Celebrate it Val.

Don't despair, you done real good.

We will never know if the stuffups by officials had any effect on the efforts of Val Adams or Andrew Nicholson but we do understand the potential for a negative outcome from both.

Nicholson was handed a 10 minute delay in his dressage when a "Judge" was getting wet.
Now for those with little understanding of what the delay meant, it was serious. Comparable to asking a gymnast or a weight lifter to step up before their mental preparation has them in a state that feels right.
With the case for dressage, the combination, horse and rider, has to prepare and the best practise demands a plan that starts hours before with feeding, equipping, warm up, all timed to the minute if not seconds to allow commencement when it all comes together.
That cockup was down to independent officials but who still should have been aware of how disruptive it would be in the search for perfection in a dressage mark that can be pivotal when a less onerous X country is employed, as was the case in London 2012.
Dressage used to be rated at 10% content in the total marks, in this Olympics it appeared  planned and certainly manifested at a much higher influence

In Valerie's case it was deficiency on the part of people who were just totally incompetent but were supposed to be on HER side.

We can only regret either happened and move on.

The Gold Medal winning shot putter had two throws that exceded Vals PB so as we will never know if Val could have pulled a miracle, however I will celebrate what was a truly great effort in  what is unfolding as a very good Olympics as a Nation.
It aint over yet but thanks a bunch Valerie Adams, for me your effort looked great.