34 replies to this topic

[MikeW]

In the sense that he is a Brit, finishing ahead of competitors from the nations who traditionally dominate the sport. Britain have, until only a few years ago, had a pretty wretched history in gymnastics. To even qualify for a Grand Prix event or the European championships would have been considered a massive success.

if mo farah was a 19 stone docker from dundee i'd take your point, but. he is somali born so its still east african dominance of distance running.

[Futtocks]

if mo farah was a 19 stone docker from dundee i'd take your point, but. he is somali born so its still east african dominance of distance running.

Point taken. In which case, Purvis' achievement is all the more praiseworthy.

[MikeW]

Point taken. In which case, Purvis' achievement is all the more praiseworthy.

Indeed, and I don't mean to denigrate Mo Farah's excellent performance in any way. You can't do better than world champion.

[West Country Eagle]

From wikipedia:

She received an MBE for services to Ironman Triathlons.

She seems to be a phenomenal athelete. Why doesn't she do the normal triathlon in the Olympics, if she wants sport to be a platform, then do one that people give a toss about.

Ironman is different to Olympic distance triathlon - the latter is a much shorter distance and requires more speed rather than endurance.

Steve May is right in that she was 32nd overall, but she won the women's race - therefore she's World Champion. It's the fourth time she's won it in five years - the other year she didn't race. She also has set the fastest IM time for a woman several times. She's the dominant force in women's long distance triathlon. A few others are getting closer to her, but not close enough.

Helen Jenkins won the Olympic Distance world championship, though she only won one race (I think). She was consistently in the top 3 though, and the ITU World Champion is calculated on points from the season. Alistair Brownlee won the men's world champ - he won a few races though, with his brother also up there. Those two are big shouts for Olympic Gold I'd say.

Incidentally, this year British triathletes to a clean sweep of the medals at the men's U-23 World Championship in Beijing. The strength in depth in British male Olympic distance triathlon is staggering - there are something like six or seven people chasing the last qualifying spot for London 2012, including the three U-23s, former world champ Tim Don, the usually consistent Will Clarke and Stuart Hayes.

[MikeW]

Ironman is different to Olympic distance triathlon - the latter is a much shorter distance and requires more speed rather than endurance.

Fair enough, but if you do an athletic sport which isn't in the Olympics, you've got as much chance of being picked for SPOTY as the world tiddlywink champ, male or female

[Red Willow]

Sport in this country is written by men for a male audience. This can not be a surprise for anyone. Even within this narrow band the jurnos restrict it further by concentrating a a core of 4 or 5 sports

Football (only mens)
Cricket (only mens)
Rugby Union
Golf (mainly mens)

Then throw in the annual tennis and 4 yearly olympics.

Compare the amount of column inches given to someone like Laura Davies to Ian Poulter. The broadcast media are the same. This isn't about RL but all other sports outside this narrow band.

[Severus]

Sport in this country is written by men for a male audience. This can not be a surprise for anyone. Even within this narrow band the jurnos restrict it further by concentrating a a core of 4 or 5 sports

Football (only mens)
Cricket (only mens)
Rugby Union
Golf (mainly mens)

Then throw in the annual tennis and 4 yearly olympics.

Compare the amount of column inches given to someone like Laura Davies to Ian Poulter. The broadcast media are the same. This isn't about RL but all other sports outside this narrow band.

What about cycling?

[Red Willow]

Cycling doesn't get the coverage it deserves. They only cover the big events when medals are on offer or Tour is on. Compared to the others there is little coverage. Footbals get pages even when nothing is going on.

[Severus]

Cycling doesn't get the coverage it deserves. They only cover the big events when medals are on offer or Tour is on. Compared to the others there is little coverage. Footbals get pages even when nothing is going on.

Ah yes. My fault, I thought you meant that the SPOTY was dominated by these sports. I agree with you wholeheartedly that it is not good having a small number of sports dominate the back pages.

[Wolford6]

This last week has seen dozens of female columnists and TV-guests making snide remarks about the all-male SPOTY candidate-list.

None of these women would dream of going to watch any of the sportswomen they are propounding for inclusion.

Let's face it, we've got the world's leading two squash players (male) and they aren't on it either. Why, because no-one's got the faintest idea what their personalities are like.

[Futtocks]

Look at the past winners. With very few exceptions, it is a pretty narrow spectrum of sports.

And I bet John Surtees got it for his Formula 1 championship - they probably wouldn't have acknowledged his existence when he was motorcycling champion.

[gingerjon]

None of these women would dream of going to watch any of the sportswomen they are propounding for inclusion.

That doesn't make their fundamental point wrong although the way the argument has been put forward - mostly because it's been put forward by people who want to promote women rather than sport - smacks of a desire for tokenism.

[Futtocks]

Welsh Sports Personality of the Year awards:
1. Chaz Davies (Motorcycling World Champion)
2. Helen Jenkins (Triathlon World Champion)
3. Nathan Stephens (Paralympic Javelin World Champion)

Junior Sportsman of the Year: Rhys Pugh (Golf)
Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Angel Romaeo (Gymnastics)
Team of the Year: Swansea City (Football)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Anne Ellis OBE (Hockey)

[AuroraXIII]

Sport in this country is written by men for a male audience. This can not be a surprise for anyone. Even within this narrow band the jurnos restrict it further by concentrating a a core of 4 or 5 sports

Football (only mens)
Cricket (only mens)
Rugby Union
Golf (mainly mens)

Then throw in the annual tennis and 4 yearly olympics.

Compare the amount of column inches given to someone like Laura Davies to Ian Poulter. The broadcast media are the same. This isn't about RL but all other sports outside this narrow band.

One of my favourite Radio 5 comments was the presenter introducing the results and reports on a Saturday with the words `If you've spent all afternoon on the golf course.' Inverdale also did something similar as a comment on people who may have been at the cricket club. That's the strand of society they think their listeners are.

[Steve May]

Steve May is right in that she was 32nd overall, but she won the women's race - therefore she's World Champion. It's the fourth time she's won it in five years - the other year she didn't race. She also has set the fastest IM time for a woman several times. She's the dominant force in women's long distance triathlon. A few others are getting closer to her, but not close enough.

Women who want equality in sport should think very carefully about it. They might just end up getting it.

If sport really did treat men and women with the same level of respect then Paula Radcliffe would be an awful lot poorer.