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Great Olympic Moments in UK Track and Field

Discussion in 'Biomechanics, Sports and Foot orthoses' started by Kevin Kirby, Jun 19, 2012.


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    I'm still on my layover here in Dulles Airport in Washington DC on my way to the 2012 Biomechanics Summer School in Manchester in a few days. As a result, I'm having a great time dreaming about and all those great track and field athletes from the UK that I have watched and admired over the last five decades especially considering the upcoming 2012 London Olympics.

    I'm adding a few of these photos to my lecture on Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome just to start getting you all excited about the World's Greatest Track and Field Meet which will be held in just over a month in London. Can anyone name the athletes and which Olympics that each of these UK athletes won gold medals in track and field?

    See you in Manchester!!
     
  2. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    Daley Thompson - decathlon
    Seb Coe - 1500m
    Both got golds at the 80 and 84 olympics!
     
  3. That's cheating Admin!:drinks
     
  4. efuller

    efuller MVP

    I remember seeing a video of Daley Thompson running toward the camera during either the long jump or tripple jump. If anything looked like "hyperpronation" what he was doing on his personal record jump was hyperpronation. It helped me get away from the pronation bad, supination good mentality.

    Eric
     
  5. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    Kevin ...

    here is one for you. What did the philosopher Plato win double gold in at the Olympics?
     
  6. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    Yes, the Pankration

    Pankration

    Pankration (/pænˈkrtiɒn, -ˈkrʃən/;[citation needed] Greek: παγκράτιον) was an unarmed combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC. The athletes used boxing and wrestling techniques but also others, such as kicking, holds, joint-locks, and chokes on the ground, making it similar to modern mixed martial arts.[1] The term comes from the Greek παγκράτιον [paŋkrátion], meaning 'all of power', from πᾶν (pan) 'all' and κράτος (kratos) 'strength, might, power'.[2]

    1. ^ Georgiou, Andreas V. "Pankration - A Historical Look at the Original Mixed-Martial Arts Competition". Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
    2. ^ "παγκράτιον" Archived 7 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon. Perseus Project.
     
  7. wdd

    wdd Well-Known Member

    Glad to see you guys are retaining your youthful naivety.

    Personally I get more enjoyment out of watching kids runniing down the road. At least at that level you can be pretty sure that they are drug free.

    By the time they get to olympics what percentage are squeaky clean?

    In fact the percentage is unimportant. Because I don't know whether the performer is clean my mind has labelled all the competitiors as potential cheats.

    The outcome is that have I lost interest in watching high level human adverts for advanced science or drug companies strut their stuff.

    Shame really as I used to love athletics.

    I would think that by the next olympics we will be seeing some competitive morbid obesity.


    You probably haven't noticed but I'm feeling a little cynical today.


    Bill
     
  8. Bill:

    Not a little cynical, but very cynical if you ask me. I think you need to go out to your local high school or college and see the hard work that many of these young athletes put out on a daily basis...and without the drugs you seem to think they all use.

    Regardless of your unusual view of things, the Olympics is still the ultimate showcase for the best athletes of the world. I love watching the Olympics because I was once a young athlete and had dreams of making it to the Olympics even though, realistically, I simply didn't have the skills to even make it to the Olympic trials.

    However, today, being around and treating athletes, both recreational and professional, in my office on a daily basis, I believe I have a very good appreciation of what most of them are like and they are not at all the people you portray. There are, of course, cheaters in every sport.....oh yeah.....soccer (football) players never feign injury in the front of 30,000 spectators in order to get a free kick or penalty kick.
     
  9. RobinP

    RobinP Well-Known Member

    Funny you should mention that as I am currently part of an elite squad training for 2016 in said event. The training is tough but I figure it is worth it ;)
     
  10. wdd

    wdd Well-Known Member



    Now that's almost another debate. Is winning merely being first past the post? Does the intimacy of television help to make cheating more or less acceptable?
    What effect does it have upon the ethics and morals of a society? Bla bla bla?

    Anyway, enjoy. We are all deluded one way or another and who am I to criticise your fanatastical world view. I have to go and feed the unicorns.

    Enjoy your time in England.

    Bill
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2012
  11. Sicknote

    Sicknote Active Member

    Not for this man who incidentally still holds the WR for the triple jump.
     
  12. BEN-HUR

    BEN-HUR Well-Known Member

    Sure there has & will be drugs in sport... but the majority of athletes work damn hard without the aid of drugs to get where they have & will get to. Harder than the average person can fathom. I know on good authority that I have raced against guys on EPO & whilst this bugs me big time, I still love the sport.

    I grew up watching Sebastian Coe, even have a signed photo of him framed on my wall.

    [​IMG]

    The Coe's certainly took the scientific approach to running. Coach & father, Peter had a deep interest in physiology/biomechanics (got Peter's & David Martin's book - Training Distance Runners). Probably helped towards Coe’s great form.

    Here is a fascinating 6 part series on the career of Seb Coe... Born To Run (not to be confused with that other Born To Run tale)...

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 22, 2016
  13. N.Knight

    N.Knight Active Member

    Good old Mr Edwards, it is very impressive that his record still stands
     
  14. wdd

    wdd Well-Known Member

    I've got it!

    Why do people cheat in sport? They cheat to increase their chances of winning, which in the simplest analysis means being first past the post.

    Physiologically and psychologically it's not a level playing field. Some are bigger, faster, smarter, more dedicated, etc than others.

    Why not attempt to compensate for human differences?

    In general terms men don't compete against women. Some sports already have compensated for aspects of it. Boxing attempts to level the playing field by weight divisions as does judo and weight lifting.

    The paraolymics classification system is more complex and is based not just on the nature of physical or mental challenge but also upon the degree of limitation.

    So the precedent has been created in other sports. Why not try to create a classification system to level the playing field for all athletes? Even here, apart from the paraathletics, there is a precendent. Above thirty five years of age veterans athletics is divided into five year age bands.

    Some of the factors that could be taken into account in the classification system would be height, weight, body mass index, fitness level, percentage of fast twitch muscle, red blood cell concentration and saturation levels. I am sure you will be able to augment this list?

    After all the factors have been identified all that's needed is a good classification system and I get the feeling that I have come to the right forum if I'm looking for someone to design a new classification system. Any volunteers or nominations?

    Of course the down side is that the greater the number of factor included in the classification system the smaller the number of athletes in each category and the longer the athletics meeting would last. It is even envisageable that, with sufficient categories, rather than simply having the Olympic games every four year, they would last for four years. That might be seen as a pro by some and a con by others. Maybe the fairest way would be to make the number of categories equal to the earths polulation? Possibly that's the best way to do it. Every four years in each country they could have award ceremonies where every member of the population could go along and receive an olympic gold medal.

    Good idea ehh!

    Sunday's such a long day.

    Bill
     
  15. BEN-HUR

    BEN-HUR Well-Known Member

    Ok wdd/Bill, we've heard your whinge now. Why don't you do yourself a favour & not watch the Olympics & not contribute to what is clearly an Olympic/athletic orientated thread if the whole thing bothers you so much (just not worth killing your DNA over this). I'm sure Kevin started this thread so members can contribute their Olympic highlights - at least that's how I perceive it going by the thread title (i.e. "Great Olympic Moments in UK Track and Field"). Some people are excited that the Olympics are coming up soon. I'm looking forward to it & despite all the negativity that's present in the world (which also includes drugs in sport), I like to dwell on the positives because there are people out there who do try to do the right thing & strive to be the best they can be... & we shouldn't allow a minority to spoil it for the rest of us... including what seems to be a whinging pom (going by the flag - yet located in France) on what should be an inspirational thread.

    I'm sure the French get excited about the Tour de France - it is also coming up soon... so I take it you won't be watching that either (i.e. due to its history of drugs). You've stated your reasons... & would appear those who feel otherwise are seen in the following light...
    To epitomize the above issues (winners/losers, controversy, inspiration... & ergogenic aids) we have the men's 5000m at the 1972 Munich Olympics. One of the most exciting races I've ever seen mainly because of the guts of an American runner by the name of Steve Prefontaine. I won't spoil the finish but it does involve a British runner (Ian Stewart) as well as a runner who was rumoured/admitted to blood doping (i.e. injecting blood back into himself) during his career. It is sometimes the ones who don’t win that can make an event just a memorable as the ones who do...

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 22, 2016
  16. Steve Prefontaine was my hero at that time and to see him run that race again and to know that he died less than 3 years later nearly at the peak of his career is truly sad. What a tragedy to have such a gifted runner who was truly inspirational to many young athletes like myself have their life cut so short. His death and John Lennon's death at such young ages still pains me to this day.
     
  17. Pre had a great moustache too, what a waste.
     
  18. Sicknote

    Sicknote Active Member

    Who could forget this.

    Britain Derek Redmond - Father Helps Son Finish The Race. Barcelona Olympics '92.


     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 22, 2016
  19. JB1973

    JB1973 Active Member

    Greatest olympic athelete i have read about is probably Zatopek. What a guy.

    Greatest moment i remember watching? Coe V Ovett battle or Allan Wells winning Gold.

    Hopefully Mo Farah will join these greats this year. No drugs in his locker i am dont think!

    JB
     
  20. My heroes were always Sergey Bubka and Dick Fosbrey.

    Sergey had a bit of a nightmare with the Olympics, wasn't from the UK, but was perhaps the greatest athlete of all time. How many world records? (He was astute here). How many world titles?

    As he said: "I love the pole vault because it is a professor's sport. One must not only run and jump, but one must think. Which pole to use, which height to jump, which strategy to use. I love it because the results are immediate and the strongest is the winner. Everyone knows it. In everyday life that is difficult to prove."-Sergey Bubka

    Meanwhile, back 1968 the biomechanists had worked out that "the best way" for a high jumper to elevate his centre of mass over the bar was to use the "straddle" technique; Fosbrey realised you didn't need to- genius.

    Every man and his dog can run, sure some are faster, some have greater endurance, some do it with shoes on, some barefoot, some do it on roads, some do it on "trails"; Jeez I can still run with no cruciate ligaments in my right knee if the mood takes me. But can any of y'all do this? :

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jQiqUrN92Y&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QribYkefoI&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id4W6VA0uLc

    Do you think barefoot pole-vault is the way forward?
     
  21. And if we must talk running, I always preferred Steve Ovett to Lord Coe, but this guy was my favourite back in the day:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01DaMyrys20

    Then came this fella:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVL7QLHn5y4

    And now:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u18_-87Pb6U

    Who's next?

    (You'll note I've never really been one for runners who go round, and round, and round......... I do like those who put ridiculous yardage over their nearest competitors, over relatively short distances and in so doing, make their rivals look very mediocre).
     
  22. Oh, and for the record: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWde8sMxe1w

    I don't just treat runners in my sports injury clinic. Thus, I find it important to understand the biomechanics of many sports, not just distance running, in order to best help my patients.
     
  23. I distinctly remember seeing, for the first time, Dick Fosbury do his "flop" in the 1968 Mexico Olympics which was a total departure from the previous high jump techniques. Totally unexpected, unconventional and very cool that Fosbury Flop.

    However, Simon, you must have been very young at the time to remember this?
     
  24. Emil Zatopek, the "Czech Locomomotive" pulled off one of the toughest triple gold medal performances of all time in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics....the 5,000 m, 10,000 m and, at the last minute, the marathon. Zatopek was one of history's most gutsy distance runners, but is probably one of the most kinematically unusual elite distance runners of all time also. In addition, Zatopek trained by running in heavy work boots (see below). So much for the idea that "minimalist shoes" are the best shoes to train in....maybe heavier and thicker heeled shoes are better for training? Sure didn't seem to hurt Zatopek 60 years ago on his way to three Olympic Gold Medals!

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 22, 2016
  25. Sicknote

    Sicknote Active Member

    The boots are a great example of progressive overload.
     
  26. Wasn't even born in '68, but as a competitive high-jumper through the 80's, I was more than aware of the history of this sport. I had a picture of Fosbrey on my wall.

    In around 1983 I was selected to go to a specialist training camp where they were trying to tell us we needed to use the "straddle", and even the "Western-roll", even though I had been using the "flop" technique for a couple of years by then. Suffice to say, I got little useful information from it other than a history lesson.

    The first Olympics I remember watching was Montreal 1976 and the great Ed Moses.
     
  27. I was 11 years old when I first saw Dick Fosbury do his "flop" in the Olympic Trials and Olympics on television. One of the biggest issues with the "Fosbury Flop" technique at the junior high school level in Sacramento at the time (1969-1972) is that the young athletes, like myself, were expected to land on wood chips at ground level after a high jump. Our school couldn't afford, or didn't know about, the latest piece of track and field equipment....heavily cushioned raised landing mats that would prevent head/neck injury after attempting Fosbury's flop technique.

    So even though all of us had seen Fosbury win the Olympics with his flop in 1968 and all of us doing track from 1969-1972 in junior high school were talking about it, none of us really could do much in the way of a true flop with wood chips at ground level since we would have been basically landing on our heads after the jump. By high school (1972-1975), we finally had the raised, cushioned landing mats so nearly everyone was doing the Fosbury Flop by 1972-75 in my high school days here in Sacramento.

    In addition, I soon found that jumping and sprinting were not my events anyway in junior high school since I was being easily beaten by a few others in my class, which I didn't like too much. However, few if any could beat me in long distance running so, by the time high school started in 1972, I pretty much gave up all my other sports to concentrate in distance running, which I seemed to have a natural talent for. In retrospect, I expect that I have quite a few slow twitch muscle fibers and not very many fast twitch fibers from my performances in various track and field events in my youth. Children and youth tend to gravitate toward the sports they do well in and get positive reinforce in from their peers and coaches...this was certainly the case for me.
     
  28. Even with foam "crash-mats" the high jump isn't without risk (I bent many a triangular section aluminium bar with my spine and felt the pain). But, when I was around 15 I was competing in an indoor competition where the mats had been set up on a concrete floored gymnasium. Myself and my training partner noticed that as the bar was going higher, one of the other competitors was landing further and further across the pad and getting dangerously close to the edge of the mats. We went and spoke to the guys running the competition and suggested they move the mats across. We were told to go away by the "adults" in no uncertain terms. The next jump, the kid missed the mats completely, landed on his back and neck on a concrete floor. Never forgotten the scream. True story. It was around this time I realised that adults don't always "know best".
     
  29. wdd

    wdd Well-Known Member

     
  30. wdd

    wdd Well-Known Member

    Simon. In a number of your video clips you broke with the convention, which appeared to be establising itself in this thread, by introducing clips of melalin rich athletes.

    That encouraged me to look at the list of current track world records. To say that melalin rich is over represented is an understatement. Surely such unfairness cannot be allowed to continue?

    I have two suggestions. The first is positive discrimination for the melalin poor, which could take the form of giving starts, based upon the quantity of melalin in the skin or secondly recognising that melalin rich athletes are so superior that the only way the melalin poor can have a bite of the cherry is too give them a cherry of their own, ie a melalin rich olympic games for the superior and a melalin challenged olympics for the uggh less superior?

    Lead balloon time?

    Get set.

    Bill
     
  31. Or just pick an event that your genotype / phenotype might give you the advantage. Failing that, go visit the chemists to alter you phenotype...
     
  32. BEN-HUR

    BEN-HUR Well-Known Member

    I have a sneaking suspicion that I could be wasting my time responding to you Bill, because going by the following reply - you simple don't get it!

    As subjective the above is, let me remind you again that this thread is titled... "Great Olympic Moments in UK Track and Field". It doesn't warrant you bitching about drugs in sport/athletics & referring to those who do enjoy the Olympics & love Track & Field / running as "delusional", just because there happens to be a history of drugs. Now as far as your above comment... in light of the subject matter, I can certainly understand if others were to then post about non UK athletes who also have made for great Olympic moments... this is what would be suitable - not someone harping on about the drugs. We know about it... let’s move on.

    No - just for troll like posting to be rebuked for when it occurs. Your post of #8, 11, 15, (I'll let 30 slip) & 31 (absolute moronic reference to the colour of athletes) are all troll like in nature! Devoid of any value to the subject matter (i.e. negative & inciting conflict).

    I see... reminiscing of past Olympic moments is "founded on delusion" :confused:. It really must be quite sad being as cynical as you are. Come on Bill... snap out of it - life’s not that bad dude! You must resonate with that Rolling Stones song – Paint It Black.

    NO... we are not coming from the same place at all. I'm an optimist on the subject - you're a pessimist. I am not taking my feelings out on you because I have been affected by drugs in sport. I stated quite clearly to you why I addressed your previous posts... whinging about drugs in sport within this thread. Hey, why don't you start a thread of your own? Let me help you:
    - Drugs in sport - one whinging poms perspective.
    - The delusion of sport - athletes & the Olympics.

    I can see where you’re coming from but here is not the place to express it. Yes, I have competed against runners who have taken stuff - they are called "cheats" (just to use one polite word)... they know it, I know it (you know it). If they can still get satisfaction from their results & still feel good about themselves well so be it. However, various sport organisations are serious about drugs within their sport & they are doing the best (I hope) they can to eradicate it. Things have certainly improved since the fall of the Berlin Wall. I am confident that the issue of clean sport will continue to improve because whilst some may feel that the drug developers are a step ahead of the drug researchers/testers, the samples of athlete’s fluids are now being stored so when a new drug is eventually discovered (which may also include files on the recipients of the drug) then past samples will be retested & the athlete subsequently dealt with (as with Marion Jones from the 2000 Olympics).

    As frustrating it has been, I am not going to allow this aspect tarnish my love & enjoyment of a sport. Frankly, I would much rather be a professional runner than a Podiatrist at this point in time.

    I would like to think the above is in jest... yet still troll like (bordering on racial taunts). It would stand to reason that a thread discussing UK Olympic athletes would include athletes with sparser melanin. Yet Daley Thompson was cited in the first post. UK’s Sebastian Coe’s 800m world record of 1.41.73 set in 1981 lasted about 16 years before a Kenyan born Danish runner Wilson Kipketer broke it in 1997 (1.41.11), and then Kenyan David Rudisha broke it in 2010 with a 1.41.01. Seb certainly deserves a mention... & it doesn’t matter what skin colour they are. Speaking of which (the 800m)... here is another race from the 1972 Munich Olympics. Another great race, with an unexpected result. Check out the athlete running in a golf cap :eek: ...



    Got to laugh at the commentators remarks... "On behalf of all the skinny guys in America, I like to congratulate him" :D. Watching stuff like this is far better (inspiring) that watching the degree of rubbish present on T.V.

    Remember Bill, look on the brighter side of life ;).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 22, 2016
  33. Mathew:

    You know how loud I was yelling and cheering for Dave Wottle when he came from behind and won that race in 1972??....and with a baseball cap on no less??!! These were epic performances from him and Frank Shorter in the marathon that year. These two gold medalists from USA certainly gave me plenty of inspiration to train harder to try to greatly improve my times the following cross-country and track seasons as a junior in high school.

    In addition, I would suspect that the "distance running boom" that occurred in the USA during the 1970's was largely due to both Dave Wottle's gold medal in the 800 m and Frank Shorter's gold medal in the marathon from that 1972 Olympics. They were certainly important catalysts for me and many of my running friends of the time.

    And, Mathew, I agree totally with your comments to Bill. When a cynic calls a whole group of people delusional, does it mean anything? Not really....it is just the cynic venting in the hopes that he or she will convince others to dwell along with them in their world of negativity.
     
  34. twirly

    twirly Well-Known Member

    Only my 2p worth. For me it isn't about track or field events or any of the medal winners. For me (& many, many more) it is about this My view is also not popular. Although I have the greatest admiration for those who aspire & inspire. The UK hosting the 2012 Olympics is not unlike buying a mink coat when you have no food to feed your children. My medal goes to the guy carrying the torch.
     
  35. But, if we liken the UK hosting the olympics to a prostitute touting his/ her wears, then perhaps the mink coat will help with trade and help to feed the children? Just a thought. :dizzy:
     
  36. twirly

    twirly Well-Known Member

    Depends upon if one was to be whoring in London as slim pickings elsewhere I understand. Scant picking in these parts m'dear. ;)
     
  37. True, I don't expect to see much impact here in Plymouth. But you should know by now that the "village" AKA "that London" = UK. Have you seen BBC's breakfast since they moved "up north"? The presenters look like they are bricking it on a daily basis and they appear to be recording in a cupboard to prevent the windows being stoned in. You can take the presenters out of London...... but they still look like London types. Obviously, Steph McGovern who does the business is exempt. She must be in training- she appears to be getting fitter ;-)
     
  38. Blaise Dubois

    Blaise Dubois Active Member

    Hi Kevin,
    Sorry to be out of context but I have 2 questions for you. Are you working (receive money) from Asics? Do you really see 25-30 patient per day?

    Give a big thanks to Simon B for the big promotion of my course in UK... very happy to be so important to his eyes ;)

    "Dear Mr. DuBois,

    I am a Chartered Physiotherapist working in my own private clinic with several colleagues in both medicine and physiotherapy and until last Friday I had never heard of you. This situation changed when I attended a lecture given by Simon Bartold who spent 25 minutes criticising you in a very angry manner. What caught my attention was how he started his tirade; he told the assembled podiatrists and physiotherapists that he had made a “Bull****-o-meter” and had attached the leads of this to your gonads (!) via wires that he had run up along your legs. He then used his power point slides to quote some of your statements regarding sports footwear along with the displays of his bull****-o-meter showing at the bottom of the slides. It turns out that Simon Barthold works for the Asics Shoe Company.

    Now, I have my own ideas regarding sports shoes and I may not agree with all of your ideas or anybody else’s ideas but I will engage in respectful debate on the subject where possible. What I listened to last Friday was disrespectful, crude, slanderous and unprofessional. You were the subject of the slander. The lecture that I attended was part of a 2 day event that was held in Manchester in England. The event was well run but I was amazed to hear this man speak with such bias and anger. ...

    What was more interesting was the reaction from Kevin Kirby – he became quite animated and clearly angry and guess what?? – It turns out that he also does some work for Asics Shoe Company. Clearly I had hit a nerve and was vehemently put down as being “uneducated and incapable of listening”!!

    I have always respected professionals and their opinions – even if I disagree with them. I have maintained my professional independence and have not sold out to patronage. Kevin Kirby is not a man to argue with. He told us that he sees 25 to 30 patients per day, makes corrections to several sets of orthotics during the day. One assumes that he takes food and toilet breaks so he must work at a phenomenal rate and has to be respected for that and the level of experience that one would gain from seeing 25 to 30 patients each day. Too bad that one cannot discuss ideas with him but it may be that he is just too busy......."
     
  39. Blaise:

    On my full days, I generally see between 25-32 patients a day. I don't really see a big deal about this since many other podiatrists in the United States have equally busy schedules. Yes, I am busy, but this is because I have worked very hard over the last 27 years to get my practice to that level. And, yes, I do take a 1.5 hour lunch break and have 1-2 cups of coffee during my full days that run from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

    In addition, I have never and currently do not work for any shoe companies and don't receive any compensation, monetary or otherwise, from any shoe companies, including Asics. This physiotherapist is making up stories about me and what occurred at Biomechanics Summer School in Manchester last weekend from what I can tell.

    And as far as this physiotherapist that wrote your posting, he was one of the most rude and arrogant people I have ever come across in a big meeting such as this. He asked a question during a Q & A session of all the lecturers from the morning on the first day of the seminar where, during his statement to us (not much of a question from someone who was supposed to be asking a question) he basically accused Asics of hurting people because many of his patients were buying Asics shoes and he felt Asics was ultimately responsible for them buying, what he called, "the wrong shoes". He somehow placed no blame on the patient-customer and/or the shoe shop for being responsible for the customer purchasing, what he considered, "the wrong shoe". He somehow implied that Asics was forcing the customer to buy their shoes!

    I became a little bit heated at this man because he only accused Asics, and no other shoe company of somehow forcing people to buy the incorrect shoes, which seemed to be picking on Simon Bartold. Simon had clearly stated during his earlier lectures that he worked for Asics but did not advertise Asics shoes to any extent that I saw. Even worse, when I tried to answer this physiotherapist's question during the Q & A session, he kept butting in, interrupting my answer to his question. This is when I told him that he needed to let me answer his question and to quit interrupting our answers to his question by blurting out in the middle of our answers. Trevor Prior, Joe Hamill and Simon Bartold also provided answers to him. When he kept arguing with us, I told him, "Didn't you listen to anything that was said in the lectures this morning?!" I don't think he liked that comment, but, due to his rude behavior to all of us on the panel, and his statements that were contrary to everything we had lectured on that morning, I believe my comment was justified.

    He was definitely out to pick a fight, and in all of the hundreds of seminars I have attended over the past 25+ years, this physiotherapist displayed one of the worst examples of unprofessional behavior that I have ever seen at a seminar. It was unfortunate to have someone like this, acting like a spoiled child, in an audience of an otherwise excellent scientific seminar.

    After that question and answer session (what they called "Ask the Stars") for the lecturers, I had at least 5 separate people who also attended the seminar come up to me and apologize for the way this physiotherapist (who supposedly practices in Ireland) behaved during our question and answer session.

    Blaise, you may tell this person that if he wants to come onto Podiatry Arena and somehow justify his false accusations of me, that I work for Asics and that I couldn't possibly see 25-30 patients a day, then I will be happy to answer him in public.
     
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