pcmodem wrote:However, the South Korean gymnast does have a legitimate complaint. The judges blew it, by not correctly noting the level of difficulty on his routine was not a 9.9 but a 10. He would have had the gold and Hamm the silver medal.
According to rules, the South Korean team has to file a complaint before the competition is over... but given that the amount of time and the nature of the judges' error, there was really not enough time for anyone to detect the judges' error. Thus, the judging system if f--cked and needs to be fixed.
Given that it's long after the podium ceremony, I'd say the magnanimous thing to do is grant extra medals: a 2nd gold medal rather than take away Hamm's.
And fix the freakin' judging system and rules! The Olympics are for the athletes and fans, not for the judges.
-PCM
The judging just needs to be fixed, period. I bet if scorings from past 'lympics are reviewed, some differences are going to be found as well. What? All THOSE gold winners should pass on their medal(s) to second place, too?
Just keep the results (yeah, I'm biased, so what? Who ain't? And U.S. gymnasts and those from other countries have been slighted in the past) that are already in the books -- the gymn' body of the IOC has already stated there is no existing provision to allow two gold anyway -- and make some sound rules for the future.
The only way for that S. Korean to get the gold is if Paul Hamm gives it to him. Man, what I wouldn't give to be in his shoes just to say, "you want it? You can try to take it from me." 'Bout four more days left in the Olympics and Hamm has every right to enjoy the rest of the games as any other athlete. Once he boards the plane for HOME (USA! USA! USA!) with medal in hand (or suitcase :hehe: ), the matter should be
pau already. Aloha, get the hell outta Hamm's face screwy judges, South Korea, and anyone else trying to tarnish his medal.
I mean, gymnastics IS one of the flagship 'lympic sports, right? It deserves tweaking as needed . . . for the future. Maybe olympic medals shouldn't also act as instant olympic judges' badges anymore.
Keep past results -- inCLUDING this XXVIII's results -- already.