There are few things in life more reliably bone-headed than the Australian sporting official. Discuss

I notice there has been much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands regarding Australia’s medal tally at the 2012 Olympics.  Call me unAustralian but I think tenth is pretty good going.  However, some commentators and officials think the athletes have let the whole country down by not  finishing in the top five, which is where Australia belongs in their opinion. And to avoid such a national shame again, the government should give them more money and ban the internet.

The swimming team has come in for special attention because they only picked up one gold medal. As that first week of the Olympics unfolded, and Australian swimmers picked up pretty silver medals instead of gold, there was consternation, followed by finger pointing at Young People Today because they a) spend too much time on their smart phones and b) are too arrogant/soft/lazy/motivated by money. “Social media” has also had disapproving looks.

*Sighs audibly*

Has anyone considered that the other swimmers were just better on the day? And that a couple of races were won by a fingernail? And that some of our best known athletes went into the Games with injuries?

I think the explanation for swimmers’ performance is way more prosaic than that. Basically, they were sleep-deprived.  A couple of weeks before the Games started, former Olympic champion, Grant Hackett was having a few personal problems which the media helpfully made public. These problems lead to him admitting he had at some stage become addicted to sleeping tablets which he had first been given at an Olympic Games.

I imagine competing at the Olympics is just the sort of high pressure situation which leads to sleepless nights.   It is not against the rules and they are not on the prohibited substances list. Swimming freak legend* Michael Phelps is open about using them. But, in a knee-jerk reaction to possible negative press, the Australian swimming officials decided that they shouldn’t be allowed.   Cue James Magnussen being so nervous he wasn’t able to sleep for two nights, followed by everyone scratching their heads wondering why he wasn't  his usual speedy self.

I’m assuming it was the same officials who decided the swimmers could do without a sports psychologist at the games as well. And the same officials giving themselves big bonuses.

With the sort of informed and considered analysis that doesn't make headlines, Ian Thorpe was asked about Australia's result in the pool and the upshot of what he said was that Australian swimming was in the midst of a generational transition and the rest of the world have been working at catching-up with Australia for a while so it wasn't that surprising. Oh, and that “touching” thing at the end of races is surprisingly complicated and technical. Who knew?

I don’t remember him saying anything about funding levels and also absent was any sense of entitlement regarding Australia’s potential and standing in the world of sports.  But what would Thorpey know?  All he’s ever done is win five Olympic gold medals.

This top five finish stuff is a hangover from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  It was achievable then because when a country gets to hold an Olympics, it is as close to a blank cheque as a government can get.  But since then, it is unrealistic, and a bit (okay a lot) try hard on the part of the AOC. It is also an extravagance, when government money could and should be spent on more pressing issues (public housing for instance). With the exception of Hungary**, the countries that did end in the top ten all have populations (read talent pools) of 50 million people or more, mainly a lot more. IMHO for our population and wealth and yes, our sporting history, finishing at number 10 (or seventh based on all medals won) is about right.

And there is something else to think about. Consider how excited we get when an Australian wins a gold medal, or even a silver or bronze? Everyone gets a mention and they get to be famous for a couple of weeks, maybe even pick up some corporate sponsorship.

Compare that to the US, which came away with over 100 medals all up. Anything other than gold would probably not even rate a mention. Imagine being a silver or bronze medallist – no one outside your immediate family and friends would care.

When it comes to petty-minded officialdom, the AOC could get a gold medal.  They have plenty of form, too - check out this story about how the AOC treated Peter Norman.  For those who don't know, Peter Norman was the silver medallist in Mexico City, pictured with the two African American runners who did the "black power" salute, which lead to bans on political statements at the Olympics.

I guess the officials are like arts critics:  Angry at themselves for not being able to do it, and angrier still at those who can.

And remember the reaction when Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat appeared at the Sydney Games…petty-minded officialdom and no sense of humour.  Now that's unAustralian.



Yours sportingly

* I mean freak as a compliment actually. In fact, considering Phelps’ record is twice as good as the next guys, he qualifies for the highest praise ie “Bradman-esque”.

** Did anyone see Hungary’s stellar performance coming? Hungary has a population around 10 million so it definitely punched way above its weight. I’m predicting a Budapest bid for the 2024 games.