Other Olympic Observations

[skhill]

Track and field finally starts today! Just hoping no one runs the womens 10k faster than I ran my easy ~5k this morning...

Just wish nbc would do a better job of showing competitors who have no chance of medaling, especially non-Americans. And also events that don't have US atheletes likely to do very well...

[2wheelr]

Track and field finally starts today! Just hoping no one runs the womens 10k faster than I ran my easy ~5k this morning...

Just wish nbc would do a better job of showing competitors who have no chance of medaling, especially non-Americans. And also events that don't have US atheletes likely to do very well...

I LOVE track and field!! It was my sport in high school. I'm watching Womens beach volleyball right now, it's too hot to do anything else. I let my chickens out to free range, and they all just huddled under a bush to sleep. If it looks like rain the little wilting violets get right back in the coop. Heaven forbid they get wet.

[malkin]

Just wish nbc would do a better job of showing competitors who have no chance of medaling, especially non-Americans. And also events that don't have US atheletes likely to do very well...

Yah, there's no sign of any of the "also ran" people.
The comeptitors pictures are all on the london2012 website. Looks like the organizers got a photographer from a local jail or drivers license division.

[Veronica]

Yah, there's no sign of any of the "also ran" people.

You must have missed women's Track & Field this morning. Female athletes from Qatar, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and lots of other countries running the 100 m.

Veronica

[2wheelr]

You must have missed women's Track & Field this morning. Female athletes from Qatar, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and lots of other countries running the 100 m.

Veronica

My heart bled for that woman from Qatar. I hope she's not too badly hurt!!

[skhill]

You must have missed women's Track & Field this morning. Female athletes from Qatar, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and lots of other countries running the 100 m.

Veronica

Wasn't that wonderful? Have to think that if I'd pulled a hamstring at the start of the race like the Qatari runner, I'd hop (or crawl) on down the track. But then, I've never pulled a hamstring...

[jobob]

Just wish nbc would do a better job of showing competitors who have no chance of medaling, especially non-Americans. And also events that don't have US atheletes likely to do very well...

Yah, there's no sign of any of the "also ran" people.

Oy. You should have heard my elderly father-in-law pontificate yesterday about how substandard competitors with no chance of medaling shouldn't be allowed to compete, they only waste everyone else's time (we were watching sculling and the competitor from Niger prompted that little gem).

He's semi-senile and often belligerent so all he got from DH and I was silence, we've learned it's not worth trying to debate things like that with him. You know the saying "Don't try to teach a pig to sing ..." ? Heh, welcome to our world.

Though I suppose there are plenty of "able-minded" people who share that opinion.

ETA: sorry for going off topic.

[malkin]

I hope when I lose (most of) my mind I am sweet, like my granny who used to see sports (or anything) on TV and say, "Isn't it wonderful what young people can do!"

Once during an NBA broadcast, she said to a couch full of my cousins: "If you ever want to do any of that, I can help you, because I did it, and your dad and I helped him too."

My cousins and I thought it was hysterical at the time, because the whole family is pretty far from NBA material, but I think she meant that when we were in college she'd do everything within her power to help us out. She typed papers for my dad when he was an undergrad.

[Tri Girl]

My heart broke for the silver medalist Russian gymnast last night. She looked so devastated, and you just know that silver is NOT acceptable in Russia.
Really, after the team event in gymnastics, my heart broke for the Russian team, while it was swelling twice it's size for the Americans. Such heartbreak is hard to see on such young faces. For most of them, this is their only chance at the Olympics, since you peak at 17 in this sport.

On the other hand, it blows my mind to see those young'ins up on the podiums taking Olympic medals. I can't imagine being 17, or even 20, and standing on the podium at the Olympics accepting a medal. Your life is totally changed from that moment on. So amazing to watch!

[pll]

Track and field finally starts today! Just hoping no one runs the womens 10k faster than I ran my easy ~5k this morning...

I know this will happen ... the women will run a faster 10k than my hardest 5k! I am excited about track and field.

Gymnastics I cannot get into. I cannot stand the sequins and other costumes, teens with so much makeup they literally crack a smile. And why is NBC showing gymnastics sob stories from 1996???!

[ny biker]

I finally have time to watch some of the non-cycling events.

The swimmers look like aliens with their caps and mirrored goggles.

[lovelygamer]

I haven't been able to post much this week but I'm still watching. It is an awesome Olympics! I always think they are though- OLYMPIC FRENZY! oh my, did I scare you? Sorry. I do get kind of crazed every couple of years.

[salsabike]

Chinese diving = loveliness.

[colby]

Just finished watching the womens triathlon, what a finish!!! A little sad to see the American SO CLOSE but not make it, but she dug deep to finish an awesome 4th. Amazing. I did want to strangle the woman interviewing her after the race, though. She came back with a deficit, busted ***, caught up, and came in 4th.

Also watched the first qualifying run from Pistorius, the double amputee. Looked like he surprised himself a little.

And, last night's race with the 15 year old American swimmer was pretty amazing, too. She definitely surprised herself! Very focused, and so so happy.

+1 on the Chinese diving, wow.

[Veronica]

I was channeling my "inner Sarah Groff" on my run this morning after watching the race.

Veronica