BMX madness

02.13, semi-final 1 - Bloody hell - not looking good for our 18th gold as Shanaze Reade takes a big and painful tumble in first leg of semi and finishes last. looked painful, someone cycled over her ankle, and she was limping badly. She was already miles ahead, but seemed to overcook the fist set of moguls. She is so much faster than the others in the field, don't know if this is creating a heady mix of over-confidence & nerves. Too nervous to go to bed now - until i know one way or the other.

02.33 semi-final 2 - Shanaze is up against it, regardless of whether she gets through. The French veteran who qualified fastest is on fire in the other heat. She got round in this time, in 2nd place, but she was struggling - worried for her. Limping heavily, clearly injured. Currently in 5th, one heat to go, one point outside the finals...it's great stuff though - crashes everywhere, which are obviously better when they don't involve our girl!

Light relief with some street gymnastics.

03.03 semi final 3 - Chausson cruises into final, and is my favourite for Gold at the moment. Shanaze about to go again. Great effort to win that final heat, and book her place in the final, qualifying 3rd. Won't get a great lane draw for final, will need to count on her speed to get out ahead of the others - and take it a bit easier on those bloody bumps...

03.25 Killing time until the final...

Jacques Rogge makes a bit o a dick of himself, criticising the man of the moment for his celebrations as he wins...rather than worrying about this stuff, how about a proper investigation into the age of the Chinese Gymnasts - will this result in the usual cover up?

Meanwhile, we've lavished half a million quid on the relay boys since 2004. That's money well spent then. As Darren Campbell said:“It has to be the coach doesn't it? He has been brought in to do this. It's his job. But why is he here? Why have we done that? We had a team with a great bond, it was special, and that has all gone. I would have looked after the relay team, so why did they have to go outside?”

03.30 The final - what will it be? Tough final, but she looked much more confident in the 3rd semi heat, so let's see...She's in lane 1 for the final - not sure how that's worked out, but never mind. here we go - it's one shot. COME ON! Lot's of former world champs in the field...first into the first corner, but ACC (the French girl) did her on the inside, she chased, then tried to go around the inside on the last bend and CRASHED on the final turn - she was in Silver position and she just went for it, tried to take the French girl on the inside, got it wrong, nothing. Can't really fall off 3 times and expect to win - but she wanted the gold and only the Gold would do. Should she have settled for Silver? They were miles ahead of the others. French 1-2. Bollocks - that was the last nailed on Gold - I think our total may rest at 17. Radio give her top marks for guts and determination, but not much for tactical decision making! Boardman says she lacked the experience. But if she's this good now, bring on 2012!

Good article here -

"I don't train as hard as I've done for a silver medal," the 19-year-old double world champion from Crewe said. "It's all about a gold or nothing. I put absolutely everything into this and the gold was there and it was still open. I've cut my leg, all up there," she said when asked to describe her injuries, gingerly stroking her left calf. "I think maybe I've done something to my hand, I've done something to my sciatic nerve, and I've cut my shoulder. Quite a few things."

Should she get our Ginger for sheer Balls and not settling for silver?? YES!

I tell you what though, if you like your sport fantastically entertaining, gladitatorial, all action, crashes, thrills & spills, then BMX is the sport for you. Great idea to bring it in to the games.