This weeks instalment. 3 of the lesser sports perhaps?
HANDBALL One for the Crows fans…….Here you are allowed to just chuck the bloody thing.
Said to be a mix of soccer, basketball and water polo (without the pool), the fast-paced action of handball has long been dominated by the Europeans. No teams outside of Europe have won the men’s Olympic gold medal while only South Korea in 1988 and 1992 managed to kick the Europeans off the top of the podium in the women’s competition.
The French men's team and Norway's women's team will both be looking for a slice of history as they look to be the first teams to win three straight Olympic gold medals in the sport.
A player can only hold the ball for three seconds at a time and may only take three steps each time they’re in possession. Keep an eye out for changing interpretations on this rule as the games unfold.
No team has ever won three Olympic gold medals in a row in handball. The French men's team and the Norwegian women's team will be looking to be the first to achieve a golden three-peat in Rio.
No Australian teams in action here, so no medals.
HOCKEYAustralia has had great success in hockey at the Olympic Games. The men have won nine medals including one gold (2004) and the women three gold. The women have not been on the podium since Sydney 2000 and the men were chasing more than the bronze from 2008 and 2012. Rio 2016 will hopefully be the Games where the Australian men and women fire at the same Games.
Our mens team, the Kookaburra’s are led by Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard & Chis Ciriello. Main threats to our medal chances include, India, Pakistan & Holland.
Our womens team, the Hockeyroo’s are led by Casey Sablowski, Jodie Kenny & Emily Smith. Once again our main medal rivals include India, and those always pesky Kiwis.
Excellent medal prospects here for Australia.
JUDOHaving been developed in the late 19th century in Japan, Judo had long been dominated by its inventors prior to the 2012 Games. The Japanese won almost half of the gold medals on offer since Sydney 2000 but could only secure one gold in London. This signalled a shifting of the tides as European athletes flexed their muscle to blow Olympic competition wide open.
There are 7 weight divisions for both men & women. Australia is expected to have 5 athletes on national duty in Rio. At a recent warm up event in Mexico no Australian featured in the placings.
No realistic medal chance here
1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015.... And don't you forget it!