Summer Olympics: Beijing, China

[CCL]

I read somewhere that Phelps is dating a former Miss Teen California.

My sister and I always joke that Nastia has a "I'm going to cut you" expression on her face. That said, I like Nastia a lot, and Alicia as well. I also like the Chinese team leader - I forget her name.

I loved watching the hurdles and seeing the Australian and the Canadian holding hands & jumping for joy when the scoreboard showed that they had won medals (silver and bronze, respectively).

[football_chick]

I am not sure how many of you saw Mattias Steiner of Germany win a Gold Medal yesterday. Steiner heaved a total of 461 kilogram (1,016.3 pounds) in the men’s superheavyweight category, clinching the win with a clean and jerk of 258 kg (568.8 pounds).

He was so overcome with emotion when he won, rightfully so. I actually had tears in my eyes when he was on the podium. Here's an excerpt from the story:

This is an event that is almost unbearably emotional, in which contestants cram years of intensity into a brief, hour-long drama. And Matthias Steiner, of Germany, played out the great drama of his life yesterday, seizing an opportunity to lift the world above his head and then to sob his heart out for his dead wife, Susann, standing on the stage with her picture in one hand and his gold medal in the other.

She died in a car crash a year ago and since that terrible day Steiner has flung himself into his sport as if it was the only thing that could ever make life bearable.

Full story here: Matthias Steiner’s triumph is worth the wait - Times Online

[jacobson00]

how can someone lift 258 kg (568.8 pounds).

[canadian_angel]

It takes an amazing feat of strength that's for sure. One of my friends/former classmates power lifts and it's unbelieveable how they manage to do it. There's a lot of training that goes in to it for sure.

I'm glad Canad's finally got some medals under their belts. Better than Athens which is great in itself.

[Marleybone]

Then there was Sanya Richards. She lost the gold medal in the 400m, even though she was the favorite to win. She still managed to get the bronze, so good for her. She later said that she said her leg was cramping in the middle of the race. Eh... I don't want to say if that was her just making an excuse or if that actually happened. But yeah, I don't know.

When they showed the replay, I thought I could see it in her face that something was wrong.

I'm so happy for Shawn Johnson. She deserved it. I love that the US women took home more total medals than the Chinese, and that Nastia beat her dad in the family medal count. I also love that Shawn and Nastia are so different. Nastia is so graceful on the beam and Shawn is just solid. I don't agree that she's "like a chipmunk on steroids", the girl is 4'9" and weighs 94 pounds.

[fluff]

When they showed the replay, I thought I could see it in her face that something was wrong.

I'm so happy for Shawn Johnson. She deserved it. I love that the US women took home more total medals than the Chinese, and that Nastia beat her dad in the family medal count. I also love that Shawn and Nastia are so different. Nastia is so graceful on the beam and Shawn is just solid. I don't agree that she's "like a chipmunk on steroids", the girl is 4'9" and weighs 94 pounds.

You could definitely see Richards wince coming off that last bend.
She was still out in front at the time so it wasn't even in response to being overtaken.
Of course I was thrilled that a Brit took gold, but I like Richards and it was sad to see her overtaken.
I was very sad for Lolo Jones.
When she was interviewed after the race she was very philosophical.
She said it's a hurdles race and you have to get over the barriers to win.
Afterwards they showed her in a candid moment, all on her own, sobbing her eyes out.
So sad.

I like Shawn Johnson, I find her quite adorable.

[Lois Lane]

I was very sad for Lolo Jones.
When she was interviewed after the race she was very philosophical.
She said it's a hurdles race and you have to get over the barriers to win.
Afterwards they showed her in a candid moment, all on her own, sobbing her eyes out.

I really wish the cameras would let them cry in peace without televising it. She was very gracious in the post-race interview but I really felt like I was invading her privacy when the cameras caught her sobbing.

Here's a nice interview with Michael Phelps' mom:
Usmagazine.com | News - EXCLUSIVE: Michael Phelps' Mom: "Bullying and Adversity Made Him Be Stronger"
Wednesday August 20, 2008

Swimmer Michael Phelps just scored eight gold medals, set seven world records and was crowned as the greatest Olympian in history, but his road to stardom was filled with challenges, from his struggle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to school bullies to his largely absent father.

"The bullying and adversity made him be stronger and work harder," mom Debbie tells Us Weekly exclusively in its new issue, on newsstands now.

Michael (along with older sister Whitney) found refuge at the local pool to escape the yelling between Debbie and his policeman father Fred, who split in 1994.

"Like all mothers, I just wanted the kids to be happy," Debbie told Us upon landing home in Baltimore from her whirlwind trip to the Beijing Olympics.

"Michael may not have been able to focus in school, but I saw a passion for swimming at such a young age," she said. "He could be at a swim meet or practice for hours. It was a great outlet."

Fred, meanwhile, told the New York Post Tuesday that he watched his son's performances from home in Baltimore. "I'm very proud of him and all he's done," he said. "This is not about me, it's about him."

In addition to his absentee father – who didn't call him after he broke his first world record in 2001 – Michael had to overcome bullies at school who would flick his big ears, mock his tall, gangly form and throw his baseball cap out of the school bus window.

"He got a hard time about being a swimmer and not a football or lacrosse player," high-school classmate Katy Saine tells Us.

[FireWoman]

I also love that Shawn and Nastia are so different. Nastia is so graceful on the beam and Shawn is just solid. I don't agree that she's "like a chipmunk on steroids", the girl is 4'9" and weighs 94 pounds.

I think that is my problem with her.. she is a little person.. and is all muscle, and it shows, and I have never found that to be attractive in this sport. Her thighs are bulging, her neck is hidden by her shoulders, and when she smiles yes, to me, she looks like a chipmunk.
I wasn't a huge Mary Lou fan either, and they are built the same way. Nastia personifies the graceful form that reminds me of old school Russian/Romanian gymnasts that I grew up watching, and wanting to be like. However I grew too tall to really be a gymnast but I will still hold firm that the taller ones still look the best in this sport because of how their body is filled out. Shorter ones (of age) like Mary Lou or Shawn just do not have the grace that Nadia or a Nastia has because of how they are build. They are power houses that is for sure.. but its just not to my liking.

[MsDiva2007]

For those in the San Diego Nastia and Shawn will be at the Ipay One center on 09-14-08 for a Gymnastics event.

[dberk]

The US women were so impressive on that balance beam, I was thrilled for them. I heard that Nastia's dad said Shawn winning the gold was only right since she got the silver in the all around - a good balance for the 2 girls. I'm sure I remember Nastia's dad in his Olympic games.

Jonathan Horton's high bar routine was truly fantastic to watch and I was so happy for him getting the silver. I don't understand why he didn't qualify for any of the other apparatices.

I have a really hard time differenciating between all of the many races. You would think that more people would compete in various races, but most of them seem specialists.

The Olympics is the setting for such an incredible roller coaster of emotions. I love it, but by the end of the day I'm exhausted by it. I too am dreading the withdrawal to come after the Closing Ceremonies.