Nicole Cooke interview

[ComedyPilot]

I used to go out with her when she had a paper delivery round at our newsagents. She rode a british racing green granny bike with a wicker basket and rusty mudguards. Good at tonsil hockey though...

 

[MessenJah]

Maybe they couldn't afford it. Sportsmen and woman don't always earn enough to give wads to their parents.

It's sad that sportswomen earn very far lower amounts of money compared to men...

Thanks to the contract with her team and a handful of endorsements for equipment and energy products, Cooke makes the sort of money that a domestique in a men's ProTour team might expect. The difference in the prize money, however, is risible. The winner of a World Cup one-day race or the Grande Boucle makes €1,000 (£673). The winner's cheque for the men's Tour, by contrast, is upwards of half a million.

I think it's a bit ignorant to judge the behaviour of someone you've never met though. I knew that her parents hadn't gone to watch, but it never crossed my mind that it might be because they couldn't be bothered. I just thought well, it is pretty expensive to go to China, maybe too expensive for them.

Actually, bollocks to that. They're clearly bad parents, neglecting their child. I'm calling social services tomorrow.

 

[andrew_s]

Well done to Nicole but I was amazed that her parents didn't even bother going over to watch! They were congratulating her from the comfort of their sofa on the news last night.

Anyone here with kids? Can you imagine your daughter winning a place in team GB and not even bothering to go and watch as she takes an Olympic gold medal? Shocking!

By all accounts those family members who did make the journey ended up having to watch the race on TV in their hotel rooms. The security/police were keeping everybody well clear of the roadside.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

her dad got arrested (but later released) for trying to paint her name on the road in athens. maybe she didn't want him trying that again…

 

[Abitrary]

Looks too much like a chipmonk for my tastes. Why can't we train up some celeb type birds for the cycle racing, can't be that hard.

How about Gail Porter? She'd be quite streamlined as well.

 

[MessenJah]

Given the extent of her achievements I think her looks are irrelevant...

Or do women cyclists only exist as eye candy for men?

 

[Paulus]

That is quite a palmares. I was so pleased for her. She looked so elated, not only when she crossed the line but at the medal ceremony as well. Some medal winners lok a bit non-plussed.