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I know, I know. I didn’t write yesterday about Day 5, and I’m just now getting to Day 6. But folks, these are the Olympics, and while I love to blog, I love the Olympics more.
Day 5
NBC didn’t want us to watch much of the men’s gymnastics all-around final, and so it was a very disappointing event to watch. Yet again, NBC failed to show us any of the men competing on rings. Hardly any competitors were shown. Germany’s Marcel Nguyen was shown only once, I think, and it was his floor exercise which cemented the silver for him. The network yet again abandoned Jon Orozco when he came unglued and was no longer a medal contender. How about some all-around good coverage for the all-around event, NBC?
Day 5 wasn’t one that Mariel Zagunis will want to remember. The two-time gold medalist fencer not only didn’t win gold, but failed to win silver or bronze too. It was agonizing to see Zagunis unravel in her semi-final match to South Korea’s Kim Jiyeon, and again in her bronze medal match against Ukraine’s Olga Kharlan. The usually feisty Zagunis seemed tentative and unfocused. Let’s hope it will be a learning experience for her as she prepares for Rio in 2016.
I can’t say enough, how excited I was to see Bradley Wiggins win the men’s time trial! With Hampton Court Palace as the backdrop for the start and finish, Union Jack flags waving madly as he gave it all he had, it was a memorable moment for non-Britons like me. I love this guy! It’s much better to see “Wiggo” win than his teammate Cavendish, who is, in my opinion, much less likeable. What else was sweet about the cycling in Day 5? American Kristin Armstrong winning the gold medal in the women’s time trial. Armstrong not only defended her 2008 gold medal, but won gold in London after injuring her clavicle weeks before the start of the Olympics. And, at 39 years of age, she became the oldest gold medalist in Olympic cycling. This is the Armstrong in cycling we need to be talking about, folks.
What I loved most about Day 5 was the rowing, particularly the men’s lightweight fours event, which saw the race come down to the finish line, as South Africa just edged out Great Britain and Denmark. While Denmark led for much of the race, South Africa came from behind to make it a 3-way fight for gold. What moved me all the more was to see a South African team of black and white athletes, working together. I know Apartheid ended almost 20 years ago, but for those of us who remember it, we’re all the more appreciative to see racial harmony from South Africa at the Olympic Games.
Day 6
Ah, Day 6 was marvelous. I took a vacation day. No work! I felt just like I used to when I was a kid–summer vacation, home all day, and Olympics to watch from pre-dawn until midnight. It was awesome. I really need to find a way to get paid for watching the Olympics so that everyday could be like this.
How many other Gabby Douglases are out there?
Having already been a victim of NBC’s awful gymnastics coverage, yesterday I watched online. NBC keeps blaming the freezing and crashing of online footage to people’s Internet connection. Wrong. It kept crashing because so many people were watching online, wanting to see every gymnast and/or all apparatuses! I have to say that Romania and Russia were almost unrecognizable in women’s gymnastics this year. As I grew up watching gymnastics, these two countries were almost always flawless, and it was nearly impossible to ever defeat them. I almost felt like I wasn’t even watching Romania on the beam. An apparatus where their gymnasts are usually so exquisite and perfect, was instead full of bobbles and uncertainty. The same could be said for Russia on both the beam and vault. Throughout the years, I’ve witnessed several history-making events at the Olympic Games. I am so proud to say that yesterday I was witness to one more, as I saw the first African-American gymnast win a gold medal for the all-around event. When I think of the talent that Betty Okino, Dominique Dawes, and Gabby Douglas have shown us, it saddens me to think of all the undiscovered talent in our minority communities. How many others with athleticism are out there that don’t have the opportunity? Look for Gabby’s image in the cereal aisle–Coming soon to a store near you!
Is there anything better than being on the edge of the seat watching a nail-biting volleyball match? That’s what it was for me yesterday, as I watched the US men’s volleyball team defeat Brazil! Both countries are still in the hunt for a gold medal–These are preliminary matches. But the win over favorite Brazil has to be a confidence booster for the US. So exciting!
Hochschorner brothers won bronze.
NBC isn’t showing much canoe/kayak on television, but I did catch some of the men’s slalom events online. I don’t know why, but I can watch this for hours. I sat and watched over a dozen athletes go down the same course, through the same 20+ gates, each time entertained, my arm muscles burning in empathy as they struggled to paddle against the foaming rapids rushing at them. That is, until I watched teams like the Hochschorner brothers of Slovakia just tear through the course. This sport may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is no doubt as to whether these kayakers and canoers are athletes.
While Americans continued to dominate in swimming, I’m really excited about the future for countries like Brazil, South Africa, Hungary, and France in swimming. Although I’m American, it’s nice to have someone else other than just an American or Aussie win swimming gold.
Thank goodness it’s Friday. With track and field events starting today, it’s going to be a fun weekend spent on the sofa! Now, where are those takeout menus?
Faster, Higher, Stronger.
