The 2008 Summer Olympics : Beijing, China

[Faith Akiyama]

^Wow wow wow That's the same writer who actually argued that Dara Torres had an "ulterior" motive for helping the Australian girl who had a ripped suit in the 50m semis!

This comment to that post just had me laughing even more:

Don't forget that seven of China's medals come from badmiton and two come from table tennis (or ping-pong, as we called it when I was a kid). In my opinion this lowers China's "real" medal count even further, as these two things should not be olympic events.

Forget the medal count being such a "sensational" story, the true triumphs from these games come from those who've surpassed supposed "age barriers" to their own victories. 41-year-old Dara, 33-year-old Oksana Chusovitina, 38-year-old Constantina Tomescu...athleticism, dedication, and heart at their best!

 

[ms-nietzsche]

^And Dara is such a darling! What could the ulterior motive possibly be? She's older and more mature, and probably understands there are more important things than screwing others over.

As for China being good at ping pong and badminton, what about Jamaica and track & field? Every country just happens to be better at some sports

 

[*Kristina*]

I just re- watched the bar routine where Kexin won, and I have to say that it was so cute when Kexin lifted up Yilin Yang after she finished her routine.

The Olympics aren't about which country has the most medals and trying to make up stories where the judging was bad. It's about all these athletes from many different nations coming together to compete. It's so annoying when people write those types of articles. China and US athletes have done phenomenal in these olympics. They should be proud of that and not try to bash each other.

 

[LetThemEatCake]

Anyone else as annoyed as me with the Michael Phelps coverage? He's everywhere, every blog, every newspaper...its too much overkill for me. I'm tired of seeing his face with his mouth open. It's verging on hysteria.

 

[eternitygoddess]

Hmm, it does sound like there might be something there. My question is, if all of these articles have been substantiated for validity, why haven't they just pulled these girls from the competition?

I mean, if we can find this stuff for ourselves from Google cached pages, I think the Olympic committee in charge of this kind of thing has probably been through it as well.

It is the Olympics afterall, you'd think with their ridiculous budget, and the thousands of people involved in coordinating these games, they'd have done something about it.

Are you joking? It's CHINA. The host of the Olympics as well as the next economic and politcal juggernaut.

No one, least of all the Olympics committee, is going to DARE do anything.

 

[miu_miu]

I do understand that if someone doesn't follow sports, hasn't watched the olympics at all, they could be annoyed with Phelps media saturation. It's pretty intense here and I'm sure it's even more in the US. But we live in a world where some pretty useless people are idolised, it can take very little to become celebrated or notorious - a reality show, a hit movie or song. And not to play down those things, because most of us enjoy them, but why not take a few days to celebrate someone who did something which no human being has done before? Someone who had a dream and a talent and pushes himself to go further everytime.

All human beings are made up of the same things but we get to see in the Olympics how far our bodies and our minds can be pushed...and the boundaries keep changing and it's incredible. And what an amazing feeling it is for someone to break a record, to achieve something for yourself and for your country...and to put a spotlight on your sport. So many athletes, we hear about them only once every four years, but they're the best in the world at what they do...you don't have to enjoy it or even watch it, but you should respect it.

 

[Faith Akiyama]

^Well said Kudos!

 

[haleyanne]

Where did you find that routine, *Kristina*? I can't find it online.

 

[kezme44]

looking forward to men's javelin competitions. i'd just stay the f*ck away when it's tero pitkamaki's turn

 

[*Kristina*]

Where did you find that routine, *Kristina*? I can't find it online.

I saw it on television on CBC. I couldn't find it online either, sorry. Hopefully they will upload it soon.

 

[Moofins]

I echo this sentiment one-hundred percent.

I do understand that if someone doesn't follow sports, hasn't watched the olympics at all, they could be annoyed with Phelps media saturation. It's pretty intense here and I'm sure it's even more in the US. But we live in a world where some pretty useless people are idolised, it can take very little to become celebrated or notorious - a reality show, a hit movie or song. And not to play down those things, because most of us enjoy them, but why not take a few days to celebrate someone who did something which no human being has done before? Someone who had a dream and a talent and pushes himself to go further everytime.

All human beings are made up of the same things but we get to see in the Olympics how far our bodies and our minds can be pushed...and the boundaries keep changing and it's incredible. And what an amazing feeling it is for someone to break a record, to achieve something for yourself and for your country...and to put a spotlight on your sport. So many athletes, we hear about them only once every four years, but they're the best in the world at what they do...you don't have to enjoy it or even watch it, but you should respect it.

 

[ThiagoMello]

I do understand that if someone doesn't follow sports, hasn't watched the olympics at all, they could be annoyed with Phelps media saturation. It's pretty intense here and I'm sure it's even more in the US. But we live in a world where some pretty useless people are idolised, it can take very little to become celebrated or notorious - a reality show, a hit movie or song. And not to play down those things, because most of us enjoy them, but why not take a few days to celebrate someone who did something which no human being has done before? Someone who had a dream and a talent and pushes himself to go further everytime.

All human beings are made up of the same things but we get to see in the Olympics how far our bodies and our minds can be pushed...and the boundaries keep changing and it's incredible. And what an amazing feeling it is for someone to break a record, to achieve something for yourself and for your country...and to put a spotlight on your sport. So many athletes, we hear about them only once every four years, but they're the best in the world at what they do...you don't have to enjoy it or even watch it, but you should respect it.

Very well said miu miu! I follow it and these people deserve to be there, they are the best! I can't wait for London already. Great avatar btw, Rafael Nadal rocks, I wish to play tennis like him someday One can only dream

 

[smartarse]

All i gotta say, Nastia should've gotten the gold. having a tie breaker, it's clear to me the chinese falter in her landing.
.....

2nd thing i gotta say, I wish Ryan Lochte had gotten the 8 gold medals so I can see this hottie everywhere, every blog, major coverage, magazines, every newspaper but since it wasn't him, I can't fault Phelps just because he isn't nor come close to a hottie like Ryan. By far, Phelps is as close if not THE superhuman that he is. We are not made to live in water and Phelps stuns us all - could it be A) he's got a strong heart? B] strong lung? C) a dolphin? or D) all of the above? with that said, he deserves all this attention.
B)

UPDATE:
Phelps potential earning as of today has gotten from 4-8 mil annually to 30 million plus/year! Word is it could reach over 100 million after the Olympics

 

[LetThemEatCake]

I totally have respect for these athletes, I'm a very athletic person myself and know how draining (and at times, damaging) it can be to your body, but the coverage on Phelps (including how much his earning potential is going to increase) is just way too overhyped. He's taking away coverage from other athletes. I watch The Olympics every four years, been involved in sports and athletics my entire life...They're treating him like some God, and its just way too much. My opinion.

 

[lozz]

Haha I love the music they play at the equestrian lol. So random!

 

[smartarse]

Earnings are not overhype if sponors are signing your paycheck...
with that, Phelps net pay will not equal his gross, that's a given.

...
How about the USA vs. Italy in women's volleyball?
USA beat the # 2 in the world.

 

[ThiagoMello]

I hope Brazil does well on women's volleyball, they're going well so far

Walsh and May are probably going to win beach volleyball.

 

[smartarse]

Isn't Brazil #1 in the world?
I think it was them who the critics deemed the one to beat at the Olympics.


And YAY for May-Trainor/Walsh... they're the queen of Beach Volleyball

 

[kezme44]

how about the waterpolo men beating the gold medal winner from athens, croatia, and women beating australia 9-8

 

[miche]

Anyone else as annoyed as me with the Michael Phelps coverage? He's everywhere, every blog, every newspaper...its too much overkill for me. I'm tired of seeing his face with his mouth open. It's verging on hysteria.

I am, I was tired of him in 2004 also when they kept talking about him getting 8 gold medals. Now that he got them I hoped the coverage dies downs