August 3, 2024 • 10 mins
James McOnie from the Crowd Goes Wild joined Piney to discuss the highs and lows of the ongoing Paris Olympics.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalksb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get you back to Paris. James mcconey normally joins
us a little bit later than this, but he's what's
halp us three in the morning, so I think he
wants to get to bed, So let's get to Let's
get to James mcconey. Now, brilliant work that you're doing
over there, James, absolutely terrific the stuff I've seen coming
back from you Star Defrance. You've been at the track
and field. What's it like, mate? It looks amazing.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Oh, it looks amazing and thanks Pineer. I appreciate it, mate.
Feedback from you is definitely appreciated and valued. I think
Star de France is not as we know it.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Of course, it's the rugby ground with you all blacks play.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
They've put down the purple track the French fans that
they love to chair, especially their their own athletes. But
it's a real wall of sound and all the athletes
are saying the atmosphere is the best they've ever experienced.
And I was lucky enough to see Zoe Hobbes come
see in her heats in one hundred meters and looking
(01:09):
really good running eleven point eight, I think, but just
a shame. It's a shame because she was looking at
such good nick that she dipped out in the semifinals
and you would have seen the final, I'm guessing Piney
and it was great to see even underdog get up.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, Saint Lucia's Julian Alfred beating hot favorite Shakari Richardson. Yeah,
I just love the one hundred meters. It's just one
of the iconic events. And you're right about Zoe. You know,
eleven point eight would have gotten her into the final
as one of the next fast She ran eleven o
eight yesterday. She said she was in really good form,
just not to be but man, an Olympic semi final
(01:52):
for a one hundred meter sprinter from New Zealand doesn't
happen very often.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
James, Yeah, exactly. Let's be honest.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
One hundred meters has become the biggest event at the
Olympics and Zoe has been outstanding for a few years now,
and really her PB of ten point eight nine would
have won bronze. So that's why I feel sad for
Zoe because it's really hard to get it right. Alfred
(02:20):
run ran her PB of ten point seven two. I
think tonight, so look Zoe, I hope she doesn't quit.
She wants to take a break. I think there's plenty
more in the tank from Zoe. What we really need
I think in New Zealand sprinting is relay teams. We
need to is even mix relays. Now it's a shame
Eddie and Kettya decided to leave the sport, but look
(02:41):
watch the space. I think he might come back and
help us in that regard because I think having those
relatives athletes a bit more of a They're not just
on the brink of this or nothing. You know, you
need to have a campaign to build around and even
teammates you can see the camaraderie. I was in camp
(03:02):
with the New Zealand athletics team and I think it
would really help if there was a team of sprinters.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
So you know, keep your eyes peeled.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
If you see anyone who's quick, make sure you get
them good good coaching. James Mortimer did a good job
with Zoe, so you know all is not lost for
the future.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, well it's type the She also catches a few
eyeballs of young boys and girls who think, man, I
can run fast. I'll give that a crack as well.
Not to be for Tom Walsh. Unfortunately, an injury has
really put paid to his chances of another Olympic medal.
That was tough to watch, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, that's really hard for Thomas. Again, I saw him
in training. He was looking great. He'd trimmed down because
I think he knew that his best chance was to
stay quick and stay fast. He's doing a lot of
speed training to compete with a behemoth of a.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Man and Ryan Krauser.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
And there's a cruel irony that he threw twenty two
point nine to zero to win the gold because that
is Tom Walsh's PB from back in twenty nineteen, I think.
But let's not forget Look, if this is Tom Walsh's
final Olympics, we don't know that yet. I don't think
he hears World champions from twenty seventeen. He is one
of the great seventh best of all time. And remember
(04:13):
some of those throws were definitely thrown by people juice
back in the day who had never caught. But Tom
is a great athlete and I hope he's an awkward
age is and he thirty two right now with a
baby on the way next month. To go another Olympics
might be tough, but I hope he does. And it
(04:34):
was great to see Jacko come seventh as well.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yeah, we'll watch the space on tom Walda. Choppaters contend
to go a bit longer than some other athletes, so
I guess we just wait and see. Speaking of those
who are I guess nearer the end of their Olympic
career than the start. Had the absolute pleasure of chatting
to Emma Twig a couple of hours ago, and you know,
here's an athlete who was ready to throw it all away,
(04:57):
in fact, did retire after Rio twenty sixteen Golden Tokyo silver. Today,
I love the story of Emma Twig.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Absolutely. Emma Twig is not the biggest athlete.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
I'd say she'd probably be the smallest in that field,
and to finish with another Olympic medal is just an
awesome achievement.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
She was already one of the greats.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I think she's in that pantheon of greats, but then
to just cemented it with another medal. She came fourth
in London and then fourth again in Rio and that
prompted that retirement, and you know, just the one of
those just digging deep a show of great But also
the other thing with Emma is she's a true leader
(05:39):
and she speaks her mind and it rubs people.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Up the wrong way.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
But I'm telling you everybody in your life, you need
an Emma Twig in your life. She'll tell you how
it is and you might not want to hear it,
but it's coming from a good place and it's all
about actually making things better. So she actually does move
into say a managerial administrative role, it'll be the best
thing for rowing in New Zealand, for sport in New Zealand.
(06:05):
And look, she's the sort of person that she was
to fly business class or first class around the world.
She'd be doing it to look after the people who
are in struggles street in the sport. You know, she
has always got an eye out for how athletes are
fairing and how the.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Volunteers are going. So I've got nothing but admiration for Emma.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Yeah, it's been another great rowing regatta for New Zealand
at these Olympic Games. Just before you go, you haven't
had the chance to go to the judo, have you
and see that massive French guy, Teddy Rhiner when another
gold medal. Have you seen that?
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Yes? I did see Teddy Rhiner.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
He is something asight to behold, six foot eight, one
hundred and forty kgs, not an ounce of fat on
the guy.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
He is just an absolute beast.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
But you don't expect a judoka to be that height
because it's all about, you know, controlling your center of
gravity and dominating your opponent and getting them to the ground.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
So you've think like a big tree like that would
fall easily.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Well he didn't, and that's his fifth Olympic gold medal.
He won the individual one hundred kg plus and in
the teams event, it's weird. It was tied with Japan
and they went to sudden death and they sort of
spin in the wheel and they decide which of the
of the five teammates or maybe six have to fight,
(07:30):
and it just spun over to heavyweight men and the
crowd erupted because out comes Teddy against this massive Japanese
guy who looked like he was kind of like could
potentially be a suma wrestler.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
And in you know, in the next life.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
And so that was just a battle Royale and Teddy
delivered and look it was.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
It's I've got a new found love of the sport.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
I guess I've always respected judo and played rugby with it.
With a good judo cus Steve Surage, who was you know,
flipping on your back and before you know it tie
you in knots like a pretzel. But seeing that, and
I mean it's France. They love that sport. I mean
judo and fencing. You know how we love rowing and
(08:17):
kayaking at the Olympics, Well, the French love their judo
and fencing for real.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Just before you go, it looks from here as though
everybody who turns up to watch these Olympic sports, and
there have been so many of them, it's just having
a party. There are DJs everywhere, There are all sorts
of fan engagement zones. Does it feel to you like
that on the ground that the people of Paris have
just taken a month off and are enjoying enjoying a
city wide holiday.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Yeah, there are two schools of thought.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
There are the DJs and there I'm quite near a canal.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Which people will remember from the movie Unnerly.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
It's actually it's picture perfect, and the French are out
there drinking in the streets responsibly. Of course, there's there's buskers,
there's the whole thing going on, just socializing and it
just feels wonderful. And the restaurant have TVs and they're
celebrating every single freach victory. And then there's other people
who say, well, half of Paris is left because they
(09:14):
knew it was going to.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Be a real problem, so they've left us to it,
and it's worked up quite nicely.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Actually, there's been a few cramped trains and very hot trains,
and you know, I've probably sweetd more. This has been
really good for me Piney. To be honest, you won't
recognize me when I come back.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
And if I could have.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Only just eliminated the pastries from the equation, I would
have maybe even reached a gold weight by the end
of Paris. Yeah, long at last.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah, you simply cannot go to Paris without without sampling
the pastries, though that would be that would be sacrilege. James,
great to chat us. Always enjoy the next week and
we'll catch up again one more time from Paris next Sunday.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Sounds good, mate, Take it take it easy, all the best.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
All the best to you too, James, get some sleep.
It's twenty to four in the morning over there. Please
get your head down at some point, James only big
part of our Sundays and doing great work over at
the Olympic Games for skyte.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalksb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get you back to Paris. James mcconey normally joins
us a little bit later than this, but he's what's
halp us three in the morning, so I think he
wants to get to bed, So let's get to Let's
get to James mcconey. Now, brilliant work that you're doing
over there, James, absolutely terrific the stuff I've seen coming
back from you Star Defrance. You've been at the track
and field. What's it like, mate? It looks amazing.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Oh, it looks amazing and thanks Pineer. I appreciate it, mate.
Feedback from you is definitely appreciated and valued. I think
Star de France is not as we know it.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Of course, it's the rugby ground with you all blacks play.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
They've put down the purple track the French fans that
they love to chair, especially their their own athletes. But
it's a real wall of sound and all the athletes
are saying the atmosphere is the best they've ever experienced.
And I was lucky enough to see Zoe Hobbes come
see in her heats in one hundred meters and looking
(01:09):
really good running eleven point eight, I think, but just
a shame. It's a shame because she was looking at
such good nick that she dipped out in the semifinals
and you would have seen the final, I'm guessing Piney
and it was great to see even underdog get up.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, Saint Lucia's Julian Alfred beating hot favorite Shakari Richardson. Yeah,
I just love the one hundred meters. It's just one
of the iconic events. And you're right about Zoe. You know,
eleven point eight would have gotten her into the final
as one of the next fast She ran eleven o
eight yesterday. She said she was in really good form,
just not to be but man, an Olympic semi final
(01:52):
for a one hundred meter sprinter from New Zealand doesn't
happen very often.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
James, Yeah, exactly. Let's be honest.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
One hundred meters has become the biggest event at the
Olympics and Zoe has been outstanding for a few years now,
and really her PB of ten point eight nine would
have won bronze. So that's why I feel sad for
Zoe because it's really hard to get it right. Alfred
(02:20):
run ran her PB of ten point seven two. I
think tonight, so look Zoe, I hope she doesn't quit.
She wants to take a break. I think there's plenty
more in the tank from Zoe. What we really need
I think in New Zealand sprinting is relay teams. We
need to is even mix relays. Now it's a shame
Eddie and Kettya decided to leave the sport, but look
(02:41):
watch the space. I think he might come back and
help us in that regard because I think having those
relatives athletes a bit more of a They're not just
on the brink of this or nothing. You know, you
need to have a campaign to build around and even
teammates you can see the camaraderie. I was in camp
(03:02):
with the New Zealand athletics team and I think it
would really help if there was a team of sprinters.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
So you know, keep your eyes peeled.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
If you see anyone who's quick, make sure you get
them good good coaching. James Mortimer did a good job
with Zoe, so you know all is not lost for
the future.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, well it's type the She also catches a few
eyeballs of young boys and girls who think, man, I
can run fast. I'll give that a crack as well.
Not to be for Tom Walsh. Unfortunately, an injury has
really put paid to his chances of another Olympic medal.
That was tough to watch, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, that's really hard for Thomas. Again, I saw him
in training. He was looking great. He'd trimmed down because
I think he knew that his best chance was to
stay quick and stay fast. He's doing a lot of
speed training to compete with a behemoth of a.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Man and Ryan Krauser.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
And there's a cruel irony that he threw twenty two
point nine to zero to win the gold because that
is Tom Walsh's PB from back in twenty nineteen, I think.
But let's not forget Look, if this is Tom Walsh's
final Olympics, we don't know that yet. I don't think
he hears World champions from twenty seventeen. He is one
of the great seventh best of all time. And remember
(04:13):
some of those throws were definitely thrown by people juice
back in the day who had never caught. But Tom
is a great athlete and I hope he's an awkward
age is and he thirty two right now with a
baby on the way next month. To go another Olympics
might be tough, but I hope he does. And it
(04:34):
was great to see Jacko come seventh as well.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yeah, we'll watch the space on tom Walda. Choppaters contend
to go a bit longer than some other athletes, so
I guess we just wait and see. Speaking of those
who are I guess nearer the end of their Olympic
career than the start. Had the absolute pleasure of chatting
to Emma Twig a couple of hours ago, and you know,
here's an athlete who was ready to throw it all away,
(04:57):
in fact, did retire after Rio twenty sixteen Golden Tokyo silver. Today,
I love the story of Emma Twig.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Absolutely. Emma Twig is not the biggest athlete.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
I'd say she'd probably be the smallest in that field,
and to finish with another Olympic medal is just an
awesome achievement.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
She was already one of the greats.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I think she's in that pantheon of greats, but then
to just cemented it with another medal. She came fourth
in London and then fourth again in Rio and that
prompted that retirement, and you know, just the one of
those just digging deep a show of great But also
the other thing with Emma is she's a true leader
(05:39):
and she speaks her mind and it rubs people.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Up the wrong way.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
But I'm telling you everybody in your life, you need
an Emma Twig in your life. She'll tell you how
it is and you might not want to hear it,
but it's coming from a good place and it's all
about actually making things better. So she actually does move
into say a managerial administrative role, it'll be the best
thing for rowing in New Zealand, for sport in New Zealand.
(06:05):
And look, she's the sort of person that she was
to fly business class or first class around the world.
She'd be doing it to look after the people who
are in struggles street in the sport. You know, she
has always got an eye out for how athletes are
fairing and how the.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Volunteers are going. So I've got nothing but admiration for Emma.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Yeah, it's been another great rowing regatta for New Zealand
at these Olympic Games. Just before you go, you haven't
had the chance to go to the judo, have you
and see that massive French guy, Teddy Rhiner when another
gold medal. Have you seen that?
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Yes? I did see Teddy Rhiner.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
He is something asight to behold, six foot eight, one
hundred and forty kgs, not an ounce of fat on
the guy.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
He is just an absolute beast.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
But you don't expect a judoka to be that height
because it's all about, you know, controlling your center of
gravity and dominating your opponent and getting them to the ground.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
So you've think like a big tree like that would
fall easily.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Well he didn't, and that's his fifth Olympic gold medal.
He won the individual one hundred kg plus and in
the teams event, it's weird. It was tied with Japan
and they went to sudden death and they sort of
spin in the wheel and they decide which of the
of the five teammates or maybe six have to fight,
(07:30):
and it just spun over to heavyweight men and the
crowd erupted because out comes Teddy against this massive Japanese
guy who looked like he was kind of like could
potentially be a suma wrestler.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
And in you know, in the next life.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
And so that was just a battle Royale and Teddy
delivered and look it was.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
It's I've got a new found love of the sport.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
I guess I've always respected judo and played rugby with it.
With a good judo cus Steve Surage, who was you know,
flipping on your back and before you know it tie
you in knots like a pretzel. But seeing that, and
I mean it's France. They love that sport. I mean
judo and fencing. You know how we love rowing and
(08:17):
kayaking at the Olympics, Well, the French love their judo
and fencing for real.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Just before you go, it looks from here as though
everybody who turns up to watch these Olympic sports, and
there have been so many of them, it's just having
a party. There are DJs everywhere, There are all sorts
of fan engagement zones. Does it feel to you like
that on the ground that the people of Paris have
just taken a month off and are enjoying enjoying a
city wide holiday.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Yeah, there are two schools of thought.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
There are the DJs and there I'm quite near a canal.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Which people will remember from the movie Unnerly.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
It's actually it's picture perfect, and the French are out
there drinking in the streets responsibly. Of course, there's there's buskers,
there's the whole thing going on, just socializing and it
just feels wonderful. And the restaurant have TVs and they're
celebrating every single freach victory. And then there's other people
who say, well, half of Paris is left because they
(09:14):
knew it was going to.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Be a real problem, so they've left us to it,
and it's worked up quite nicely.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Actually, there's been a few cramped trains and very hot trains,
and you know, I've probably sweetd more. This has been
really good for me Piney. To be honest, you won't
recognize me when I come back.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
And if I could have.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Only just eliminated the pastries from the equation, I would
have maybe even reached a gold weight by the end
of Paris. Yeah, long at last.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah, you simply cannot go to Paris without without sampling
the pastries, though that would be that would be sacrilege. James,
great to chat us. Always enjoy the next week and
we'll catch up again one more time from Paris next Sunday.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Sounds good, mate, Take it take it easy, all the best.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
All the best to you too, James, get some sleep.
It's twenty to four in the morning over there. Please
get your head down at some point, James only big
part of our Sundays and doing great work over at
the Olympic Games for skyte.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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