Team news coming in thick and fast now - the British weightlifting team

https://www.teamgb.com/news/two-weig...d-for-rio-2016

Hope Rebekah Tiler gets some media coverage, she is really a great personality, utterly fearless and puts in big PBs almost every time she competes. Definitely a prospect for the future.

It's a cut-throat business the US trials! Lochte, Franklin, Grevers, etc all being upstaged by the newcomers.

Massive blow to the Show Jumping team. Scott's results have been remarkably consistent the last few years. Rapidly diminishes the chances of a GB medal there never mind trying to retain the title.

Scottish Hockey were diplomatic in their public statement. Someone with more knowledge will be able to discuss whether selection gripes are justified or just someone ranting on Facebook.

Could equally well go into the cycling thread but....starting today, the Mountain Bike Cross Country World Championships from Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic - if the name is familiar the course is indeed based around the well-known biathlon and cross-country skiing venue.

TV coverage in the UK will all be live on the YouTube UCI Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClo...pW13LCntQglS-Q

http://www.mtb2016nmnm.com/wch-program

Sad to see injury ruling out Zoe Smith.

Boxing squad officially confirmed

https://www.teamgb.com/news/meet-the...d-for-rio-2016

Archery squad also confirmed.

https://www.teamgb.com/news/archers-...-olympic-spots

Triathlon World Series resumes this weekend, this time from Stockholm. Men's field is at full strength, except for Javier Gomez who is once again ill, seemingly. Both Brownlees in action.

http://wts.triathlon.org/news/articl...m_mens_preview

Women's field is also missing the World Number One, Gwen Jorgensen. Otherwise at full strength with all three Olympic Brits as well as Jody Holland who is chasing the overall World Champion's place.

http://wts.triathlon.org/news/articl..._womens_roster

TV coverage is both races live on BBC Red Button 2 [Virgin Channel 992] on Saturday, highlights on BBC2 on Sunday afternoon.

No Mario Mola in the Men's event. So unless they all compete in Hamburg in 2 weeks time, Rio will be the first time this year we will see all the top guys racing each other. Fingers crossed the Brownlees can go 1-2 again and I hope Non bounces back after her disappointing race in Leeds.

And the Brownlees did indeed dominate again - Alistair first and Johnny second, both well clear of the field as soon as the run started. Helen Jenkins 3rd in the women's race, Vicky Holland 4th, but worryingly Non Stanford was a DNF.

All the GB women were off the pace on the swim as they were in Leeds, not sure why but they can't afford to do that in Rio. Non crashed on the bike phase. She has hurt her wrist but thankfully no break reported. Jodie Simpson pulled out due to illness. Flora Duffy of Bermuda won her maiden World Series race.

Great to see another 1-2 for the Brownlees

Some Men's Gymnastics news. Yesterday was the London Open competition which was the final GB comp/trial before selection. Not seen full results yet on British Gymnastics website but lots of scores posted on @londongymnastic twitter which make for interesting reading.

The top 5 AA scores were:-

1. Max Whitlock 91.2
2. Nile Wilson 89.8
3. Sam Oldham 88.3
4. Brinn Bevan 88.2
5. Dan Purvis 86.35

Also Kristian Thomas scored 15+ on Vault, Floor & High Bar, Courtney Tulloch 15.8 on rings & after falling in the final at Europeans Louis Smith fell again on Pommels here.

Really does make selection interesting. Do they take Louis? Has Sam done enough with a late charge? Would Courtney go if they didn't take Louis or would they pick an AA? Is this an off day for the usually reliable Dan or is this indicative of where he's at at this point? Will they pick Dan for his experience or go with someone like Sam/Brinn who's on form?

At this point Max & Nile are the only dead certs & I'm also extremely confident they'll pick Kris. As well as being on top form he's also a great team captain/leader. Really shocked to be even contemplating the thought of leaving Dan out. Great to see Max on top form after missing Europeans & so pleased for Brinn to compete so well after his leg break at the end of last year.

One Brit that definitely won't be in Rio is the voice of gymnastics himself.

RIP Mitch Fenner.

Very sad news about Mitch. Met him very briefly last year as he was on the same flight as me coming back from Glasgow World Champs.

As well as a great commentator, he was also a great coach. As head of the Dutch men's programme he oversaw them qualify a full team for the first time ever. Such a shame he won't be in Rio to see them compete

Best UK result of the weekend was 4th place in the Women's u-23s for Evie Richards.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gb...hampionships-0

And confirmation that Grant Ferguson gets a quota place in Rio. Rumour is that Peter Sagan will be in this race.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gb...ycling-squad-0

Team GB Equestrian teams named - Three day event, dressage and showjumping.

Usually a fertile source of medals, but dressage looks to have the best chances of gold this time round. People keep going into their fifties and beyond, so many familiar names around.

https://www.teamgb.com/news/meet-the...d-for-rio-2016

I know im late but really sad to hear of Mitch Fenner's passing. I've never known gymnastics without him commentating barring the recent Europeans. Wont be the same without him, more so because it means we'll be stuck with Craig Heap .

Team GB gymnasts selected for Rio are as follows:

Good recovery for Brinn Bevan from a broken leg.

Had a feeling there would be a surprise or 2 on the Men's team and so we have it. No Dan Purvis (must be a long time since he wasn't selected for a GB team). Great recovery from injury from Brinn to make the team. Fingers crossed that there are no more falls from Pommel from Louis as at recent competitions now he's been selected.

The women's team pretty much as expected. The only debate there was who would get the 5th spot & Ruby Harrold has won that battle.

Do feel sorry for Sam & Dan as they really are world class gymnasts. Just a shame for them that it is 7 into 5 for the Olympic team.

It seems that despite so many top names pulling out Britain are taking a strong group of golfers - maybe we have a chance of getting gold.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/36782197

Then everyone will be saying what a great idea to have golf in the Olympics!



On a serious note big money sports like tennis are in and no-one has pulled out yet - it is just apathy within the golfers as its not been in the Olympics for 100 year or so?

Was Rory McIlroy just speaking the truth rather than trying to hide behind the Zika virus "excuses"

I seem to remember that the first time tennis came back nobody was much interested either - it was only gradually that the top players started to take it seriously.

80 athletes have been selected for Rio 2016.

Main thing this weekend is the Triathlon World Series from Hamburg, the final event before Rio. TV coverage is live on BBC Red Button on both Saturday and Sunday, highlights on BBC2 on Sunday.

The races are in the shorter sprint format, so everyone will be able to conceal their true form. The Brownlee brothers are sitting it out, as is last year's World number one Javier Garcia, who must be considered a big doubt for Rio as he has hardly done anything all season.

http://wts.triathlon.org/news/articl...s_hamburg_race

In the women's race, GBR are sending Helen Jenkins and Jodie Stimpson, and the USA are led by Gwen Jorgensen.

http://wts.triathlon.org/news/articl...up_for_hamburg

There's also a relay race on the Sunday - officially, the Mixed Relay World Champs - two men and two women. GBR have won this three times in the past, but this year we won't be seeing our full-strength team.

http://wts.triathlon.org/news/articl...d_relay_crowns

Not sure who Javier Garcia is but Javier Gomez is out of Rio. He had a crash on his bike yesterday & fractured his arm. Real shame for the event & for him this was realistically his last chance at Olympic Gold.

I expect Mario Mola to win the men's race, as well as being in good form overall this year the sprint distance suits him. Hopefully a good last race ahead of Rio for Helen Jenkins.

Shame that there won't be a strong British team for the mixed relay though of course Rio takes priority. Always exciting to watch. Hopefully will be added to the Olympics in Tokyo, could easily make it so that relay athletes have to come from those already selected for individual events if keeping numbers down is an issue.