Weightlifting
I actually watched quite a bit of weightlifting and enjoyed it immensely. The athletes and crowd really get into it. In fact, I think this would be a great event to attend (London 2012, maybe?).
- Venue: Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium
- Commentators: Pete Pranica and Shane Hamman. Former lifter Hamman did a fantastic job explaining things and getting appropriately excited during the lifts. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed weightlifting, and Hamman was a big part of that.
- The Chinese took 8 gold medals (4 men's and 4 women's), adding to their large haul.
- One memorable Chinese winner was babyfaced rookie Long Qingquan, who won the lightest weight class.
- Hungarian János Baranyai suffered a horrifying injury--a dislocated elbow that became a Youtube sensation.
- American Melanie Roach was a highlight. She just missed the Olympics in 2000 and then started a family. One of her sons was diagnosed with autism. But she kept her dream alive to reach the Olympics. Not only did she compete, she set an American record in total weight and was completely ecstatic about her performance. Melanie was a great example of the Olympic spirit and representative of America!
- Her weight class was won by Thai lifter Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon, who changed her name before the Olympics because a fortune teller told her it would bring her luck. I guess it worked.
- And finally, one of the best moments of the Games: German lifter Matthias Steiner won the heaviest weight class. For Steiner, it was bittersweet because his wife died in a 2007 car crash. Steiner won by 1 pound after a tremendous last lift. He then collapsed to the mat in tears; later, he brought a photo of his wife to the medal stand. Definitely a Beijing highlight.