SPOTY 2016

Tashman

Mr Goo wrote:

Pretty poor representation for paralympians considering some incredible performances at Rio. Those that should have been nominated.
Richard Whitehead
Johnny Peacock
Hannah Cockroft


Too many to name but all worthy of being on that list. Just seems that despite the Beebs all inclusiveness. ...they quite clearly are not and are keeping their fingers crossed for a poster boy win.

Whilst I agree with your sentiment, the public at large still do not look at paralympic sport as elite, despite the riggors the athletes go through in many cases being even more grim than their "able" counterparts

kingstongraham

Mr Goo wrote:

Pretty poor representation for paralympians considering some incredible performances at Rio. Those that should have been nominated.
Richard Whitehead
Johnny Peacock
Hannah Cockroft


Too many to name but all worthy of being on that list. Just seems that despite the Beebs all inclusiveness. ...they quite clearly are not and are keeping their fingers crossed for a poster boy win.

How many out of the 16 nominees would be enough?

Like you say, there's more sportspeople that could be on the list that aren't. Some of them are paralympians.

RichN95.

Tashman wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

Pretty poor representation for paralympians considering some incredible performances at Rio. Those that should have been nominated.
Richard Whitehead
Johnny Peacock
Hannah Cockroft


Too many to name but all worthy of being on that list. Just seems that despite the Beebs all inclusiveness. ...they quite clearly are not and are keeping their fingers crossed for a poster boy win.

Whilst I agree with your sentiment, the public at large still do not look at paralympic sport as elite, despite the riggors the athletes go through in many cases being even more grim than their "able" counterparts

But only a very small fraction of the population (<1% at a guess) are eligible to enter. (Not that they wouldn't beat the vast majority of those that aren't)

takethehighroad

Is Pokerface not on the list?

salsiccia1

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

Is Pokerface not on the list?

Got to be British

RichN95.

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

Is Pokerface not on the list?

His teammate, and I think roommate, made the nominations for the Irish version

wallace_and_gromit

Adam Peaty won't win but his Rio performance was potentially the most dominant individual winning effort across all sports in a very competitive event. He has a personality too.

RichN95.

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

Adam Peaty won't win but his Rio performance was potentially the most dominant individual winning effort across all sports in a very competitive event. He has a personality too.

And a special mention for his coach Mel Marshall. I was reading about them and they've genuinely changed the way breaststroke is swum (by shortening the stroke and raising the stroke rate).

(For a cycling link, Marshall was one of the swimmers Tim Kerrison worked closely with when he was at Loughborough)

wallace_and_gromit

RichN95 wrote:

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

Adam Peaty won't win but his Rio performance was potentially the most dominant individual winning effort across all sports in a very competitive event. He has a personality too.

And a special mention for his coach Mel Marshall. I was reading about them and they've genuinely changed the way breaststroke is swum (by shortening the stroke and raising the stroke rate).

I'm heavily into the swimming world now as my kids both compete and there is great interest as to whether Mel is a genuine "wonder coach" or was simply in the right place at the right time. Either way, it's a remarkable example of coach and athlete in harmony.

RichN95.

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

Adam Peaty won't win but his Rio performance was potentially the most dominant individual winning effort across all sports in a very competitive event. He has a personality too.

And a special mention for his coach Mel Marshall. I was reading about them and they've genuinely changed the way breaststroke is swum (by shortening the stroke and raising the stroke rate).

I'm heavily into the swimming world now as my kids both compete and there is great interest as to whether Mel is a genuine "wonder coach" or was simply in the right place at the right time. Either way, it's a remarkable example of coach and athlete in harmony.

I got the impression from the article that she is genuinely an innovative coach but is also lucky to have possibly the only breaststroker capable of putting her ideas into practice.

eric_draven

As a couple of others have put Rachael Atherton,won all the rounds of the championship and took the rainbow jersey,Cal Cruchlow also missing out,had a good season this year,with a couple of wins ,and not riding a factory bike either

takethehighroad

I think Cal would have been a good shout a few years ago, but as was noted earlier in the thread, to tariff to even be considered is so high now.

As good a season as he had, 2 wins just isn't enough to be considered amongst the names that are there

FocusZing

Rio, Every Paralympics GB medal winner

FocusZing

^Training base in miami... Give it to someone who can be arsed to turn up in person.

ridgerider

Are you suggesting he doesn't have a big enough arse...?

Pross

Mr Goo wrote:

Pretty poor representation for paralympians considering some incredible performances at Rio. Those that should have been nominated.
Richard Whitehead
Johnny Peacock
Hannah Cockroft


Too many to name but all worthy of being on that list. Just seems that despite the Beebs all inclusiveness. ...they quite clearly are not and are keeping their fingers crossed for a poster boy win.

3 out of 16 seems a reasonable reflection to me, add to that the Young SPOTY went to a paralympian.

I don't get these calls for 'equality' in events like this. It should be purely merit based and if all 16 are able bodied males, able bodied females or paralympians due to theirs being the best performances then so be it. This year the sporting performances have been unprecedented so you need either multiple titles or underdog status to be considered. I remember years when we were apparently scraping around for worthy winners so it's great to see.

RichN95.

FocusZing wrote:

^Training base in miami... Give it to someone who can be arsed to turn up in person.

Why? It's just a TV show. He's got his priorities right

Richmond Racer 2

He's turned up once in the last 5 years IIRC

*shrug*

Doesn't put people off seeing as he's already won twice

rick_chasey

S'what comes with being a hitter at a big big ticket sport.

FocusZing

It's a discrace I tell thee!!!

Richmond Racer 2

FocusZing wrote:

It's a discrace I tell thee!!!

:evil:

FocusZing

Eye Phelps On.

FocusZing

I would go for Hockey, bet it will be bloody Leicester.

rick_chasey

Well deserved. #1 in an A lister sport.

Richmond Racer 2

The Samaritans Line for FocusZing!

FocusZing

^Ha!

I'm glad he won brilliant year and achievement. Like you said though, he has been at it once in five years.

It grips my sh1t when people don't turn up for awards, especially when it's the fans of your country voting.

rick_chasey

FocusZing wrote:

^Ha!

I'm glad he won brilliant year and achievement. Like you said though, he has been at it once in five years.

It grips my sh1t when people don't turn up for awards, especially when it's the fans of your country voting.

An obvious cliché but it's the kind of attitude that occurs more often in people who are that good.

His sport isn't seasonal like most so ja, fair enough.

FocusZing

^Fair point that's why he's a winner; It's probably why he went back to Lendl too.

rick_chasey

Though did they really need 3 presenters?

rick_chasey

Still think Wales should have won it over Leicester, for obvious reasons.