“For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs, no more Waltzing Matilda for me”.
The resonance of the above lyrics with yours truly scarcely requires any further elaboration. Their aptness felt most keenly regarding areas such as participation in sport and the inability to board and/or drive any vehicle other than the wheelchair. Though the latter has absolutely not been given up. If a farmer with no arms in Australia can do it (Look him up on YouTube, truly inspirational), why can’t I?
However, reason for mentioning the above actually has nothing to do with farming matters on this occasion. Rather, an open admission about the emotional conundrum one is presented with when trying to calibrate my intake of the forthcoming Paralympic Games. Obviously, it’s fantastic to see disabled people able participate in sport, but the difference even having the use of the second arm would’ve made to me could have resulted in the ability to partake similarly. So a tad bittersweet.
That said, and I know the following is as cliched as they come, but the Olympiad just concluding truly has left memories which will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, though, like a smelly Chinese takeaway, there will be sweet and sour therein. Yes, the former greatly outweigh the latter – especially from an Irish perspective – but no amount of fly killer will completely mask the infestation of stink.
Whether that be all the brouhaha surrounding Iman Khelif, the grotesque egotism of Noah Lyles or the manner in which at least two Irish boxers were blatantly rode by judges known to be corruptible and previously corrupt. Leaving aside the Irish being cheated for a moment, it seems astounding that, as well as being an arrogant b*****d, so little has been made of the fact that Lyles was allowed to compete even though he had Covid-19.
Still, it would be remiss when commenting on the greatest sporting show on earth, not to focus on the positives. From an Irish standpoint, that meant Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry and Kellie Harrington and Rhys McClenaghan and our rowers. But, in an overall sense, even though the band might have been, metaphorically, playing a tune about the New Kids On The Block, but for this observer, it was the time and logic defying exploits of one the golden oldies who topped the charts.
From an Irish perspective, again you’re talking Wiffen and Rhasidat Adeleke and Jack Marley and Aoife O’Rourke and Daina Moorehouse and Nhat Nguyen. Then, at the opposite end of the scale, you had Fionnuala McCormack, Tom Barr, Mark English and Cian O’Connor who, although luck didn’t shine on them, competed with distinction once again. Mind you, utmost upset was undoubtedly surrounding Ciara McGeann who – having been singled out by this corner before the commencement of the games as Ireland’s best prospect of a gold medal – had to pull out of the Games altogether after failing to overcome an Achilles Tendon injury in time to take her spot in the line up for the 1,500 metres.
Being honest however, the main reason behind production of what you are reading lies in Novak Djokovic’s annexation of the Olympic Gold medal at Rolland Garos. Not only because it marked the sensational Serb’s garnering of the career slam of medals in the sport. Equally, if not even more so, due to the way in which Joker – a nickname he shares with NBA star Nikola Jokic from the same country – went about achieving his goal. Not only due to who he usurped but – undoubtedly more pointedly – how the contest played out between the two.
Now, for some reason of which I am actually unaware, the men’s tennis tournament at Olympic level is played over three sets compared to the five a regular tournament is decided by. In theory you’d imagine that would favour Djokovic because, at 37, his Spanish opponent Carlos Alcaraz was in receipt of several years from him.
However, whatever notional advantage may have swung to the older man dissipated when both of what turned out to be the two sets of the encounter ended up going to tie breaks.
Perhaps, though, it was a csse of experience trumping energy because, even though both sets went to tie breakers, the heir apparent was shown that he may have to bide his time for a while yet.
For anybody that has been even loosely attuned to tennis matters for two decades or more, the Games just concluded will surely have been a highly emotional one. With Andy Murray having already confirmed has retirement and, all probability suggests that Rafa Nadal won’t be long about following him.
On the other hand, suitors to the throne of the greatest of them all may have to sit on their hands awhile yet.
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