Khorkina a sore loser, says she would have won if she was American

[viivo]

I am so sick of these athletes blaming their loss on American bias. Even if the judges are crooked, is this really a time when they would give points to the US?

Khorkina cries foul

MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's Svetlana Khorkina, who was second to American Carly Patterson in the women's all-round gymnastics competition, has accused the judges of robbing her of the gold medal and said "everything was decided in advance."

"I'm just furious," Khorkina, who had been favorite for the coveted title, was quoted as saying in the daily Izvestia. "I knew well in advance, even before I stepped on the stage for my first event, that I was going to lose."

"Everything was decided in advance. I had no illusions about this when the judges gave me 9.462 for the vault after conferring with one another at length.

"I practically did everything right, still they just set me up and fleeced me," she said in the interview published on Saturday.

Asked why she felt she was marked down by the judges, Khorkina said: "You better ask them. I think it's because I'm from Russia, not from America!"

When Khorkina won her silver medal on Thursday, she showed no outward signs of disappointment and said: "I think it's the best day of my life."

The Russian was also favorite for the all-round title four years ago in Sydney, where her hopes were dashed after she crashed to her knees from the vault. It was later discovered the horse had been set five centimeters too short.

She said she was hoping Sydney's experience would cause the judges to be more sympathetic to her plight in Athens -- her third and last Olympics.

Khorkina did not think Patterson was a deserving winner.

Asked if the American was a worthy opponent, she said: "I've seen a much tougher opposition than her. Let's see how long she can remain on top. Can she keep going and compete in two more Olympics like myself."

"No, well, you better write that Patterson is a great champion and she has a great future," she added sarcastically.

Khorkina confirmed that Athens were her last Olympics but she wants to remain in the sport.

"I'd like to work for the International Gymnastics Federation. These competitions have shown the sport needs a lot of changes," she said. "It should be judged primarily on grace, elegance and beauty rather than simply on mechanical tumbling."

On Sunday the Russian will compete in her last event -- the uneven bars, where she is hoping to become the first gymnast in history to win three consecutive Olympic titles on the same apparatus

 

[dmcowen674]

Same thing for the South Korean.

Oh well.

In the walking skelton's case, she just didn't do as well.

In the South Korean's case, the Judges F..d up just like the Skating Judges in 2002 so another Medal should be awarded to him.

 

[Stunt]

the same issue came up in ice dance competitions.
these events are hard to judge as it depends on the judges opinion on how well the event was executed.

I do agree with the top and bottom ranks being omitted. I do think there is a bias in the judging at some point. But i disagree with the comments made by khorkina. She did fall off the uneven bars. Her event and she is bitter as it is her last olympics. I did not see the vault.

With the way the event is setup, anyone can make this arguement, the valididty can be for or against equally.

 

[ciba]

This is what she gets for not competing in a "real" sport.

As for the S. Korean, the rules allowed for him to protest it. I have absolutely no idea why he didn't. Yes, the judges screwed up. Just like an on field ruling in football, you can't protest it after the game is over.

 

[arsbanned]

Heh, those Russian women, so...dramatic. Melodramatic? Anyway, she's nuts, she got beaten fair and square. She did "practically" everything right? SO what! That ain't good enough in the Olympics.

 

[Stunt]

hey...gymnastics is a real sport...
do you know how much power/strength/fitness/effort goes into this classification?!

if shooting and ping pong is in the olympics, gymnasts are MORE than welcome.

 

[viivo]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

In the South Korean's case, the Judges F..d up.

Was that the rings competition? Yes, that was definitely the judges' mistake.

A British runner is also now complaining because allegedly the US put pressure on schedulers to start the race later than normal and she lost because of the heat.

if shooting and ping pong is in the olympics, gymnasts are MORE than welcome.

And curling. Come winter, we'll all be riveted watching people slowly push stones into slightly smaller stones.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: Stunt
hey...gymnastics is a real sport...
do you know how much power/strength/fitness/effort goes into this classification?!

if shooting and ping pong is in the olympics, gymnasts are MORE than welcome.

I fell sorry for the US marksmen who had a gold lock up and all he had to do was hit his target. Then he shoots the wrong target and falls to last place. Ouch.

As for the Korean he had a major mistake he wasnt deducted for so I dont think its a big deal.

 

[Vic]

I'm sure it was not being an American that made her fall off the uneven bars last night... :roll:

 

[rextilleon]

Khorkina is a chronic complainer although the South Korean deserves a gold--thats theivery

 

[Drift3r]

Well ishe may not get the gold but I sure as hell would give her a pearl necklace.

 

[rickn]

someone send her an application for american citizenship

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: rextilleon
Khorkina is a chronic complainer although the South Korean deserves a gold--thats theivery

No he got greedy after being extremely lucky. People say Hamm doesnt deserve it, but using the same standard neither does the Korean. He had a major error that wasnt deducted.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Anyone know why Roy Jones Jr was never given a gold medal back either?

 

[arsbanned]

Well ishe may not get the gold but I sure as hell would give her a pearl necklace.

My, how generous.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: Drift3r
Well ishe may not get the gold but I sure as hell would give her a pearl necklace.

I think she would be better off with a burger or two.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: viivo
And curling. Come winter, we'll all be riveted watching people slowly push stones into slightly smaller stones.

This is patently false.

All the stones are the same size

 

[viivo]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: viivo
And curling. Come winter, we'll all be riveted watching people slowly push stones into slightly smaller stones.

This is patently false.

All the stones are the same size

That I did not know. The tears of boredom must have obscured my vision.

Tonight is Khorki's last performance. Perhaps if she loses she can blame it on the children in Sudan.

Edit: Actually it isn't. It was sunday.

 

[Stunt]

I used to curl, it takes some mad skill.

Still not the most athletic of sports, not really olypic worthy, but again, it's no worse than shooting at a target.

Us canadians can use all the medals we can get ...curling is one that we are practically garanteed one...kinda like hockey

 

[AndrewR]

Maybe the Russians should try pressuring the judges like they did in the last Winter Olympics. Oh, wait, that didn't work...

Go eat something and get a job, Russkie.

 

[arsbanned]

These competitions have shown the sport needs a lot of changes," she said. "It should be judged primarily on grace, elegance and beauty rather than simply on mechanical tumbling."

Sommmmmebody is bittttterrrrrr! Shadaaap beotch.

 

[Stunt]

I agree with that statement...and that is why if you wipe out or don't land correctly, you lose.

like what she did on the uneven bars

 

[Stunt]

Pic

I'd hit it, just not used to women being in such tight clothing, put her in some jeans and a nice top, you have a winnar!...

No burgers for that girl, she is as fit as they get.

 

[ciba]

Originally posted by: Stunt
hey...gymnastics is a real sport...
do you know how much power/strength/fitness/effort goes into this classification?!

if shooting and ping pong is in the olympics, gymnasts are MORE than welcome.

I was referring to head to head competition (soccer, running, etc) and/or something which can be measured quantitatively. I meant no disrespect to the athletes, for they are in superior shape. I just don't think the "sport" value of something so arbitrary.

At least ping pong is a head-to-head competition.

I suppose I should've said "pure" sport.

 

[arsbanned]

I'd hit it, just not used to women being in such tight clothing, put her in some jeans and a nice top, you have a winnar!...

No burgers for that girl, she is as fit as they get.

[malepigmode] I dunno mang, I like a leeeetle more meat on the boooone if ya know what I mean....[/malepigmode]