History (Spoiler alert)

[uy_lance]

The Olympics are my favorite sporting event. Winter first, and then I fell in love with the Summer games after Atlanta. But the Beijing games, and this moment, will always remain in my mind for seeing so much amazing athleticism, and one historical feat that will most likely never be beaten, and possibly never matched

Comments

[aless02]

As cool as it is to make history and all, I'm so over the Michael Phelps love orgy right now. How about Rebecca Adlington earning TWO gold medals for Team GB (the 1st woman to medal in swimming for over 40 years, and her second race broke swimming's oldest [19 years] world record by OVER FOUR SECONDS)? - after failing to even make any FINAL races in world championships just a few months ago. Or the table tennis player earning Singapore's first Olympic medal EVER? Or the appropriately-named Bolt running the men's 100m in 9.69 seconds and SMASHING the field?

Michael Phelps is a great swimmer, but his fame has overpowered the wonderful stories of the rest of the Olympics. 8 gold medals is awesome and I'm glad I was around to see it happen, but I love relishing in the other stories, too. Did you see the Brazilian guy win the men's 50m free and then positively sob for the rest of the day? That was wonderful.

[uy_lance]

I'm not saying those things aren't important. I love the Olympics, and I know all those amazing stories, and they are historical and great, but they aren't a man earning 8 Gold Medals in a single Olympics and breaking/smashing 7 world records in a single Olympics, or putting a face on a sport that has needed a face and someone for little kids to look up to for years.

I think the Olympics in general area amazing, and every win and every story is worthy of praise.

Except for maybe that Bolt guy...he was a total showboat after the win and was totally unsporstmanlike.

But I do see what you're saying.

Re: Bolt a "showboat"

[aless02]

Mel, I watched part of the women's marathon, because Britain has a huge vested interest in Paula Radcliffe. She generally kinda gets on my nerves, but it was amazing to see her finish 23rd and still cry...for her, it was about coming and finishing the race - there was never a medal in question. She ran with a stress fracture and having not been in training until the last minute. She was so determined not to bow out like in Athens, it was pretty inspiring

[aless02]

True, he was a bit of a jerk, but still an awesome run.

I suppose I'm just sick of Michael Phelps coverage - even over here, they fawn on him! Now that swimming's pretty well wrapped up (except for the marathon, which I can't wait for!), I won't be as grumpy about the guy, hehe.

I'm not sure I'd say if swimming needed a "face" - if anything, I'd say Ian Thorpe provided that years ago until he turned wussy and retired early. Swimming is a HUGE sport now. Now, if we can churn out something similar in a weird sport like badminton, then I'd love to see the endorsement deals outta that, hehehe.