Aided by outstanding television coverage we have been able to watch the field action as it unfolds helped by outstanding commentary. Unlike the usual coverage when the leading performances are shown in isolation we have been able to watch the changes of fortune as the competition develops and thus capturing the real flavour of the event.
In the Men's Pole Vault we watched as Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil bravely pass at 5.98 knowing that although he had already set a Brazilan record of 5.93 he was behind on the count-back. He gambled and was rewarded with a gold medal producing a 6.03 metre vault defeating world record holder Renaud Laveliienie of France. This will be a defining moment for the home nation in Rio de Janeiro
So many field events have come down to the final round and being able to watch it unfold has been a bonus.
In the men's Long Jump all changed with the final three jumps with Jeff Henderson (USA) winning by 1 centimetre with his final jump and defending Champion Greg Rutherford (GB) taking bronze with his final jump.
In the men's discus Cristoph Harting (Germany) won with his last throw to defeat world leader Piotr Malachowski (Poland) who had no answer with his final throw. My coaching colleague Richard Drabczynski will have had a second disappointment watching Valerie Adams also lose in the final round to Michelle Carter (USA), who went one medal better than her father in 1984.
Drabczynski would have been happier with the world record winning throw of Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk in the Hammer. I only hope that the IAAF do not reduce the number of trials in field events and that TV companies realize the drama of the event properly presented.
Adams demonstrated both her competitive spirit and resilience over the past year and in defeat she demonstrated a dignity that was role modelling at its best. I first saw Adams in action as a 15 year old in the UK when her world Youth squad travelled in tandem with an older development team that I managed. Her potential in the circle was clearly evident but looking back 17 years the articulate and dignified response of Adams in 2016 was not so clear.
The Qualifying competitions produces tension for athletes. We watched world leader Sandra Perkovich (Croatia) in the Discus gain a lifeline having had two no throws in the rain in qualifying snatching a place in the final with her third throw. In the final but her third round effort was enough to both keep her in the completion and take gold (69.21 metres)
Rising talent, 19-year-old Kiwi Eliza McCartney had experienced numerous logistical issues with her poles in the week leading up to the Olympics, but managed to put all those stresses to one side to qualify by right with a 4.60m clearance.
She had her pressures in qualifying and said on interview that she found the qualifying stressful. She had two failures at a lower than qualifying height, stalled on her run up on her third , went back to try again but was also up against the clock to make the vault.
She had a similar battle with the clock at her qualifying height and started her run up with only five seconds to spare. She soared over the 4.60 qualifier gaining the confidence that at 19 she joins the world elite.
Like she, I can't wait for the final.
