airiefairie: (Default)
[personal profile] airiefairie posting in [community profile] talkpolitics
Participating in the half-pipe discipline at the Winter Olympics requires exceptional skills in skiing, and being able to do all sorts of acrobatic tricks. Right? Or maybe not? If you ask US skier Elizabeth Swaney, she would say you rather need to have some basic skiing skills (maybe those of your regular amateur), lots of cunning, and tons of desire to be at the Olympics!

Her intriguing story caused a lot of reactions, from admiration to condemnation, and she was dubbed both the "best" and "worst" Olympic athlete. Because she was smart enough to use a loophole in the rules that allowed her to earn a quota for the Olympic games, even though she was clearly not at the level of the other competitors. How? Well, she decided to compete for Hungary, which has no competition in this discipline. Here are details:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/21/olympic-skier-elizabeth-swaney-i-did-not-scam-my-way-into-the-games.html

She attempted no tricks in the half-pipe. All she had to do to qualify was to finish down the slope - which she of course did. And she violated no rule. Here is her run: VIDEO

(no subject)

Date: 24/2/18 08:13 (UTC)
johnny9fingers: (Default)
From: [personal profile] johnny9fingers
I'm all for her managing that. OK, she's rubbish like Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards, but she is also one of the faces of the games, thanks to her chutzpah. As long as it harms none other. If she were in a mix on the short-track speed skating I might want her kept from the ice, but each case on its merits.

(no subject)

Date: 24/2/18 16:40 (UTC)
asthfghl: (You may kiss me now!)
From: [personal profile] asthfghl
Hmm these are not bad at all.

Credits & Style Info

Talk Politics.

A place to discuss politics without egomaniacal mods


MONTHLY TOPIC:

Failed States

DAILY QUOTE:
"Someone's selling Greenland now?" (asthfghl)
"Yes get your bids in quick!" (oportet)
"Let me get my Bid Coins and I'll be there in a minute." (asthfghl)

June 2025

M T W T F S S
       1
2 34 5 678
910 1112 131415
1617 1819 202122
2324 2526 272829
30