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Congratulations Beth Tweddle!
felixrex
Posts: 7,307 Forum Member
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I would have loved for Beth to have gone out on the biggest high possible and get Gold; but I'm so happy she finally got that elusive Olympic medal, whatever the colour, during her final competitive Gymnastics event! Well done Beth!
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I have to agree with you here.
Yes she did
BTW, does anyone actually know why the judges seem to score what seem like perfect routines as only a 9 something for execution? Is it impossible to actually get a 10 or high 9? Watching the vault now the Ukrainian and Russian vaults were AMAZING, the commentators pretty much peed themselves and yet they scored a 9 something.
Why do you both say that?
I'm not being inflammatory by asking by the way, just interested! I don't really know much about her.
Strange comment.
Well not really it's all about opinions isn't it. I can understand why they said that.
Wikipaedia is your friend:) I'm not a gymnastics expert but this is how it seems to me.
This is her third Olympics - she started at a time when it just wasn't possible for GB to have any success at Gymnastics. So, almost singlehandedly she started to achieve success, inspiring everyone around her to believe it was possible.
Now, as she retires, we have a gymnastics team that can compete with the best - both men and women. Had she been starting out now - who knows what kind of a career she might have had.
She has been a trailblazer and an inspiration in a Sport where, arguably, we have made as much if not more improvement than any other. And all through that time Beth has been a star. I think it's difficult to overestimate her contribution - and, as she retires - we should celebrate her career and recognize her status.
Well done BT......
Great Post +1
I was saying all of this to a friend earlier today. If Beth had began her career at a time when gymnastics was as popular as she has made it over here, she would have been unstoppable. As it is; she was in her prime when there wasn't much interest or investment in the sport; but she stuck to it and she put herself out there and represented the country practically single-handed.
She's a real trailblazer and has led to a big renaissance in British gymnastics; which we now see paying off for us - especially with the boys.
Louis Smith was talking today about how 'gymnasts bodies age in dog years'; which is so true. Considering Beth is about 10 years older and about a foot taller than most of her competition; her achievement today was absolutely fantastic. I thoroughly believe that the United Kingdom will become as big a presence in the sport in the next decade or so as China, the USA and Russia - and I'd say a hell of a lot of that is thanks to Beth and her absolute determination. She may not have a Gold Medal in her trophy room; but her legacy will go far beyond that. She will be owed a small part of every gymnastic Gold we win in the coming generations; won by kids who only ever had Beth as an inspiration.
She has worked so hard for so long. I really really hope she doesn't suffer from arthritis later on. She is going to be a physio I think - so she can go on to make sure gymnasts don't damage their bodies any more than absolutely necessary.:)
Totally agree, she's been very inspirational but I can't help feeling a BIT disappointed for her because if she'd landed that dismount she definitely would've got the gold she deserves.
Well there are many reasons I say this, but probably the most important is what she has done for her sport.
She conducts herself in a very positive and professional manner.
Of course other athletes do this, and have these attributes but I feel she stands out as an inspiration to younger gymnasts. To compare sports is unfair, but for me her field has to be the hardest of the lot.
Well done Beth