Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

[LtPowers]

Re: Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

If two small teams from the same country are worthy of competing for multiple medals why not large teams ?

Because, as I said, it raises the spectre of two teams from the same country being the only two left in contention and playing a game against each other to determine the winner. That's different than the sports in which it's your individual performance compared to everyone else that matters.

That said, though, I'm not sure how it works on contests between individuals, as in wrestling and fencing. Has there ever been a case where two Olympians from the same country had to wrestle or fence each other for an Olympic title? That would kinda negate my supposition.


Powers &8^]

 

[ARM]

Re: Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

Sports like swimming, track, bobsled are individual sports where they incorporate some team type events like relays in track, 4 by something in swimming and two and four man bobsled, and in some of those there are two entries per nation.

While I agree with what you are saying, I don't believe that there is a "one man bobsled" event, so it is a team sport throughout, not individual.

Has there ever been a case where two Olympians from the same country had to wrestle or fence each other for an Olympic title? That would kinda negate my supposition.

Not in wrestling as it is currently configured, because each country is only allowed one wrestler per weight class and you wrestle at your weight. There are cases, though, like beach volleyball where teams from the same country can square off head to head for gold.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

While I agree with what you are saying, I don't believe that there is a "one man bobsled" event, so it is a team sport throughout, not individual.

Luge.

And skeleton.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

Not in wrestling as it is currently configured, because each country is only allowed one wrestler per weight class and you wrestle at your weight. There are cases, though, like beach volleyball where teams from the same country can square off head to head for gold.

Well there goes that theory.

Let me try another one.

How would a single country go about choosing two large teams? With two- (as in Beach Volleyball or Synchronized Swimming) or four- (as in Bobsled or Fencing) man teams, you could easily have multiple teams of approximately equal skill level from the same country. But in the large-team sports (like Hockey or Baseball), you'd end up with clear A- and B- squads. I mean, the U.S. 'A' hockey squad had Miller, Thomas, and Quick; who'd be on the B team? Boucher and Conklin? They're good goalies but the 'A' squad would be the clear favorites in any head-to-head matchup, so what's the point in fielding a B team? (And if you went the other way, trying to make the two teams even, say by putting Miller on one team and Thomas on the other, then you're diluting your talent and hurting both teams' chances.)


Powers &8^]

 

[D2D]

Re: Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

As far as womens and mens hockey goes, I say just leave it the way it is: one team per country. And may the best team win.

 

[ARM]

Re: Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

Luge.

And skeleton.

Yes, both have one-person events on the same track. However, as neither involves a bobsled, I'd stop short of saying that they are the same sport. I suppose the same could be said about a sport like track and field, where there isn't much overlap between the shot put and 100 meters or the marathon and the pole vault, but at least those are often held as one event. I would think that other than the Olympics, international bobsled competitions are held independent of luge and skeleton.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

Yes, both have one-person events on the same track. However, as neither involves a bobsled, I'd stop short of saying that they are the same sport. I suppose the same could be said about a sport like track and field, where there isn't much overlap between the shot put and 100 meters or the marathon and the pole vault. Obviously. I would think that other than the Olympics, international bobsled competitions are held independent of luge and skeleton.

I don't know.

I googled. Bobsleigh and skeleton are governed by the same world federation. It appears from a glance at the federation's calendar that not only is skeleton not held at the same time as 4 person bob, 2 person bob is also a separate event. All three events have the track to themselves for the event's big world championship. Clearly they all use the same facilities. I don't know.

Luge has both one and two person events. That doubles luge thing is one of the oddest looking events in sports.

I don't know.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Parity and Olympic Women's Hockey

While I agree with what you are saying, I don't believe that there is a "one man bobsled" event, so it is a team sport throughout, not individual.

I recall, once upon a time the Great Hux participated in the "One man Bob" when crossing the Hudson coming back from Stoney.