Gymnastics officials want Hamm to give up gold

[Ptichka]

Gymnastics officials want Hamm to give up gold
This is sooo infuriating. FIG asks Hamm to give the medal back, but does not order him to do so; they say it "would be recognized as the ultimate demonstration of fair play by the whole world.". I respect USOC for refusing to give the FIG letter by saying it is "a blatant and inappropriate attempt on the part of (FIG) to once again shift responsibility for its own mistakes and instead pressure Mr. Hamm into resolving what has become an embarrassing situation for your federation."

I wish the sports writers got it right... The article says: "Yang, the bronze medalist, was wrongly docked a tenth of a point on his parallel bars routine. If he had received the proper score, he would have won gold and Hamm would have won silver." Had Yang received a proper score, it would have been 0.1 lower because of the 4 holds deduction; this means he would have been 4th instead of 3d.

The whole thing is just a bit infuriating.

[JOHIO2]

I agree with you Ptichka. It is about time the US federation stood up for Paul. Life isn't "fair." And even the international fed's solution (Paul volunteering his medal) isn't fair. At least the Olympics people are standing by the original medal awarded.

So many other athletes could and did cry foul. But the class ones accepted whatever happened. My example being the US hurtler who was favored to win falling and being eliminated. What a first class guy. No wonder he is the team captain. He took it all in stride. Admitted he was really disappointed but said, that is the way things go, and will be the loudest cheerleader for his teammates

[eliza88]

I am so furious about this whole thing! I hate that some reporters are excluding the fact that the 0.2 deduction for 4 holds was NEVER taken. Utterly absurd that the FIG is asking this of Paul. Cowardly too. I am glad the USOC is refusing this. Hasn't the IOC also stated that this case is closed.

Did you guys see the piece last night on Paul? I wish they had shown this around 8:30pm rather than 11:30pm, but they brought closure to this issue and highlighted what Paul had accomplished. Then they brought out J. Rogge and he basically said this case was shut. He said in sports there is human error (very different than what happened in SLC) and everyone needs to accept that. He pointed out that if there was a bad call by an official in a soccer game are you going to have them replay the match the next day?

If you want to open a REALLY big can of worms, how about the guy who finished 4th in the Men's AA--had Yangs routine been scored correctly would he have finished 3rd or 4th?

One more thing (while I am still heated up over this), has the S. Korean Federation EVEN filed a protest yet? The other day the papers were saying that this was yet to be done!

I watched Paul on D. Letterman show the other night and I can't tell you how nice it was to see him smile! Letterman was extrememely supportive as was the audience.

eliza88

[tdnuva]

I am so furious about this whole thing! I hate that some reporters are excluding the fact that the 0.2 deduction for 4 holds was NEVER taken.

Note: I am NO gymnastics expert - I just quote what others explained.

This deduction is NOT obligatory. Plus it is only worth a deduction (if at all) if the hold was longer than 2 seconds which nobody yet confirmed that Yang did four of those holds (longer than 2 seconds).

And then - if anybody debates deductions within a certain routine (the 0.1 difference between 9.9 and 10.0 is about the base mark and was admitted to be an error of the judges, not a wrong mark), the judges would have to judge again ALL of the routines. And this might have different results than you expect, perhaps that would make you even more furious? Better to calm down and watch things from different perspectives.

[JOHIO2]

One of those judges they suspended coaches in the Cleveland area. His employer and friend points out that he studied and practiced judging because his dream was to be an Olympic judge. He did this inspite of missing work (and pay) and footing the costs himself. The judges are like the ones in figure skating,.

Maybe the result of this will be a movement for judges to be paid employees of the international federation? Yeah, right away. Just like in figure skating!

[Joesitz]

Didn't Rogge make a comment to Costas that there will be no change in the medals in Men's all-around gymnastics?

Joe

[Ptichka]

Hey, I have no problem with protests. If anything, I think US rhythmnic gymnastics officials are correct to file protest over individual qualifications standings -- not because they have a point (I have no idea if they do), but because the federation should work in its athletes' best interests. I also understand that the media only cares about the rankings. However, the sports officials should be above this. They should be able to say "this is right" or "this is wrong", instead of proposing this Disneyfied version of Hamm giving his medal to Yang. BTW, is Kim then supposed to give his medal to Hamm?

[mpal2]

Sorry if anyone else has already posted this, but I was on Skate Fans and someone posted a link to the FIG letter and the US response.

FIG letter
http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/news;_yl...wire&type=lgns

US Response
http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/news;_yl...wire&type=lgns

What I find interesting is this quote:

Further, we strongly urge you to not release your letter to the media or make your request of Mr. Hamm known publicly in any manner at any time. We also urge you to immediately transmit the same directive to any individual or group to whom you may have provided a copy of your letter.

Apparently that request came to late because this is everywhere and this is getting crazy.

[Ladskater]

It's just par for the course at this Olympics. Canada's Kyle Shewfelt - gold medalist in the men's artistic gymnastics, was denied the bronze medal in the vault even though his performance was better than the athlete (Korean I think) who was awarded the medal. Apparantley, Kasamatsu took a couple of hops and fell on his hands at the landing - no deduction! What gives? So much for fair judging.

[alicelouise]

Any one remember Wimbledon this year? Venus Williams had lost a match because the referee called out the incorrect score. Team Williams didn't correct during the match; so it was tough luck. I guess to make things right the Wimbledon Ladies champion should just give it up to Venus...right?

Gymnastics has a similar situation. Team Korea didn't attend to the start value situation during the competition. That Korean gymnast only has himself and his federation to blame.

I am more angry that the FIG and the Koreans are ruining Paul's experience. This should be the best time of his life. I hope he doesn't leave gymnastics.

[Vash01]

I doubt that he will leave gymnastics. Afterall he has the gold in his pocket. Unless the FIG 'orders' him to give it up, it's his forever. He will make millions in endorsements because of the Olympic gold. The Koreans are only doing what the USOC would have done had the situation been reversed. We are not used to seeing someone fighting back. Most other countries just accept the undesirable results, and let the US rule. I cannot blame the Koreans for doing what they are doing. They too could be watching tapes and criticizing Hamm's unusually high marks on the vault after the fall. As far as I am concerned, once the game is over it is over. That should have applied to the SLC situation too (I know many are going to rake me over the coals for saying this). However, results have been changed in the past in the Olympics (not just SLC pairs), so I don't see why they cannot be changed here.

The fault belongs to the FIG for not being firm on the issue -either change the results, or don't change them. It is ridiculous to ask the athletes to make the decision. I don't see why an athlete would give up his hard earned medal that was given to him by the judges. The FIG needs to make a decision one way or the other, and live with it.

[Ptichka]

Vash, most of us have no problem with the Korean federation. We do, however, object to FIG trying to tell Hamm he should give up his medal voluntarily. Like it's the question of a physical medal! FIG is the one that needs to decide if Yang or Hamm is 2004 all around Olympic champion, and it's cowardly to make Hamm decide. Once again, no problem with Koreans here, they are just doing their jobs.