The Good, The Bad The Sad  , and the Rest at Paris

This is the final piece by Stuart Weir on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Stuart Weir wrote 26 stories for RunBlogRun and penned 16,000 words for your reading pleasure. He also climbed several thousand steps into the Stade de France and passed by an estimated 20 security stops to get to his seats there. We thank him for his third Olympic coverage for RunBlogRun.

I must admit, this is always my favorite piece from Stuart Weir, each major championship. I may only sometimes agree, but he is thought-provoking.

The Good, The Bad, The Sad, and the Rest at Paris

The Good

The Stade de France is a magnificent stadium that showcases a beautiful athletics program.

Spectators—after the Tokyo empty stadium and Rio’s disappointing crowds, it was brilliant to have crowds and an atmosphere.

Great duels—Ingebrigtsen and Kerr—it’s just a shame no one told Cole Hocker he was not supposed to win!

Seeing Hamish Kerr win the high jump and run 50 meters up the infield!

Two Zimbabweans in the final of the men’s 200m.

Impressive, not just good – Sifan Hassan won the marathon 3 days after taking a medal at 10,000

If you don’t at first, succeed… Canada with bronze in men’s 4 by 100 in Rio, silver in Tokyo, and gold in Paris

The Bad

Noah Lyles selfishly decided to run in the 200 meters and hugged other athletes before announcing that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Wrong winners: At the finish of a race, the giant stadium scoreboard puts up a result – often with the word PHOTO next to it.  More often than not, it is the WRONG name.  For the women’s 100h, for example, Jasmine Comacho-Quinn was chosen as the winner. Then, to local cheers, Cyrena Samba-Mayela was awarded the win, and eventually, third time lucky, the scoreboard put Masai Russell first.  Fred Kerley won the 100m, according to the scoreboard. Utter farce – why not wait until you know.

The award of silver to Faith Kipyegon, her disqualification and reinstatement.  Check the evidence, take your time, and make the right decision rather than changing it twice.

Repechage is a negative change from the people who want to bring you a long jump without a board.

Having to go up 30 steps to enter the Stade de France every session – a nightmare for the elderly and disabled.  Apparently, the Paralympics is coming.

The Sad

The unnoticed end of a stellar 5 Olympic career of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce when she was announced as a non-starter in the semi-final of the 100 meters.

I saw an uncompetitive Jamaican women’s sprint relay team with Fraser-Pryce, Thompson-Herah, and Jackson missing.

Seeing an ill and uncompetitive Gimbo Tamberi in the high jump.