THEY SAID WHAT?

Team Managers, Coaches and Athletes are constantly in demand from journalists for their thoughts on everything from the weather to their preparation, motivation and their goals for the Games. The wide range of sports and countries provide an interesting array of "quotes" which feed the waiting media. But perhaps some people may have been better off just keeping their mouth shut! PAUL LEE REPORTS...

When talking about his boat, Austrian sailor Matthias Schmid said that "everybody says their own boat is the fastest, but my boat is the fastest and that's the truth!" Ummm yeah, but didn't you just say that everybody says that?

Perhaps taking motivation from the fact he was in China the Coach of the Iceland handball team made this Confucian statement. "Iceland can beat any team in the whole world. But we can also lose against any team". He forgot to mention the possibility of a draw, then he really would have been the master of the bleeding obvious.

The Athens 2004 silver medallists in Badminton mixed doubles (Great Britain) have been drawn to play the Chinese no. 2 seeds and Athens gold medallist in the first round here in Beijing. Gail Emms from the British team was asked how she thought the Chinese team would have reacted to the draw. "They probably looked at the draw and said ‘shit',.... well maybe ‘shit' in Chinese".

"I finally pulled my head out of my rear" - Canadian Archer, Jay Lyon, on how his training was in the lead up to Beijing. Anatomically it would have been difficult to fire an arrow at a target if his head was indeed up his rear. So I think he must be speaking metaphorically or perhaps he was speaking out of his rear.... although if he was doing that it would mean that his head would still be up there. Now I'm confused.

Another one for the files of stating the bleeding obvious. United States volleyballer, Lloy Ball stated that "we will play with all our energy and heart, we will try not to let the ball hit the floor on our side." Isn't that the object of the game? It's like an Archer saying that they will be trying to hit the target... derrr.

Much has been written on the Speedo LZR suit and the number of World Records set since its debut in February of this year. Some have called it ‘technological doping' and there is no doubt that performances have improved. Finally though, some perspective has been bought to the argument by Austrian backstroker Markus Rogan. When asked about his thoughts on wearing the suit he responded "I tested it. I threw it in the pool and it didn't move at all. So I guess I will still have to swim."