I have to admit, after watching Usain Bolt's awesome, world-record performance in the 200m, I really didn't have too much else that I was interested in during these Olympics. However, Saturday night I happened to watch for a few minutes and saw something really cool.
China had won 7 out of 7 possible diving gold medals in these Olympics, with only the men's 10m platform remaining to try to sweep all 8 events. In the final of this event, China's Zhou Luxin had a commanding lead after 5 dives with only 1 dive remaining. But on his last dive, he messed up a bit and only was received 7s (out of 10s), leaving room for someone else.
Aussie Matthew Mitcham had a high (3.8) degree of difficulty final dive, but had to basically score almost all 10s from multiple judges to win. And he nailed it. His back 2-1/2 twist, 2-1/2 flip dive just ripped his entry, scoring 112 points and taking the gold by about 5 points. The Chinese crowd was stunned. Very cool moment ... link here: http://www.nbcolympics.com/diving/news/newsid=251126.html
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Usain Bolt is a Freak, part 2
See Usain Bolt's world record-breaking gold medal performance in the 200m here: http://www.nbcolympics.com/drivetothefinish/
I think that breaking this world record was more impressive than the 100m WR, because Michael Johnson's record set in Atlanta in 1996 was a really impressive performance that many thought would last much longer in the record books. Bolt even broke this WR running into a slight headwind! It was great to see him push to the end hard to get the record. Good for him!
Since Bolt is only 21, and most sprinters reach their peak in their mid 20s, it will be cool to see how many more WRs Bolt can put up before his career ends.
This was as cool to watch as Phelps' performances ... I don't think you can really say which one is greater (I perhaps give a slight edge to Phelps for having to keep it up over 8 different races), I'm just enjoying both.
I think that breaking this world record was more impressive than the 100m WR, because Michael Johnson's record set in Atlanta in 1996 was a really impressive performance that many thought would last much longer in the record books. Bolt even broke this WR running into a slight headwind! It was great to see him push to the end hard to get the record. Good for him!
Since Bolt is only 21, and most sprinters reach their peak in their mid 20s, it will be cool to see how many more WRs Bolt can put up before his career ends.
This was as cool to watch as Phelps' performances ... I don't think you can really say which one is greater (I perhaps give a slight edge to Phelps for having to keep it up over 8 different races), I'm just enjoying both.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Half naked volleyball
The US women's beach volleyball team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh has been a regular on the NBC primetime Olympic broadcast. See pictures of what they look like in this NBC Sports slide show: http://www.nbcolympics.com/beachvolleyball/photos/galleryid=233588.html
Compare that with what the men are wearing: http://www.nbcolympics.com/beachvolleyball/photos/galleryid=237752.html
(although typically the men's beach v-ball players to go shirtless in normal events -- they're wearing the sleeveless tees just for the Olympics)
My wife walks by while I'm watching it (I've really just been watching it waiting for the swimming or track events to start) and comments, "watching the half-naked volleyball, again, huh?"
Right after she says this, a promo for The Office (my favorite show) comes on with Michael Scott saying, "I'm not just watching the women's beach volleyball for the bikinis -- it's not about the bikinis, it's about what's underneath."
Compare that with what the men are wearing: http://www.nbcolympics.com/beachvolleyball/photos/galleryid=237752.html
(although typically the men's beach v-ball players to go shirtless in normal events -- they're wearing the sleeveless tees just for the Olympics)
My wife walks by while I'm watching it (I've really just been watching it waiting for the swimming or track events to start) and comments, "watching the half-naked volleyball, again, huh?"
Right after she says this, a promo for The Office (my favorite show) comes on with Michael Scott saying, "I'm not just watching the women's beach volleyball for the bikinis -- it's not about the bikinis, it's about what's underneath."
Bolt breaks 200m record
I just read on NBC's web site that Usain Bolt broke Michael Johnson's world record in the 200m. Links here: http://www.nbcolympics.com/trackandfield/news/newsid=239399.html#bolt+strikes+twice (NBC)
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/trackandfield/news/story?id=3544110 (ESPN)
I'll comment on it more after I actually watch it (have to wait until tonight thanks to the time difference in Beijing and the tape delay). NBC Sports hasn't put it up on their web site yet.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/trackandfield/news/story?id=3544110 (ESPN)
I'll comment on it more after I actually watch it (have to wait until tonight thanks to the time difference in Beijing and the tape delay). NBC Sports hasn't put it up on their web site yet.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Should I root for or against the Chinese girls?
If I let myself, I can get pretty upset watching the Chinese girls gymnastics team. It's not about wanting the USA to win or a typical sports rivalry kind of thing. It's the whole thing about how the Chinese team gets formed. By force.
I have a 3 year old daughter that is very beautiful, graceful, and strong (not just her will and temper, either!). She can climb about 3-4 feet off of the ground just using the handles on the front of the fridge. She was supporting herself between a chair and a bookcase swinging back and forth after dinner last night. Because we're watching the Olympics this week, my wife and I commented about how, "maybe she'd be good at gymnastics".
Well, in China, if a little girl appears to show promise / potential in gymnastics, she can be TAKEN from her parents and basically put into servitude to perform for the State gymnastics team. An NBC report said that they get to see their parents once a year. Having a daughter this age, I know how devastating it would be for the government to just take away my child, much less for a sport.
Knowing this, it really makes me despise the totalitarian Chinese regime and also pray/hope that the Chinese people can one day experience the true freedoms we have in America. But I can't help but feel sorry for the little girls (who I am SURE are 16 years old despite being about the same size as my daughter) forced into such a situation and want them to do well.
I have a 3 year old daughter that is very beautiful, graceful, and strong (not just her will and temper, either!). She can climb about 3-4 feet off of the ground just using the handles on the front of the fridge. She was supporting herself between a chair and a bookcase swinging back and forth after dinner last night. Because we're watching the Olympics this week, my wife and I commented about how, "maybe she'd be good at gymnastics".
Well, in China, if a little girl appears to show promise / potential in gymnastics, she can be TAKEN from her parents and basically put into servitude to perform for the State gymnastics team. An NBC report said that they get to see their parents once a year. Having a daughter this age, I know how devastating it would be for the government to just take away my child, much less for a sport.
Knowing this, it really makes me despise the totalitarian Chinese regime and also pray/hope that the Chinese people can one day experience the true freedoms we have in America. But I can't help but feel sorry for the little girls (who I am SURE are 16 years old despite being about the same size as my daughter) forced into such a situation and want them to do well.
Usain Bolt is a Freak!
Were you as blown away as I was by Usain Bolt's performance in the men's 100m Olympic final? That performance reminded me of when Tiger Woods blasted on to the scene winning his first Masters in 1997 by 12 shots, or his 15-shot trouncing of the field in the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach. He seemed to easily and smoothly accelerate away from the rest of the field at the halfway point, making them look like high-school runners ... and the field included Asafa Powell, a former world record holder who had run 9.74! See video at: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0816_hd_atm_hl_l0686 (I had to install the Microsoft Silverlight player to get it to work).
I am as fired up about Michael Phelps winning 8 golds as anyone, and it gave me many awesome moments to remember from these Olympics ... but Bolt's performance was a little different. It had a somewhat shocking feeling to it. This 6'-5" 21-yr old kid who only took up this event a year ago just broke the WR in 9.69 while SLOWING DOWN TO CELEBRATE during the race!
I disagree with ESPN's Jim Caple, who posted a column ( http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=3538723&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2 ) sort of sarcastically chiding Bolt for showing up his opponents. But I thought it was a really fun, spontaneous celebration reminiscent of the best Tiger Woods celebrations (think of the 13th hole 2008 US Open 3rd round eagle, or the 72nd hole birdie putt).
I can't wait to see the 200m final -- that's supposedly Bolt's specialty! Could he break Michael Johnson's record if he tries hard? For that matter, could he break 19 seconds? Or will he be content to just win and perhaps (as Caple suggests) moonwalk the last 20m, or pull a Sharpie out of his golden shoes, autograph one, and give it to a friend in the stands, a la TO?
I am as fired up about Michael Phelps winning 8 golds as anyone, and it gave me many awesome moments to remember from these Olympics ... but Bolt's performance was a little different. It had a somewhat shocking feeling to it. This 6'-5" 21-yr old kid who only took up this event a year ago just broke the WR in 9.69 while SLOWING DOWN TO CELEBRATE during the race!
I disagree with ESPN's Jim Caple, who posted a column ( http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=3538723&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2 ) sort of sarcastically chiding Bolt for showing up his opponents. But I thought it was a really fun, spontaneous celebration reminiscent of the best Tiger Woods celebrations (think of the 13th hole 2008 US Open 3rd round eagle, or the 72nd hole birdie putt).
I can't wait to see the 200m final -- that's supposedly Bolt's specialty! Could he break Michael Johnson's record if he tries hard? For that matter, could he break 19 seconds? Or will he be content to just win and perhaps (as Caple suggests) moonwalk the last 20m, or pull a Sharpie out of his golden shoes, autograph one, and give it to a friend in the stands, a la TO?
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