentially is going to waste, which is sad for him and sad for the sport,” said Nicholson.

“If it’s all proven, then it’s a personal tragedy and it’s a tragedy for the sport because he has performed well in the past when everything has been going in his direction, as his gold at the Commonwealth Games showed.”

I have to agree with him here

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Permalink Reply by Sam Cooper on May 8, 2012 at 12:11pm

Here is a summary of the results from the final Olympic qualifier:

The following GBR athletes will be taking part in 2nd and final Olympic Qualification Tournament in Helsinki this weekend:

55K - Craig McKenna (lost 0-7; 0-7 to Belarus) 19/19

60K - Oleksandr Madyarchyk (lost 1-4; 1-4 to Belarus) 20/25

66K - Philip Roberts (lost 1-1; 1-2 to Australia) 18/29

84K - Nate Ackerman (lost 0-2; 0-1 to China) 22/26

96K - Leon Rattigan 7/21
        (won 1-0; 1-0 against Bulgaria)
        (lost 0-1; 1-0; 0-1 to Japan)
        Repechage
        (won 3-0; 7-0 against Namibia)
        (lost 5-3; 0:5 0-1 against Germany)

120K - Chinu (lost 0-7; 0-7 to Spain) 17/17

60K - Damion Arzu (lost 0-1; 0-5 to Czech Republic) 26/26

120K - Mohammed Hussain (lost 0-6; 0-7 to Tadjikistan) 18/18

48K - Donna Robertson (lost 0-1; 0-4 to Portugal) 21/22

55K - Jayne Clason (lost 0-8; 0-7 to Uzbekistan) 23/23

63K - Sarah Connolly (lost 0-7 to Greece) 21/24

72K - Chloe Spiteri (lost 0-6; 0-4 to Estonia) 19/19

Unfortunately no GB wrestlers qualified so we now go the the wildcard system where a selection panel from the BWA will pick 3 wrestlers by 1st June to represent team GB at the London Olympics.