Award Winning Speeches

Dear Justin, 

In the world of sports and competitive arts, where the path to excellence is paved with relentless dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering perseverance, it's disheartening to witness someone in a position of influence choose to deride rather than uplift. Rachael Gunn, a breakdancer who represented Australia at the Paris Olympics, may not have taken home the gold or even a high score, but her journey, like that of many athletes and performers, is a testament to the human spirit. It's easy to critique from the sidelines, especially when one’s own professional standing has been attained through different means and money, but such criticism often reveals more about the critic than the subject. This was akin to Donald Trump mocking Serge Kovaleski, a disabled reporter with a congenital condition called arthrogryposis, which limits the movement of his arms. 

It is crass, uncouth and very unbecoming of a sportsman. 

Furthermore, it's perplexing that someone who has experienced the pressure and scrutiny of professional success, as you have, would choose to mock another professional's attire or approach—particularly when those criticisms might be viewed as superficial in light of more significant issues. 

You stand on a stage built by years of work set by your father, and with that comes a responsibility—not just to those you lead but to those who look up to you. Mockery, particularly when it undermines the struggles and achievements of others, can tarnish that legacy faster than any perceived breach of dress code or artistic interpretation. Perhaps it's time to reflect on whether those glass walls of moral superiority you're constructing around yourself are as transparent as they seem.

After all, in the world of sports, as in life, it’s not just about how we play the game, but how we treat our fellow players.

​​​​Would you stand on that grand stage mocking other trainers that improve on you? 
This is rhetoric, and by your own account, don't read nasty comments. This is in no way nasty. It is factual. 

Be better. Everyone has skeletons that are best left alone and forgotten.  

Sincerely, 

A Concerned Observer

I wish I had the ability to pencil the piece above. So well put, so fair and just. Well observed. 
Me I don't have those skills. 

For me Justin is a box. For my ex partner Justin is far more than a box. The WhatsApp messages I have would ruin their now blissful relationship. 

I fear though that in all fairness Justin has a very thick skin. 

@ Equine Pedigrees , please could you explain ?

I heard Justin's speech and obviously his reference to break dancing for South Africa at the next Olympics. Who was he having a go at ? 

I live in the UK so am not in tune with the local scene.
 

www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/celeb-...ies-australia-watch/

Thank you manwatweet .

 

What's worse the speech or the picking bones above?

3 hours of torture, but there should be a transcript if you want to fast forward to the speech

Thanks Bob will try and find it .....

Awards that are not based on a points system will always cause a bit controversy.

Well done to the winners I did stop on jockey award and excellent from Anthony and Richard 👏

Having a colleague with extensive research into the Olympics put things into perspective. 

Justin’s reference to the Aussie breakdancer is boring. He must stick to what he’s good at, because he’s not as funny as he thinks and doesn’t have to try make a “joke” every time he makes a speech. As an Olympic observer, which he professes to be, he’s obviously never heard of Eric The Eel or Eddie The Eagle. Or, closer home and in 2024, even Dallas Seymour, who at the age of 49 finished last in skateboarding for SA at the Olympics for the 2nd Games in a row. Or SA’s archer, BMX rider, etc, all of whom finished last. SA also had a sport climber in Paris who scored 0.00 points, the same as the Aussie breakdancer. Where’s the ongoing jokes about that? Oh yes, because one accepts that a SA Olympian can score 0.00 points but an Australian can’t. 

Closer to home for Justin. And we all love Aussie bashing but then must be able to take it the other way round.At Paris 2024, Alex Peternell 🇿🇦 was 51st (out of 56) in the cross-country. An 🇦🇺 was 3rd.In the jumping Peternell couldn’t make the final (25). He was 43rd. An 🇦🇺 was 2nd.We’re not always as hot on the international stage as we think we are but then again the world doesn’t have high expectations of us so we aren’t subject of ridicule. And our population is 60m, while Aussies are 26m.My source is not blinkered when it comes to  achievements. By all means laugh at their breakdancer (I did) but then move on and don’t be offended when/if the boot is on the other foot.

They certainly don't make jokes and speeches about Justin's shortcomings and let's face it, with a huge yard and strike rates to please the operator rather than himself, they'd have a nountain of comedy gold. 
Perhaps the Aussie breakdancer might respond with memes about milkshakes that went more viral in South Africa in seconds.
I'm pretty sure her dignity is such that she will probably ask 'Justin Who? "

It's fine hanging on the coat tail of Dricus du Plessis in a Met speech. 

It isn't OK to attack a woman that strived her best at the highest level. 

Be better 
 

What does Justin have to do with Trump?

I think the observer should contact Justin directly to sort out some "serious underlying issues"..............

manwatweet wrote:

What does Justin have to do with Trump?

I think the observer should contact Justin directly to sort out some "serious underlying issues"..............

Dragging DJT's name into any conversation is a means of virtue signalling...when leftists do the mocking, they have the media to carry water for them and offer all sorts of narratives to white-wash what was said...

Regarding great speeches, how about this passage:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

—Theodore Roosevelt
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
 

Lotsa egos in the room. Will always be the case at an awards evening

I rather focused on the positives from the evening.

Snaith - Nothing wrong being controversial if u can handle the retorts. Most people have a has a laugh about the Ozzie Dancer. The chirp about the TCO2 testing has been welled aired in the media and social media.

Cape influence was clear for all to see, on the evening. Next year in KZN according to Bortz

Barend and Nathan held the KZN Banner high.

Tarry/MDK/Wernars did it for Gauteng.

Mrs. Rupert was the star of the show and rightfully so.

2024/2025 they have to do it all over again.

The late great Bowie 25 years ago