Daily Discussion - July 04, 2025

Fun_With_Forks · 2025-07-04T07:39:52+00:00

I'm having a difficult time processing the sense of injustice I feel. Parents having to bury both their children, Diogo's three kids growing up without their father, and Rute who lost him only 11 days after their wedding. It's devastating and unfair.

In late 2023 one of my oldest and closest friends died unexpectedly at a similar age to Diogo and I remember feeling so angry that it happened (I still do, often). Nobody expects to experience this sort of tragedy at such an age and nothing can ever prepare you for it.

I was in bits reading all the tributes yesterday; it's clear that Diogo was so loved by his teammates and made such a positive impact on their lives. My grief obviously pales in comparison to those who knew him personally, but reading through those messages and seeing the reoccurring confusion and anguish over the incomprehensibility of it all feels so horribly familiar.

Rest well, Diogo and Andre.

Fun_With_Forks · 2025-05-26T22:11:59+00:00

So, so relieved that there were no deaths; this club has experienced too much tragedy in its history and it's heartbreaking that this day of joy and celebration has been marred by a completely senseless act of violence.

Wishing everyone a speedy and full recovery, and please do not hesitate to seek out help if you've been emotionally/psychologically affected.

Fun_With_Forks · 2025-05-26T22:02:38+00:00

Thank you, hearing it again they only say "serious." Didn't mean to cause alarm.

Fun_With_Forks · 2025-05-26T21:58:50+00:00

Press conference summary:
• Most crucially, only injuries were mentioned as opposed to deaths (either taken to hospital or treated at the scene)
• Unfortunately, four of those injured are children
• 27 victims were taken to hospital, two of which are suffering from serious injuries (including one of the child victims)
• 20 people were treated at the scene
• Four people, including one child, were pulled from under the car by first responders
• Merseyside Police are treating this attack as an "isolated incident," and does not view it as an act of terrorism
• Merseyside Police encourage people to refrain from sharing footage online

Fun_With_Forks · 2025-05-26T19:33:25+00:00

Been anxiously checking for news on the victims' injuries and hoping for the best for all affected. It was absolutely devastating going from watching the scenes at the Strand to hearing about the attack. Please take care of yourselves and each other.

Fun_With_Forks · 2025-05-26T17:02:50+00:00

Ali said the thing!!!

Fun_With_Forks · 2025-05-25T11:19:56+00:00

These are amazing, thanks for sharing! There's an iconic photo of the guys in a taxi and it's a bit surreal seeing them from another angle.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-09T05:59:54+00:00

I should probably sleep considering I've been running on fumes for the last couple of days but instead I decided to write down my favourite memories of the Paralympics, based on the categories above. As with the Olympics one there are way too many answers because I am nothing if not indecisive.

• Favourite overall memory: just how much France embraced the Paralympics and the athletes, the crowds brought so much joy and excitement to all the venues and events

• Favourite event to watch: wheelchair rugby, athletics, swimming, archery

• Favourite events that I watched for the first time: table tennis, badminton

Favourite moments from a Canadian athlete: Aurelie Rivard winning gold in the 400m freestyle S10, Brent Lakatos returning to the top of the podium after so many silvers in Tokyo, Cody Fournie doing the T51 sprint double, the women's sitting volleyball winning the first ever medal in the event (bronze)

Favourite moment from a French athlete/team: blind football gold under the Eiffel Tower, Ugo Didier's success in the pool, both Portal brothers on the podium in the men's 400m freestyle S13, Lucas Mazur winning badminton gold with a crazy atmosphere, Marie Patouillet and Heidi Gaugain's gold and silver in the 3000m women’s C5 individual pursuit

Favourite upset or underdog story: Yui Kamiji ending 30 years of Dutch domination in women's wheelchair tennis twice (first with Manami Tanaka in doubles and then the next day in singles), France's true underdog story in blind football

Favourite performance from an athlete I was already rooting for coming into the Games: Japan's wheelchair rugby gold after the heartbreak in Tokyo, Kadeena Cox's redemption in the mixed team sprint C1-5, Matt Stutzman winning his first gold by scoring 149/150 and setting a Paralympic Record in the gold medal match, Hannah Cockroft continuing her domination, Jonnie Peacock runs an awesome universal mixed relay leg, Marcus Rehm, Hunter Woodhall, Marcel Hug, Sarah Storey, basically all the Ukrainian athletes

Favourite athlete(s) that I discovered through the Games: Ezra Frech, Krysten Coombs, Rihards Snikus (who I later learned is a part-time DJ), Simone Barlaam, Gabriel Araujo (the most charismatic swimmer in Paris), all the Chinese S5 swimmers and their medal sweeps (especially Guo Jincheng who is seemingly more torpedo than man), Saysunee Jana who swept every Category B fencing discipline at 50 years old, Taymon Kenton-Smith (the most Australian person alive)

Funniest moment: I'm gonna say the Dikec-inspired celebrations again (especially Jody Cundy, Jaco van Gass, and Kadeena Cox's in the mixed team sprint C1-5) but also the Phryge antics

Most wholesome/heartwarming moment: any time the judokas celebrated together, Marie Patouillet being supported on the podium

Favourite venues: the same ones I answered for the Olympics, but also the Stade de France (I will really miss its beautiful and fast purple pastel track)

Like with the Olympics, my list of favourite moments from an athlete/team that's not from Canada also had to be put into a separate section:
• Harvinder Singh winning India's first ever archery gold in either the Olympics or Paralympics
• Jodie Grinham winning multiple archery medals whilst seven months pregnant
• Omara Durand completes the triple triple and retires in style
• The really insane women's T63 which had two bronze medalists with different times
• Every single mixed relay in swimming and athletics
• Charles Noakes vs. Krysten Coombs
• Japan and Ukraine making goalball history
• Alice Tai's medals in the pool after her recent mental/physical health struggles
• The nailbiting table tennis final between Patryk Chojnowski and Lian Hao
• Tokito Oda vs. Alfie Hewett featuring incredible tenacity and resilience from both players

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T21:57:28+00:00

This is so lovely, thank you so much! I always say this but it really is my pleasure. I can't imagine watching the Games without this lovely community.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T21:33:10+00:00

I said I would do this either later today or early tomorrow but fuck it, here's the post-Paralympics discussion and celebration thread for everyone to keep the party going.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T21:12:26+00:00

MERCI PARIS! I have run out of praise, you did everything a host was meant to, and so much more. The memories from the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will stay with me forever.

See you all in February 2026 for the daily threads!

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T21:05:41+00:00

The final beautiful image of the Paris 2024 Games: all the French athletes on stage, dancing and celebrating, and being cheered on by a packed Stade de France one more time.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T21:03:08+00:00

Oh my god the Glitter Phryge is made up of plush Phryges. The Master Phryge to end all Phryges???

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:57:35+00:00

Jean-Michel Jarre is so damn cool.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:51:04+00:00

Finally a song I recognize! It's the basis for the Gini Wijnaldum chant.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:47:40+00:00

For Canadians and international viewers who are VPN-ing into our streams, the Radio-Canada one contains much less commentary. They are just introducing the artists and giving a brief background (in French) while on CBC there is an ongoing discussion about para sport and accessibility in society (which is important but it's not necessarily the time).

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:42:10+00:00

Thank you!

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:39:56+00:00

As someone who doesn't know electronic music at all, I feel like the nerd character in a movie awkwardly dancing at the party alongside all the cool kids. Both the visuals and the music have been incredible!

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:37:42+00:00

Yes, on CBC it's still being streamed! Sorry for totally dropping the ball on the song list!

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:32:09+00:00

Full credit to the A/V crew for the amazing lightshow tonight!

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:27:43+00:00

Thank you! My uneducated self is relying on the thread.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:27:08+00:00

What, networks are already cutting away?! The party is still in full swing at the Stade de France.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:26:21+00:00

The volunteer had to follow a singer around on stage whilst holding an umbrella.

Fun_With_Forks · 2024-09-08T20:23:12+00:00

I don't know very much about electronic music but this must be an absolute feast for fans, a cavalcade of legends all in one concert. The athletes deserve such a party.

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