Olympic prediction thread - cash prize

[erooMynohtnA]

Post your Olympic predictions. Ten dollars to the winner! 1 point for every correct person you match to the medal in the individuals, and 2 points for every correct team/medal pairing in the team competitions. Highest point total wins.

Here are Sports Illustrated's picks:

MFI:

Gold: Joppich
Silver: Sanzo
Bronze: Baldini

MSI:

Gold: Tarantino
Silver: Pozdnyakov
Bronze: Limbach

MEI:

Gold: Tagliariol
Silver: Jeannet, Jerome
Bronze: Kelsey

WFI:

Gold: Vezzali
Silver: Nam
Bronze: Trillini

WSI:

Gold: Ward
Silver: Jacobson
Bronze: Xue

WEI:

Gold: Na
Silver: Heidemann
Bronze: Branza

MST:

Gold: Italy
Silver: Russia
Bronze: France

MET:

Gold: France
Silver: Hungary
Bronze: Italy

WFT:

Gold: Italy
Silver: Hungary
Bronze: Russia

WST:

Gold: USA
Silver: China
Bronze: Russia

The winner has to score as well as or higher than Sports Illustrated or no prize will be awarded. No posts created or edited after the 8th of August (11:59 PM Eastern time) will be considered. Contestants can only submit one post for points. In the case of a tie, the money will be split among winners.

I know ten dollars isn't the largest amount of money in the world, but this is just for fun. I hope it will bring in some people who wouldn't normally post in a prediction thread. I will paypal or mail ten dollars to the winner(s). Paypal is preferred.

Please use my format or another clear and easily browsed configuration. Logic behind the picks and discussion is encouraged.

[erooMynohtnA]

My picks

MFI:

Gold: Germany, Joppich
Silver: China, Lei
Bronze: France, Le Pechoux

MSI:

Gold: Italy, Tarantino
Silver: Germany, Limbach
Bronze: Russia, Dumitrescu

MEI:

Gold: France, Jeannet, Jerome
Silver: USA, Kelsey
Bronze: Korea, Jung

WFI:

Gold: Italy, Vezzali
Silver: Italy, Granbassi
Bronze: Korea, Nam

WSI:

Gold: China, Xue
Silver: USA, Ward
Bronze: USA, Jacobson

WEI:

Gold: China, Na
Silver: Germany, Duplitzer
Bronze: Germany, Heidemann

MST:

Gold: France
Silver: Hungary
Bronze: Russia

MET:

Gold: France
Silver: Poland
Bronze: Italy

WFT:

Gold: Russia
Silver: Hungary
Bronze: Poland

WST:

Gold: USA
Silver: France
Bronze: China

[noodle]

just shook some things up a bit to make mine distinctly different.

MFI:

Gold: Joppich
Silver: Sanzo
Bronze: Lei

MSI:

Gold: Tarantino
Silver: Pozdnyakov
Bronze: Limbach

MEI:

Gold: Jeannet, Jerome
Silver: Tagliariol
Bronze: Fernandez

WFI:

Gold: Vezzali
Silver: Trillini
Bronze: Nam

WSI:

Gold: Ward
Silver: Jacobson
Bronze: Xue

WEI:

Gold: Heidemann
Silver: Na
Bronze: Branza

MST:

Gold: Russia
Silver: France
Bronze: Italy

MET:

Gold: France
Silver: Italy
Bronze: Hungary

WFT:

Gold: Italy
Silver: Russia
Bronze: Hungary

WST:

Gold: USA
Silver: Russia
Bronze: China

[Aussie_Fencer]

MFI:
Gold: Joppich
Silver: Sanzo
Bronze: Baldini
MSI:
Gold: Pozdnyakov
Silver: Tarantino
Bronze: Limbach
MEI:
Gold: Tagliariol
Silver: Jeannet, Jerome
Bronze: Kelsey
WFI:
Gold: Vezzali
Silver: Nam
Bronze: Trillini
WSI:
Gold: Ward
Silver: Jacobson
Bronze: Xue
WEI:
Gold: Na
Silver: Heidemann
Bronze: Branza

MST:
Gold: Italy
Silver: Russia
Bronze: France
MET:
Gold: France
Silver: Hungary
Bronze: Italy
WFT:
Gold: Italy
Silver: Hungary
Bronze: Russia
WST:
Gold: USA
Silver: China
Bronze: Russia

[erooMynohtnA]

In case anyone needs it, here is the list of Olympic fencers and teams from the FIE.

It is my opinion that SI is giving preference in placement to proven performers at past championships rather than who's hot right now. We'll see if it pays off.

[noodle]

In case anyone needs it, here is the list of Olympic fencers and teams from the FIE.

It is my opinion that SI is giving preference in placement to proven performers at past championships rather than who's hot right now. We'll see if it pays off.

in general, thats what they always do

[Jason]

WSI:
Gold: China, Xue
Silver: USA, Jacobson
Bronze: USA, Ward

You ****ing pinko. Love it or leave it, commie.

[Wingz240]

I'm curious, why does everyone have so much confidence in joppich?

[noodle]

I'm curious, why does everyone have so much confidence in joppich?

he's got a proven track record of success in high stress events.

[erooMynohtnA]

You ****ing pinko. Love it or leave it, commie.

I certainly hope I'm wrong. Plus, where's the fun in making safe picks.

I'm curious, why does everyone have so much confidence in joppich?

Not only has Joppich proven effective in the big shows, specifically, he has beaten Baldini in the finals of the past two world championships. You tell me who would be unhappier about them meeting in a medal round.

Joppich did have a terrible showing at the European Championships a few weeks back, but it could just be how seriously he's taking the OG.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

MFI:

Gold: Sanzo, Ita
Silver: LePechoux, Fra
Bronze: Baldini, Ita

MSI:

Gold: Pozdniakov, Rus
Silver: Montano, Ita
Bronze: Smart, USA

MEI:

Gold: Kulczar, Hun
Silver: Boisse, Fra
Bronze: Kauter, Sui

WFI:

Gold: Vezzali, Ita
Silver: Mohamed, Hun
Bronze: Trillini, Ita

WSI:

Gold: Ward, USA
Silver: Jacobson, USA
Bronze: Nechaeva, Rus

WEI:

Gold: Branza, Rou
Silver: Flessel-Colovic, Fra
Bronze: Heidemann, Ger

MST:

Gold: Russia
Silver: Belarus'
Bronze: USA

MET:

Gold: Hungary
Silver: France
Bronze: Poland

WFT:

Gold: Italy
Silver: Russia
Bronze: Hungary

WST:

Gold: USA
Silver: Russia
Bronze: Ukraine

[Wingz240]

I certainly hope I'm wrong. Plus, where's the fun in making safe picks.

Not only has Joppich proven effective in the big shows, specifically, he has beaten Baldini in the finals of the past two world championships. You tell me who would be unhappier about them meeting in a medal round.

Joppich did have a terrible showing at the European Championships a few weeks back, but it could just be how seriously he's taking the OG.

True that he has been very successful the past years, but I took a look at his recent tournament records and they didn't seem that impressive (considering world champ status)

And why would he not take a tournament where points are awarded seriously? Perhaps I'm missing something here...

[rory]

True that he has been very successful the past years, but I took a look at his recent tournament records and they didn't seem that impressive (considering world champ status)

And why would he not take a tournament where points are awarded seriously? Perhaps I'm missing something here...

Because you don't plan to excel at every tournament on the world stage.
You need to plan to peak at certain points in the season.

You use certain events as stepping stones, and certain ones as outcome goals.

The Olympics are the top of the tree - so you don't want to peak your training a month before for an event that matters less.

Incidentally - to those that picked Baldini - oops, you picker a doper. He's not going.
Cassara is a good pick... but then he won't have been expecting to go, so might not be in peak form.

[Insipiens]

Because you don't plan to excel at every tournament on the world stage.
You need to plan to peak at certain points in the season.

You use certain events as stepping stones, and certain ones as outcome goals.

The Olympics are the top of the tree - so you don't want to peak your training a month before for an event that matters less.

Incidentally - to those that picked Baldini - oops, you picker a doper. He's not going.
Cassara is a good pick... but then he won't have been expecting to go, so might not be in peak form.

Link to the news story on Baldini

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...ng/7536871.stm

And Cassara did win the Europeans and would probably a good pic for the top 3. Not a bad reserve to have up your sleeve.

[downunder]

You ****ing pinko. Love it or leave it, commie.

Sometimes betting with your head, not with your heart is the way to go .

[erooMynohtnA]

Incidentally - to those that picked Baldini - oops, you picker a doper. He's not going.
Cassara is a good pick... but then he won't have been expecting to go, so might not be in peak form.

So long as everyone changes their picks before the deadline, it's fine to scratch him.

I'll have to go look at the athletes again, but I don't think I'll be picking Cassara.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

I'll pick Cassara to do a Zagunis ;
so MF :

Cassara
LePechoux
Sanzo


I've also realized that I've left China or Korea without a medal, and France without a Gold - so I'aint becomin' $9.98 richer fosho.

[Inquartata]

Sometimes betting with your head, not with your heart is the way to go .

Yes.

I can totally see the Americans' water bottles being spiked with a banned diuretic in order that China triumphs.

Or attacks from journalists.

IMO there simply are not enough Chinese fencers on anyone's lists to approximate the inevitable results...

[Mr.MightyMouse]

IMO there simply are not enough Chinese fencers on anyone's lists to approximate the inevitable results...

Unfortunately you're prolly correct.

[edew]

Is there a final list of the athletes? The FIE site only lists those who qualified outside of being a member of the team.