Olympics the first week
Well, there are always interesting stories during the Olympics and here are some of the things that have made an impression on me so far:
Basketball: What idiot didn’t think to add some outside shooters to the team? DUH! At least the women are looking good.
Fencing: The first gold medal in 100 years and it was won by a woman. :)
Gymnastics: Team USA men AND women got silver in the team competition…the first time they’ve medalled on foreign soil. And then Paul Hamm (in one of the most dramatic comebacks I’ve seen in a long time) and Carly Patterson did the teams one better and brought home individual all-around gold. Not to take anything away from Mary Lou Retton in 1984, but this is pretty big considering it’s a fully-attended Olympics. I see Wheaties boxes in their future.
Soccer: The Iraqi men’s team came from torture under Usay’s dominance to become the darling of the games. They made the semifinals today and everyone is rooting for them. Say what you like about the war in Iraq. They wouldn’t be at the Olympics were it not for Saddam’s overthrow.
Softball: I think the question has become not whether the USA will win its third straight gold, but whether or not anyone will ever score a run against them!
Swimming: So much to talk about here.
*Michael Phelps - 8 golds or not, he’s amazing.
*Amanda Beard - her first individual gold.
*Men’s 4×200m Freestyle Relay - Klete Keller holding off Ian Thorpe to win a gold. WHAT a finish!
*Women’s 4×200m Freestyle Relay - smashing a 17 year old world record - you go girls!!
*Kaitlin Sandeno - coming through in the clutch.
*Gary Hall Jr. - being himself regardless of the consequences.
*Ian Thorpe of Australia - yummmmmmmm.
Tennis: I wish I could have see Martina Navratilova get an Olympic medal, but regardless at 47 years old, playing against girls who weren’t even born when she started on the tour, she has class and she can still play.
Track & Field: It’s just getting started, but…
*Gail Devers at 37 in her 5th Olympics is still able to contend for a medal.
*A 16 year old Afghani girl running in sweat pants and a t-shirt in the 100 meter qualifying heat. She came in 2nd to last, but being there is the real accomplishment. This is the first time women have been included on the Afghani team. She overcame so much to be there. A strong, brave girl, making strides in a very difficult place to do so. The stars of track & field wanted their pictures taken with HER. In this case, truly, being there was the most important thing.
