Olympics 2008 - Beijing, China

[Rosebud]

Getting a thread started for the 2008 Olympic Games! This is the place to discuss any Olympic-related stories: the athletes, the location, medal results, etc.

The Olympics begin next Friday, August 8th. Get your TIVOs ready!

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k284/rosebud03_2006/Misc/beijing2008.jpg


General Info

NBC has a competition schedule (http://www.nbcolympics.com/resultsandschedules/index.html) up on their website. It shows the days on which particular events will be held. Wikipedia has a map of the Olympic venues (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Beijing_2008_olympic_venues.png) in Beijing.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony will be broadcast on NBC on Friday, 8/8/08 starting at 8:00pm.

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Summer_Olympics_Opening_Ceremony):

National teams will not enter in Latin alphabetical order, but in stroke count with the Simplified Chinese characters. For example, this will place Australia (澳大利亚) in 203rd position, just ahead of Zambia (赞比亚) because the character 澳 is written in 15 strokes and 赞 is in 16 strokes.

President Bush is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony. Celine Dion will be one of the many performers.

[Rosebud]

In the news...

Setback Forces Paul Hamm to Withdraw From U.S. Team (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/sports/olympics/29gymnastics.html?ref=sports)

Paul Hamm’s dramatic comeback from a hand injury ended abruptly Monday when he stepped down from the United States Olympic men’s gymnastics team because he said he was not healthy enough to compete in Beijing. Hamm, 25, had been hoping to defend his all-around title, but a broken bone in his right hand, coupled with an injury to his left rotator cuff that he recently aggravated, made that impossible. After a week that Hamm described as “a disaster� because he could not complete a single full routine, he decided to allow one of the team’s three alternates to replace him.

“This has been the hardest decision that I’ve ever had to make, but I have too much respect for the Olympics and my team to continue,� Hamm said in a teleconference Monday. “I know that the best thing for everyone is for me to step aside.�

Losing Hamm is a huge blow for the United States team. Paul Hamm and his twin, Morgan, returned to gymnastics in 2007 after two and a half years off and were expected to lift the United States into medal contention in Beijing. Morgan Hamm will compete in Beijing.

“Paul is irreplaceable, so this is devastating because they need at least two gymnasts to step up and cover where Paul was so good,� said Bart Conner, a former Olympic gold medalist for the United States. “This is like the Colts losing Peyton Manning or the Patriots losing Tom Brady.�

[kugrrly]

Looking forward the gymnastics, swimming and diving. I really like the Winter Olympics a lot better.

I heard that a swimmer was found with HGH in her system during the trials.

[JenniferEC]

Can't wait for the ladies gymnastics and swimming. I watched the swimming trials just to get a glimpse of Michael Phelps.

[PookiePrincess]

I love the Olympics! The only thing I hate about the timing of this year's is they start right about the time I go back to school. I love sitting and watching nothing but Olympic coverage for two weeks straight!

[Rosebud]

Waiting with bated breath (http://www.sportstaronnet.com/stories/20080809500300400.htm)

At the Beijing Games, the focus will be on China’s superstar Liu Xiang, who will defend his Olympics 110m hurdles title. And equally important will be the performances of swimmer Michael Phelps and pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva. Will Phelps better Mark Spitz? And will Isinbayeva go for another world record?

China is set to host a most memorable Olympic Games. It is also poised to top the medals tally for the first time ever in its Olympic history, if forecasts and media analyses are to be believed. Yet, nothing else will perhaps matter for the Chinese if Liu Xiang wins the high hurdles gold at the Bird’s Nest National Stadium in Beijing.

If he doesn’t, well it will be equivalent to a mourning period for a country of 1.3 billion.

Can just one gold medal make such a huge difference to the aspirations and joy of a nation that has worked so hard the past seven years to try and make this Games a huge success and also steadily climbed up the medals ladder since rejoining the Olympic Movement in 1979? (China actually came back into the summer Olympics fold only in Los Angeles in 1984, having boycotted the Moscow Games in 1980).

Yes, it can.

[Rosebud]

From the Melbourne Herald Sun (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/6-0&fp=4899448d35254a3b&ei=zdKZSKeKIJTWgAP7ldjlBA&url=http%3A//www.news.com.au/heraldsun/beijing_olympics/story/0%2C27313%2C24135962-5014104%2C00.html&cid=1233860995&sig2=qtRCANx8frBOrg05V_dy_Q&usg=AFQjCNHVSix3d0EPqPEzW84hiCwGl1Aa0Q):

AUSTRALIAN track star Tamsyn Lewis has become totally disillusioned with her sport and says she knows she will race against drug cheats in Beijing.

Lewis says she is fed up with her rivals gaining unfair advantages by using performance-enhancing substances and has called on drug-testing authorities to do more to eliminate cheats.

"I have got to the point where this is just farcical and simply unfair on the athletes who are clean and get there on their own merit," Lewis said from her training base in Darwin.

"I have no doubts that when I line up next week, I will look left and right and know the other girls aren't all clean. (continued)

[Rosebud]

A very interesting article from Newsweek:

China’s Agony of Defeat (http://www.newsweek.com/id/148997): It's impossible to understand what the Games mean to the Chinese without understanding their history of humiliation.

Now, I am the first to admit that the Chinese government gives ample cause for protest. Nor is vigorous dissent always counterproductive when dealing with Beijing. But I would argue that this is not the time—and not just because any unauthorized protest is quite likely to fail. The Beijing Games present a fraught and sensitive moment. China has made a Herculean effort to prepare the way for this spectacle, in which ordinary Chinese, not just their leaders, can announce themselves to the world as having regained their national greatness. Protests would almost certainly spark the kind of nationalist and autocratic backlash that they're meant to remedy. Remember what followed the 1989 Tiananmen demonstrations—a nearly 20-year period of reaction and restoration from which China has still not recovered.

This proud prickliness has deep historical roots that involve China, the West and even Japan. As I argue in the current New York Review of Books, the most critical element in the formation of China's modern identity has been the legacy of the country's "humiliation" at the hands of foreigners, beginning with its defeat in the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century and the shameful treatment of Chinese immigrants in America. The process was exacerbated by Japan's successful industrialization. Tokyo's invasion and occupation of the mainland during World War II was in many ways psychologically more devastating than Western interventions because Japan was an Asian power that had succeeded in modernizing, where China had failed.

This inferiority complex has been institutionalized in the Chinese mind. In the early 20th century China took up its victimization as a theme and made it a fundamental element in its evolving collective identity. A new literature arose around the idea of bainian guochi—"100 years of national humiliation." After the 1919 Treaty of Versailles cravenly gave Germany's concessions in China to Japan, the expression wuwang guochi—"Never forget our national humiliation"—became a common slogan. To ignore China's national failure came to be seen as unpatriotic. Since then, China's historians and ideological overseers have never hesitated to mine the country's past sufferings "to serve the political, ideological, rhetorical, and/or emotional needs of the present," as the historian Paul Cohen has written. (continued)

This history pretty much guarantees that certain traits will express themselves again and again whenever China responds under stress to the outside world. "The question of Western humiliation is always unconsciously inside us," filmmaker Chen Shi-Zheng—whose recent film, "Dark Matter," explores this theme—told me. "There is something almost in our DNA that triggers autonomic, and sometimes extreme, responses to foreign criticism or put-downs." Or as Lu Xun, China's most famous essayist and social critic, lamented almost 75 years ago, "Throughout the ages Chinese have had only one way of looking at foreigners. We either look up to them as gods or down on them as wild animals." (continued)

[diam124]

Ok, I am starting to get a little excited for the Olympics. I usually just watch the gymnastics and diving. I heard "One Moment in Time" on the radio this morning. It has ben so long since I heard that song but it always makes me tear up.

[shaqangel]

DH and I have been counting down the days! We cant wait for the opening games t'row night. I'll be cheering Team South Africa! One of our athletes will become the first amputee to compete in the Olympics (she's already done Paraolympics). Her name is Natalie du Toit and she's a swimmer.

http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/greats/nataliedutoit.htm

[Chimichanga]

We'll be watching too! DD loved the gymnastic trials and even did her own brand of tumbling (basically spinning in a circle and falling down). We love to watch swimming, diving, volleyball (both types/sexes), gymanstics (both) and track and field. I guess you could say we're Olympic junkies! :D Oh, and the equestrian events - I love those! I think DD will like them too. DH enjoys watching the sailing events and baseball.

[mpc863]

We'll be watching too! DD loved the gymnastic trials and even did her own brand of tumbling (basically spinning in a circle and falling down). We love to watch swimming, diving, volleyball (both types/sexes), gymanstics (both) and track and field. I guess you could say we're Olympic junkies! :D Oh, and the equestrian events - I love those! I think DD will like them too. DH enjoys watching the sailing events and baseball.

A family friend is on the US Olympic team for Dressage...never watched [dressage] before but we will this year!

I am looking forward to swimming/diving and gymnastics.

[Lucy Van Pelt]

Kind of a bummer that both Hamm brothers are now out. I really enjoy watching them!

They showed the medals on the Today show. Wow - they are beautiful. On the underside of each medal is an inlay of jade. The bronze medal has dark green jade, the silver has light green, and the gold medal has white jade. They are truly works of art. I'd like one of each color, please...:p

http://www.newsgd.com/news/picstories/200703280006_74715.jpg

http://www.newsgd.com/news/picstories/200703280006_74716.jpg

[dizylizy]

I love the Olympics, too. we ill be watching as much as possible.
the funnest part of this year is my DS#2 was born on 08-08-07. so It is his 1st borthday. we were going to do an Olympic theme but decided to postpone until he could realy participate... Can't wait to watch any event they show! and I hope they show a lot!

[rachrich]

The medals are beautiful!

I'm so excited for the games! I remember when I was younger it was the big thing in my family to spend all day watching the games. My favorite events are swimming (can't wait to watch Phelps) and gymnastics. I do enjoy watching diving but DH & I both get soooo nervous about how close their heads come to the boards!

[boilermaker]

I'm also excited to watch but admittedly disappointed that with the time difference, everything will be on such a delay here that I'll know all the results ahead of time (because I have no will power to not read cnn).

dizy, how cool that your son's first birthday is 08-08-08. Happy bday to him.

[kd 9.21.02]

I'm also excited to watch but admittedly disappointed that with the time difference, everything will be on such a delay here that I'll know all the results ahead of time (because I have no will power to not read cnn).

I read that most of the men's swimming finals are taking place at 10:30 am in Beijing so that they'll air live in the States. There was a big article on Phelps changing his training to get ready for these early starts (he's used to racing finals at night). I'll try to find it...

[Monty]

A family friend is on the US Olympic team for Dressage...never watched [dressage] before but we will this year!

I am looking forward to swimming/diving and gymnastics.


Who? I'm a dressage rider.....however.....Olympics are never in my future! :(

One word of caution.....it can be boring to watch!

[kari]

olympic junkie here!

I love it all. The medals are just beautiful, thanks for posting a picture of them

Can't wait for tonight. There is a 67-year old Japanese equestrian, how cool is that?

[yby1]

Here are some great photos of the opening cermemony

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/08/sports/0808-CEREMONY_index.html

[Lucy Van Pelt]

Anyone else watch the shows about the designing and building of the Water Cube and the Bird's Nest? I think they were on the Discovery Channel or maybe National Geographic. I was in awe of all of the engineering that goes into designing those building and fascinated to learn how the Water Cube is covered in a special type of plastic.

[PGirl26]

wow, the opening set with the 2008 drummers--- gave me cold chills! That was stunning. I heart the Olympics!!!

[bookworm]

It gave me cold chills too, but not in a good way.

And that depressing note aside, I'm looking forward to watching swimming, diving, gymnastics, and maybe some other events. We'll see if I can survive 2 weeks of Bob Costas (I'm leaning towards "no" so far... :) ).

[kugrrly]

WOW I thought those blocks were down with a computer not people!

[kugrrly]

We'll see if I can survive 2 weeks of Bob Costas

I figure if I can put up with Dick Vitale, than I probably can put up with Bob.

[Chimichanga]

Why chills in a bad way? I guess I don't get it.

I will admit I'm a TOTAL dork... when I see the smaller countries (heck, probably even USA) I get teared up! Hearing their stories are just so touching, and to know that this will probably be the best experience in their lives. Especially from the countries that are so poor.

[QT Pie]

It gave me cold chills too, but not in a good way.


I got chills in a good way. I'm curious to know what you mean by a bad way.

[wendalah]

Why chills in a bad way? I guess I don't get it.

This is one of the most controversial Games in history. It is up there with the 1936 Germany Games under Adolf Hitler. Beijing...well, do some research and you'll find out why.

[QT Pie]

I'm not going to start any political arguments here. I love the Olympics - plain and simple. I think Beijing did the most amazing job with their opening ceremony. I am very impressed with the creativity and the beauty portrayed. I think China should be very proud with how it turned out.

[wendalah]

I'm not going to start any political arguments here.

(Shrug) You asked why chills in a bad way, and I answered with what I figured was the obvious reason she had bad chills.

[Chimichanga]

Okay... the little boy with Yao Ming??? I am seriously bawling over here!

[Chimichanga]

(Shrug) You asked why chills in a bad way, and I answered with what I figured was the obvious reason she had bad chills.

Makes sense. But the original comment (at least for me) wasn't explained too well. But, I do understand it - the conversation was just about how moving (in a good way) it was the and comment was a bit out of left field - for me anyways.

[PookiePrincess]

I loved the lighting of the torch! That is one gorgeous torch!

I think China did an awesome job on the opening ceremonies. I am impressed!

And man, how tall did Yao look next to that little boy?! So cute!

[bookworm]

This is a sports thread, so I don't want to belabor this, but since a couple of people claimed not the understand my comment I'll clarify: I thought that drumming display was deliberate, precise, and provocative and was intended to communicate a specific message that has nothing to do with the Olympics. I probably wouldn't have commented on my own, but the fact that another poster had such a different reaction to the same display was, I thought, interesting.

There are actually a ton of interesting peripheral stories about these Games, but those would probably be better in another thread (maybe in "news and politics").

I agree that I love watching the athletes parade it--especially seeing the traditional costumes from so many different places.

Anyway, the Games have begun...bring on the "Olympic Moments."

[Rosebud]

Yes, let's keep political stuff in News & Politics and sports related stuff in here. I think there may already be an Olympics thread in N&P, actually.

LOVED the opening ceremonies!! Was totally awed by them, actually. I don't remember the opening ceremonies for previous games having nearly this level of showmanship and grace. It was a really good choice for the Chinese to give creative control to Zhang Yimou. Amazing stuff!

Excited for the games to begin. I've got a bazillion hours TIVOing on both USA and NBC. I hope they will show some sports that aren't American-dominated, too. Would love to see something besides swimming and gymnastics.

[shaqangel]

the opening ceremony was AWESOME! i love the drummers and the blocks were amazing too. everything was spectacular. okay when they hoisted the guy who lit the torch - yikes thats all i can say. i would have been petrified. that torch is gorgeous.

[wendalah]

Yes, let's keep political stuff in News & Politics and sports related stuff in here.

Sorry--that's why I said "Do some research" instead of listing the reasons the Games are controversial.

[Rosebud]

No worries, W.! :)

Have been watching the Olympic coverage this morning. For some reason was mesmerized by the weightlifting while the dressage seemed awfully boring. I did like that NBC/USA were covering a variety of sports and some matches not dominated by Americans-- always nice to see a variety.

I can't wait for the diving. I always love that!

[shaqangel]

anyone watch the beach volleyball? the match between Latvia and US was really good!

[GoldEyes]

The US Men's Gymnastics team.... ow ow!!!! I could watch them all day!

[PookiePrincess]

anyone watch the beach volleyball? the match between Latvia and US was really good!

I know! They kept talking up the US team saying how good they were, so then I was surprised when Latvia won! Hopefully it was nerves and they'll do better next time!


DH is drooling over Walsh and May-Treanor playing beach volleyball now. He loves volleyball!

[Lucy Van Pelt]

I figure if I can put up with Dick Vitale, than I probably can put up with Bob.

I feel the same what about Al Trautwig who does the gymnastics. Ugh - I can't stand his overly dramatic drivel. I wish he would just go away.



For some reason was mesmerized by the weightlifting while the dressage seemed awfully boring.

I love watching the x-country though. I also love the grand prix dressage. It's much more interesting and intricate.

[JenniferEC]

I could watch Michael Phelps all day.

[PookiePrincess]

Yay for another gold medal for Phelps (and a world record)!

[Chimichanga]

This morning I saw the US women's basketball game. Good, but not too exciting (caught the end).

Love the women's beach volleyball! I just enjoy watching beach volleyball in general. They used to (may still) have a stop in Chicago on the tour and I'd drag my sister to it.

Michael Phelps rocks! Men's gymnastics.... yummy!

[twainny]

Anyone know if/where I can catch the opening ceremonies online? Both my parents and my ILs missed most of it and I would love for them to catch the "box guys" (and I'd like to see it again too!)

I love love love the Olympics. I am willing to pretty much watch anything (well, not too into boxing and weightlifting).

[PookiePrincess]

There are some clips on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTArX79tbIw&NR=1). I looked on the Olympic site and didn't see anything.

[tashaw6]

DH and I have been counting down the days! We cant wait for the opening games t'row night. I'll be cheering Team South Africa! One of our athletes will become the first amputee to compete in the Olympics (she's already done Paraolympics). Her name is Natalie du Toit and she's a swimmer.

http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/greats/nataliedutoit.htm


V, do you know when she swims?

[bookworm]

I love the underwater camera where they show the swimmers strokes (possibly b/c I used to swim, so I'm a dork about that)--I don't remember that from past Games.

I'm also amazed that the US men set a world record in the (I think 4 x 100?) relay prelims with 75% backups!

[mayiko]

Anyone know if/where I can catch the opening ceremonies online? Both my parents and my ILs missed most of it and I would love for them to catch the "box guys" (and I'd like to see it again too!)

I love love love the Olympics. I am willing to pretty much watch anything (well, not too into boxing and weightlifting).


It's on NBC.com and broken into four sections. The artistic sections is called Sights and Sounds, for some reason they put the drum section at the end. So you have to fast forward to the 45 minute mark then start from the beginning.

[KK812]

Is it just me or do the Chinese female gymnasts look...not 16?

[salysaturn]

woo! Another Gold for Phelps!

[kugrrly]

Take that Frenchies!!! Wow that was a great ending!!

Is it just me or do the Chinese female gymnasts look...not 16?

They look VERY young.

[PookiePrincess]

That relay finish was AWESOME! I can't believe he came back that much in the end to win it!

Yeah, some of those Chinese gymnasts look 12-14, certainly not 16!

[maxandmolly]

The French swimmers just spent several minutes with serious WTF? looks on their faces! That was great.
Those Chinese gymnasts look about closer to 13/14. Supposedly, they all checked out with 16 on their passports, but I don't buy it.
Did anyone see the 33 year old for Germany who qualified for the vault finals? Wow.

[kugrrly]

The French swimmers just spent several minutes with serious WTF? looks on their faces! That was great.

The look on their faces was priceless.

[risa00]

That was amazing! I told DH that there are those great moments in the Olympics that they always show in future years and that was the first one for this year. Incredible!

And I also don't buy that the Chinese gymnists are at least 16.

[KK812]

Hah! 4x100 was awesome, especially after Bernard was talking smack!

[kd 9.21.02]

Why in the world did that French swimmer talk so much smack?! It just gave the Americans more locker room material. USA did their "talking" in the pool. :)

[PookiePrincess]

Why in the world did that French swimmer talk so much smack?! It just gave the Americans more locker room material. USA did their "talking" in the pool. :)

I know! With all the publicity on Phelps, you'd think he'd know that's how Phelps takes smack-talk.

I also thought it was funny that the announcers kept saying they didn't see any way the US could beat the French!

[JenniferEC]

Those Chinese gymnasts are barely 12. I really hope the US girls can come back tomorrow and win. I love watching Shawn and Nastia.

That 4x100 race last night was great. Michael Phelps is my new crush!

[Chimichanga]

That relay last night was awesome! DH and I were getting ready for bed and that was the last event we were going to watch. We didn't think he'd make up the ground... what a finish!!! Needless to say, it was difficult to sleep - we had to watch all the coverage on that race.

DH summed it up pretty well re: the Chinese gymnasts. He said if in 3-4 years those girls look very different from now; they are too young. Between 12/13 and 16/17 you change so much. I have a feeling they won't look much like they do now. And, he said the US women look like women who are just really short. Muscle tone, "thicker" (I think he meant they have boobs but didn't want to say that) and their faces are leaner/no baby fat.

[Rosebud]

Another one who doesn't believe for a second those Chinese gymnasts at 16. That one girl looks like she's about 10! Crazy.

I'm really sad about the injuries to the American women's gymnastics team and their lackluster performance last night. I hope they can get it together. It's really sad, because those 6 are all really talented and I thought they had a realistic shot at beating the Chinese for the team medal. It doesn't look so likely now.

The relay was incredible! I think the French were just stunned-- it was soooo close. But GO PHELPS!! I hope he gets his 8 golds.

Have been really enjoying some of the other sports they've been showing on TV. Archery, synchronized diving, weightlifting... totally interesting. I love the Olympics!

[petdoc08]

I'm really pulling for Shawn Johnson. She is from the next down over from us and her coach owns the gym that my DD's will take gymnastics lessons. She is our local claim to fame! :)

[littlebear]

Loved watching the men's basketball team trounce China! I was crushed that the men's soccer team ended up with a tie with Netherlands after their great comeback.

[Kimberland30]

Did anyone else read this article? What do you think?
Spitz, once the star, upset over Beijing snub (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=afp-oly2008swimusaspitz&prov=afp&type=lgns)

US swim legend Mark Spitz won't be on hand in Beijing if Michael Phelps breaks his record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics—because, he says, no one bothered to invite him.

"I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost—it is."

"They voted me one of the top five Olympians in all time. Some of them are dead. But they invited the other ones to go to the Olympics, but not me," he said. "Yes, I am a bit upset about it."

Now a stockbroker and motivational speaker, Spitz also thinks he could have won eight golds himself in Munich if only he had had the chance.

"I won seven events. If they had the 50m freestyle back then, which they do now, I probably would have won that too," he said.

Spitz, whose brief stint in show business in the 1970s never quite matched his success in the pool, said he attended the Athens Olympics four years ago—when Phelps also tried to break the record.

"They did not once put my face on television," he recalled. "But as soon as the swimming was over, and Michael Phelps didn't break my record, every time I went to beach volley, they put my face on the volleyballs."

Spitz said it would have been a great idea if he could be the one presenting the gold medals to Phelps, who has for years been candid about his ambition to eclipse the mark of seven golds.

And Spitz thinks Phelps will succeed—for one very good reason.

"He's almost identical to me. He's a world-record holder in all these events, so he is dominating the events just like I did," Spitz said. "He reminds me of myself."

More at link. He sounds like a poor sport to me.

[Chimichanga]

Does he mean the US team didn't invite him, NBC didn't invite him or the IOC didn't invite him? I guess my question might be answered at the link, but I'm too lazy to read :)

They had a piece on Mark Spitz on ESPN - he didn't seem this sour about the whole thing.

[ivansbabe]

Yeah he does seem slightly egotistical. He probably is though...he's a motivational speaker now, lol. You have to be slightly full of yourself to believe you have the ability to help others like that.

[maxandmolly]

Oh, he seems like a real charmer. Can't imagine why no one thought to invite him! :rolleyes:

[PookiePrincess]

It sounds like he needs to get over it. With an attitude like that, no wonder they didn't want to put his face on tv during the last Olympics. I hope Phelps gets all 8 and takes over as the record holder!

[jmvan74]

Did anyone see the 33 year old for Germany who qualified for the vault finals? Wow.

I saw her story today! Wow!

Phelps.... if I was 10 years yonger and single.:p

Spitz sounds like an egomaniac.

[shaqangel]

i saw her story too - AMAZING and very inspiring. i want her to do well:)

[udsweetpea]

Phelps.... if I was 10 years yonger and single.:p


I'll take him then ;) He's local for me!

[bookworm]

I shut the TV off before the relay last night (I forgot it was live, and thought NBC was going to be annoying and show it right before midnight), so I watched the video on nbc.com tonight. Even knowing how it ended it was so exciting!

[salysaturn]

woo!!! #3 :)

[kugrrly]

You all can have Phelps. I will take Peirsol. :)

[udsweetpea]

Ooh, just saw Vanderkaay out of the water and on the podium for the first time. Sooo adorable! I'll take him home any day!

[kd 9.21.02]

How nice was it to see the American gymnasts celebrating their medal last night? Most of the time the athletes look disappointed when they win anything other than gold. It was refreshing to know that those guys saw their medal as a victory. Good for them.

And how amazing... Of the three competitors on the last event (the pommel horse), TWO of them were alternates and wouldn't have even been at the Olympics if not for the Hamm brothers' injuries. Wow...

[thedoorchick]

I'm so confused. When are the women's gymnastics team finals? I thought they were tomorrow night, but evidently they are tonight (live) and very late?

[kd 9.21.02]

I think the women are tonight. Not 100% positive. The men's team finals were last night.

[Chimichanga]

I missed the end of the men's team finals last night, but DH told me they won bronze. I thought that was great. I mean, there are two people who wouldn't have even been on the team - and they were kicking butt! I'm glad they were excited for the medal :)

I hope the women's competition isn't on too late tonight. My sister sent my DD a replica USA leotard and I wanted to tape DD doing some of her "gymnastics" wearing it for my sister.

[udsweetpea]

Womens' gymnastics final is tonight at 10:30 pm EST.

[littlemia]

I would just like to say that I hate, hate, hate the world record line in swimming.

[udsweetpea]

I would just like to say that I hate, hate, hate the world record line in swimming.

Why?

[shaqangel]

the men's gymnastics team final was awesome - China rocked! they were consistent throughout and really did a great job. i was surprised japan got silver cos it seemed like the only performances we got to see where the ones in which they screwed up.

swimming was great last night too. that line for the world record is pretty cool - why dont you like it?

[Loud_curly]

Womens' gymnastics final is tonight at 10:30 pm EST.

And it's live - it's actually 10:30 am the next day (Wednesday) so that's why the confusion. Beijing is 12 hours ahead of us, so the stuff that happening live at night is actually live the next morning in Beijing.

[udsweetpea]

And it's live - it's actually 10:30 am the next day (Wednesday) so that's why the confusion. Beijing is 12 hours ahead of us, so the stuff that happening live at night is actually live the next morning in Beijing.

Right. If you go to nbcolympics.com and click on Results & Schedule. You can select "your time", and it will show you what time it comes on here.

[littlemia]

I think the world record line is distracting and I like not knowing if they set a new record or how far under they went when they hit the wall. Obviously I'm in the minority because they used it last Olympics and in the trials.

[thedoorchick]

Well, actually I was confused because I saw in a couple of places that it was to be broadcast Wednesday during prime time. I even set my DVR for it at that time.

At any rate, thanks for the clarifications - too bad I'm currently on the east coast as it's going to be a late night. :)

[ivansbabe]

But last night on the west coast it was delayed as usual regardless. We knew the results of phelps gold medal race last night more than an hour before it was actually aired "live"...speaking of things that piss me off. That stupid "live" in the top corner does NOT mean live here.

[kd 9.21.02]

What I'm finding a little annoying is that I get New York Times News Alerts via email (they send alerts for anything big... election updates, major news, celeb/news-worthy deaths, etc.) and I love them. But NYT is sending U.S. medal updates for the big events and it's driving me nuts! I wish they would send special Olympic News Alerts noted as such so I could ignore them if I want to. Or they should have "spoiler alerts" like we do here. :)

[jmvan74]

I'll take him then ;) He's local for me!

He's even more local for me! :p

[phoenics]

I keep watching that 400 Men's relay over and over again on nbc.com - I saw it that night (not knowing they'd won) in CA and my friend and I were screaming so loud that I know my neighbors had to seriously think we were in peril or something, lol.

That was thrilling. It took me 2 hours to calm down after that race, lol. Lezak was off the hook! Just amazing!

And Michael Phelps' cheering was so funny. His leg was bouncing frantically and then when Lezak hit the wall, he made this desperate look at the scoreboard and then went nuts! ROTFL! I loved it! That was just awesome. Just AWESOME!

Even after Bernard's trash talking, I kinda felt for him at the end. Tough lesson for him, lol. Lezak swimming the fastest 100m (46:06!) in history was just unbeatable - even for Bernard - especially with him tightening up like that.

I'm off to watch it again!!

[udsweetpea]

Did you see the announcers analyzing the relay win? They said that Bernard looked over at Lezak for a mere second, and that little bit of movement could have cost him the race. Hehehe.

[Chimichanga]

Speaking of the relay... it's refreshing to see athletes so excited by a win. Sure, I don't doubt for a second they were happy to stick it to the team who was bad mouthing them. I'm sure that played a HUGE part in fact.

But, all four of them were so excited and happy - it just brought a huge smile to my face. It makes me smile when anyone is so proud like that. I caught a little tear in Vanderkaay's eye when the national anthem was played. :)

Same thing with the men's gymnastics team - so proud, they love the sport. It was refreshing to see.

[udsweetpea]

Ok, that little Chinese girl CANNOT be 16. Her face looks as young as my 7 year old nephew!

[bookworm]

Anyone else a little surprised by how nationalistic they are feeling? I'm rooting for people to fall (not to get hurt; I have limits), which is a little weird for me.

ETA: And also thinking very bitchy things about how it's easy to balance/stay in bounds when you are 12 years old and 4 ft tall. Even though the men were clearly of age and very impressive.

[salysaturn]

Anyone else a little surprised by how nationalistic they are feeling? I'm rooting for people to fall (not to get hurt; I have limits), which is a little weird for me.

shh...me too :), not so much rooting, but not feeling bad when they do fall.

[Dizzy]

Is anyone else watching the men's swimming relay right now? DH and I are just laughing at the crazy lead...not maliciously, of course, it's just funny to watch the American swimming the opposite direction while the others are still trying to get to the wall.

[salysaturn]

2 more :)

[Dizzy]

The U.S. just finished the 800m swimming relay in under seven minutes!! The Olympics has had this event since 1908 and no team has ever done it in under seven minutes. So cool to watch history!

[bookworm]

Did anyone hear the story on NPR? Apparently it's a "fast pool"--because it's a meter deeper than regulation, the shock waves aren't bouncing back as much and records are being broken right and left.

[mayiko]

Did anyone hear the story on NPR? Apparently it's a "fast pool"--because it's a meter deeper than regulation, the shock waves aren't bouncing back as much and records are being broken right and left.


It's not deeper than regulation. The regulation is at lest 2 meters deep and this pool is 3 meters so it's within regulation.

[bookworm]

It's not deeper than regulation. The regulation is at lest 2 meters deep and this pool is 3 meters so it's within regulation.

Sorry, I meant deeper than the minimum. You're right--it's not out of regulation, but it is (according to NPR) deeper than usual.

[Dizzy]

Did anyone hear the story on NPR? Apparently it's a "fast pool"--because it's a meter deeper than regulation, the shock waves aren't bouncing back as much and records are being broken right and left.

I read an article in SI that brought up this point; that the pool in Beijing is a "fast" pool. I guess there are certain conditions that make for a faster pool...things like temperature of the water, condition of the air in the building, depth of the water, etc. The article even mentioned to expect lots of broken world records.

[JenniferEC]

I've been reading some other boards and a lot of the blame for the US women not winning gold in the gymnastics is coming down on the Karolyis. The girls are overtrained and most of them are injured. Poor Alicia. I felt so bad for her when she probably wanted to curl up on the floor and cry and some camera dude was in her face.

Yay for Michael Phelps!

[Lucy Van Pelt]

I don't see how you can put the blame on the Karolyi's. They are not the primary coaches of any of the girls on the team. I'm sure all of the girls have injuries...on every team. Believe me, I am not a fan of the Karolyi's training tactics either, but the girls are only at their training camps a few times a year. Blame the sport for setting such ridiculous standards that girls have to train 30+ hours a week to achieve an elite level.

[jmvan74]

I was wondering if there was something up with that pool! :D

[Squee]

Janos Baranyai of Hungary------one word----OUCH!!!!!!!!!

[kd 9.21.02]

Did you see the interviews with Bela during the women's gymnastics last night? In no uncertain terms, he said that half the Chinese team is under age.

Poor Alicia. My heart aches for her. She wanted this so badly.

I wasn't thinking bad things for the Chinese gals though. I can only imagine the ridicule they would receive if they made any major errors. The team leader (the 20 y.o. woman) was taken away from her family at 3. She called her family a few years ago to ask to come home and they said no because of what her success in the sport could bring the family. I can't begrudge the poor girl the success...

[udsweetpea]

I'll admit it- I was hoping the Chinese girls would fall. They won by cheating.

[boilermaker]

I go back and forth on the whole age thing. I don't think it is right that they are cheating and using younger girls. The basic laws of physics show that smaller and lighter can "fly" better, so they definitely have an advantage there.

But that being said, the US did not in any way turn in a gold medal performance. 2 falls, another major bobble on beam, stepping out of bounds on floor, missing a trick on bars. If they had performed at their best, I can see the arguement, but they didn't.

I am loving the swimming though. I know the pool is set up to break records, but it is pretty cool to watch. And that relay last night was cracking me up. They were so far ahead!!!

[katmg]

I felt so bad for Alicia - you could just see the weight of the world on her face when she came off of that beam routine. I think some of the scoring was a bit suspect for a couple of routines - Nastia's uneven bar, Shawn's beam. But I don't think that, overall, the Americans looked like the gold medal team. Just too many mistakes.

I wish the Chinese had done it with a legitimate team, but those girls really did look good for the most part.

Oh, and are the floor routines more boring now or is it just me? I remember the '96 olympics in Atlanta having such awesome floor routines, but maybe it is just my memory.

[kd 9.21.02]

Oh, and are the floor routines more boring now or is it just me? I remember the '96 olympics in Atlanta having such awesome floor routines, but maybe it is just my memory.

I think it's the music. Dominique Moceanu performed her routine to "Devil Went Down to Georgia" at the Atlanta games (which of course got everyone clapping). And Kim Zmeskal's fantastic routine (with the three whip-backs -- LOVED that!) in '92 was to swing music. AMAZING.

I wish they'd spice it up again.

[imagirliegirl]

Bela's been talking about it for a week but no one is really listening to him. It's a shame because one of those girls looked 10. I think he made a good point - they have the best program in the world, they don't need to cheat. Oh well.

I felt bad for Alicia Sacramone when she fell off the beam. She let herself get all rattled while she was waiting. But fine, people fall. You can do it perfectly 1,000 times but fall on 1,001.

I was really disappointed in how she stumbled on the floor. Competing at this level means you have to be able to shake off mistakes and move on. She never got over the beam fall and look what happened on the floor. I think she should feel bad for that. Her team was really trying to get her head back in the game but she wasn't having it.

Too bad Chellsie Memmel got injured.

[boilermaker]

I'm a little disappoitned with how women's gymnastics has changed. The whole difficulty requirement means more tumbling, more gym-acro elements and a lot less dance. It has definitely made the floor routines less fun to watch (and more like the mens IMHO).

[katmg]

I think it's the music. Dominique Moceanu performed her routine to "Devil Went Down to Georgia" at the Atlanta games (which of course got everyone clapping). And Kim Zmeskal's fantastic routine (with the three whip-backs -- LOVED that!) in '92 was to swing music. AMAZING.

I wish they'd spice it up again.

Yes! Those are the two routines I remember so well. Even the Russians had some interesting floor routines at that Olympics. I agree with boilermaker - it seems like now they do one little arm flail and call that the "dance" element. bleah.

[udsweetpea]

I think this is the floor routine we miss so much.... Dominique Moceanu in 1996 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86lXwwHzHsM&feature=related)

[Loud_curly]

I go back and forth on the whole age thing. I don't think it is right that they are cheating and using younger girls. The basic laws of physics show that smaller and lighter can "fly" better, so they definitely have an advantage there.

But that being said, the US did not in any way turn in a gold medal performance. 2 falls, another major bobble on beam, stepping out of bounds on floor, missing a trick on bars. If they had performed at their best, I can see the arguement, but they didn't.



I'm right there with you - if the US had performed flawlessly and lost, that's one thing, but with the mistakes it wasn't a gold medal performance anyway.

And I'm getting really tired of the Karolyis talking about the Chinese ages - it's almost as if they're using that issue to diffuse any issues with the US women. Either get physical proof of the age (birth certificate, etc.) or let it go. Beating a dead horse just isn't worth it.

[kd 9.21.02]

I prefer less dance and more athletic, power components. But the music could be more fun, IMO.

[Lucy Van Pelt]

I don't have a problem with the Chinese girls winning. The US Team did not perform to their potential.

That being said, there is no way in hell those girls are 16. China has a history of falsifying documents and it looks to me like they have done it again. On the official Chinese gymnastics web pages from a few years ago several of the girls who competed in this Olympics were not of eligible age. Miraculously, all of their dates of birth changed to make them eligible about a year or two ago. Coincidence? HA!

[littlemia]

\While the pool is deeper than most, it's not the only pool that's deeper than 2 meters. The pool the used for World Championships in Melbourne last year is also 3 meters deep and the one they built in Omaha for trials is deeper than 2m. No doubt that this is a fast pool, though, and that has contributed to the records being set. I think it's great; the pool in Athens was outdoors and pretty slow.

[kd 9.21.02]

We shouldn't belabor the point but this is way too fishy for the IOC to ignore (which, apparently, they have chosen to do according to CNN.com).

NYT: Records Say Chinese Gymnasts May Be Under Age (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/sports/olympics/27gymnasts.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1218621681-0TWauJtCzBM5UMkRFRUDHw)

[jmvan74]

I don't think the chinese should be celebrated for winning the gold when in reality they should be disqualified for having underage gymnast. The USA may not have performed to the "gold" standard, but at least our team is following the rules of the IOC.

[udsweetpea]

I agree jmvan. We may not have performed to "gold" standards, but we were the best out of the rest AND we followed the rules!

[imagirliegirl]

Either get physical proof of the age (birth certificate, etc.) or let it go. Beating a dead horse just isn't worth it.

They were discussing this problem last week, I don't think it has anything to do with the US placing 2nd. I thought I posted the story here but it must have been in the news thread.

Anyway, I don't see how they could prove it. They don't have any power. They're asking the IOC to look into it and apparently they won't. That's outrageous.

It's BS considering they stripped that Romanian (I think) gymnast of her gold years ago for taking cold medicine that (unknown to her) had some "illegal substance" in it. They knew full-well what had happened but would not make an exception. I don't see why they are making an exception here.

ETA - Did anyone else notice the youngest looking one didn't have all of her teeth? I couldn't believe that when I saw it last night!!

[kd 9.21.02]

Seems like the NYT reporter found some proof or at least enough legitimate doubt to spur an IOC investigation. Before February, one of the girls was listed as having been born in 1994. Since getting her new passport, her year of birth is 1992.

China is blocking access to the sites that list her original DOB though some can be seen via Google's cache.

Solid evidence? No. But definitely enough to make you go "hmmmm."

[msnicolea]

No way those girls are of age--I think the littlest one still has her baby teeth! I don't get crazy-nationalistic at the Olympics and would be really happy for the Chinese, but I hate cheating.

[Rosebud]

Well, I've missed the ending of both the mens and womens gymnastics finals because NBC went over the scheduled times and my TIVO cut off. :rolleyes: That sucks.

Yeah, there's no way those Chinese gymnasts are 16. No way. And the IOC should be ashamed of itself for not doing a proper investigation. However, the US women's team did not deserve gold this year. It's too bad, because injury-free and on their game they could certainly have been in contention... but they didn't make it happen. I think a silver is great, though. Good for them. And I loved seeing how happy and proud the men were with their bronze.

Phelps is a machine. The swimming has been incredible this year.

[udsweetpea]

Did anyone catch the Today Show this morning? They were talking to the parents of the US womens' gymnastics team and Shawn's mother said watching the medal ceremony was "painful". Yes, not winning gold is disappointing, but your little girl just won a silver medal at the Olympics!

[Lucy Van Pelt]

In all honesty, I really should stop watching gymnastics. I didn't see the "painful" comment, but I can imagine it. I don't think it's a healthy sport. If it's not the physical injuries these girls deal with (broken bones, ligament/tendon injuries, eating disorders, etc.) , it's the pressure put on them by parents, coaches, media, etc., that is so damaging. Has anyone else read the book "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes"? It's downright horrifying. I would NEVER let my daughter participate in competitive gymnastics.

[udsweetpea]

I agree Lucy. Every time I watch gymnastics, I think about all of those Lifetime movies.

[kd 9.21.02]

I just watched the Today Show clip in which Shawn's mom said "it was painful." It didn't seem quite so bad when I listened to everything she said. Her point (or what I took from what it) was that it's incredibly painful to watch your child struggle when there's nothing you can do to help her.

They all wanted the gold. They should be proud of their silver medal, but there's no shame in saying they wanted more.

[twinnyme]

Lucy Van Pelt - I had no idea. I'm going to get that book to read. My DD, who is only 3.5, has taken "gymnastics" for the last couple of years, and loves it. There is nothing competitive about it but I have entertained the thought that she would continue with it (if she so chooses) so that she can be active and healthy. The point is probably moot because I think she'll be taking dance next year instead (her choice), which is a road I really didn't want to go down (just my opinion) but I frankly never really thought of gymnastics in that same way - though of course I should have, given how much you hear about the pressure etc. Hmm, should be an interesting read.

I haven't really watched much of the Olympics. Too late for me and I don't have TIVO or anything! I think some gymnastics will be on this Sunday at 7pm so I was going to have my DD watch some but now maybe not. We'll see.

[boilermaker]

As someone who did gymnastics as a kid, I don't think there is much harm in letting your children do it considering a very small percentage go on to the elite level. Competing in local events up through high school and even college, I never had any more pressure on me than other young athletes have. And as long as you aren't practicing umpteen hours a day, their bodies aren't go to take any more of a beating either.

[PookiePrincess]

Am I the only one who thinks dirty thoughts when they keep saying the world's best breaststroker? ;)

[JillyBean]

I don't think the chinese should be celebrated for winning the gold when in reality they should be disqualified for having underage gymnast. The USA may not have performed to the "gold" standard, but at least our team is following the rules of the IOC.

I couldn't agree more. It's not the point that the US made mistakes. If China didn't follow the rules, then they don't deserve their gold. I think it really, really sucks that the IOC won't investigate anything, especially with all the proof coming out now.

[jesseybell]

That's the "good" thing about the Americans questioning the age of the Chinese - it is not like we are acting like sore loosers because everyone knows we didn't deserve the gold medal. But just that something needs to be said because it is just so obvious those girls aren't 16 - even 14 seems questionable!

[jmvan74]

am i the only one who thinks dirty thoughts when they keep saying the world's best breaststroker? ;)

lol! :D

[Chimichanga]

I was exhausted last night and didn't even try to stay up for the men's all-around. What happened there?

I saw the swimming and that was it.

[Monty]

In all honesty, I really should stop watching gymnastics. I didn't see the "painful" comment, but I can imagine it. I don't think it's a healthy sport. If it's not the physical injuries these girls deal with (broken bones, ligament/tendon injuries, eating disorders, etc.) , it's the pressure put on them by parents, coaches, media, etc., that is so damaging. Has anyone else read the book "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes"? It's downright horrifying. I would NEVER let my daughter participate in competitive gymnastics.

As someone who did compete in gymnastics for several years, I have to say that I learned so much from the sport, including dedication, teamwork, and commitment. I have read the book mentioned above, and honestly I believe it is the parents who make or break their children. My parents never let the media attention or politics of the sport overwhelm me...besides, what sport isn't contaminated with pressure!

It is sad to see these Olympians get so upset when they don't win Gold, but everyone of these athletes comes to win, so their initial reaction (which the media shows) is usually full of disappointment. I can understand that......

[imagirliegirl]

I was exhausted last night and didn't even try to stay up for the men's all-around. What happened there?

I saw the swimming and that was it.

I thought it sucked. They all competed like crap (if you ask me) and there were a lot of mistakes. It wasn't terribly exciting. A French guy got bronze, which must have been a first for them because he was very emotional, as were his coaches. That was the best part.

I hope the women are better tonight!!

--

I don't see how the IOC can keep ignoring things like this -

State-media story fuels questions on gymnast’s age (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gymnastics/news?slug=ap-gym--underagechinese&prov=ap&type=lgns)

BEIJING (AP)—Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government’s news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.

In its report Nov. 3, Xinhua identified He as one of “10 big new stars� who made a splash at China’s Cities Games. It gave her age as 13 and reported that she beat Yang Yilin on the uneven bars at those games. In the final, “this little girl� pulled off a difficult release move on the bars ...

The Associated Press found the Xinhua report on the site Thursday morning and saved a copy of the page. Later that afternoon, the Web site was still working but the page was no longer accessible.

[lbs27]

Is anyone watching the women's all around gymnastics right now? The first gymnast to go on vault was one of the Chinese women and when they put her info up on the screen with her name, age, and city/state/whatever, they put her age as 15!!!

ETA: Oh wait, does she have to turn 16 the year of meaning any time this year? Or before the Olympics?

[Lucy Van Pelt]

ETA: Oh wait, does she have to turn 16 the year of meaning any time this year? Or before the Olympics?

Yes - as long as she turns 16 this year, she is fine to compete.

[Graffy]

Ugh. The gymnastics judging is ridiculous.

[imagirliegirl]

Uh...this scoring is BS. Shawn Johnson did MUCH better than the Chinese gymnast yet got the same amount of deductions. What the hell?! :eek:

[imagirliegirl]

Ugh. The gymnastics judging is ridiculous.

Ha. We posted at the same time. Glad someone else sees it! :mad:

ETA - You've got to be effing kidding me!!!

[Graffy]

Okay, at least Nastia finally got a score she deserves. Now if she and Shawn can just stay inbounds on the floor!!

[maxandmolly]

I just don't get it. WTF is up with the scoring?

[Kanga]

The scoring is making me so mad! I can see the Chinese and Romanian mistakes, so WHY aren't they docking them for it?!?

[Graffy]

Oh YAY!!!

[imagirliegirl]

Oh YAY!!!

Seriously!

[maxandmolly]

Take that!

[PookiePrincess]

Nastia looks so freaking happy! I got teary at the medal ceremony.

[Kanga]

I'm a little disappointed Shawn didn't win being an Iowan and all, but Nastia definitely performed well and I'm just glad she and Shawn finally got the scores they deserved.

[kwsu44]

So happy for Nastia and Shawn. They did really well, but Nastia seemed to be operating on a whole other level ... she was elegant and athletic at the same time ... and nailed almost every landing.

You could tell Shawn was disappointed, but there's no shame in a silver medal.

[kdotp]

I'm a little disappointed Shawn didn't win being an Iowan and all, but Nastia definitely performed well and I'm just glad she and Shawn finally got the scores they deserved.
She's such a good representative for the state. I think there was so much hoopla around Shawn and the expectations were so high that the judges may have been overly critical with some of her performances, YK? She was definitely scored low on the balance beam and maybe even slightly on the uneven bars.

So happy for Nastia and Shawn. They did really well, but Nastia seemed to be operating on a whole other level ... she was elegant and athletic at the same time ... and nailed almost every landing.

You could tell Shawn was disappointed, but there's no shame in a silver medal.
I also think the judges preferred the graceful style of Nastia's gymnastics over Shawn's pure power style. Nastia has those long legs and arms while Shawn is stocky. Powerful and fun to watch, but not as graceful/elegant.

[jesseybell]

I couldn't stay up that late to watch - I was so pysched when I woke up this morning.

I am glad Nastia won over Shawn. She is so much more graceful to watch.

[kd 9.21.02]

I also think the judges preferred the graceful style of Nastia's gymnastics over Shawn's pure power style. Nastia has those long legs and arms while Shawn is stocky. Powerful and fun to watch, but not as graceful/elegant.

Bela mentioned in the pre-competition interview that the European judges especially would like Nastia's lines.

I'm just glad that both performed really well and it didn't come down to one of them making mistakes in that last routine in order for the other to win.

[Kanga]

I also think the judges preferred the graceful style of Nastia's gymnastics over Shawn's pure power style. Nastia has those long legs and arms while Shawn is stocky. Powerful and fun to watch, but not as graceful/elegant.

Maybe that's it. Shawn's style is definitely very powerful as is her body type, and Nastia is completely different, more ballet like and more similar to the Chinese which the judges had an obsession over.

[Chimichanga]

I zonked out before Phelps swam, but I heard he won.

So - Nastia took the gold all-around and Shawn the silver? That's pretty darn cool!!

[Kanga]

I zonked out before Phelps swam, but I heard he won.

So - Nastia took the gold all-around and Shawn the silver? That's pretty darn cool!!

Yeah, it was about .5 of a point between Gold and Silver and .05 between silver and bronze IIRC.

[KB57]

I'm glad I stayed up to see Nastia and Shawn win gold & silver, but I am sure sucking wind at work today! zzzzzz

[imagirliegirl]

Maybe that's it. Shawn's style is definitely very powerful as is her body type, and Nastia is completely different, more ballet like and more similar to the Chinese which the judges had an obsession over.

That's got to be what it is. Even the commentators were saying the judges just don't like Shawn's style. Which is incredible and so ridiculous. That little girl is pure power. How can you not like that? I bet in any other Olympics the judges would have loved her style. Lame.

I was glad to see Nastia win. She's always a step behind Shawn and she just looked so happy.

[imagirliegirl]

The Olympics’ age-old problem (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gymnastics/news?slug=dw-gymnastsage081408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

Gymnastics deserve better from everyone. This cloud of controversy isn’t fair to the Chinese, the Americans or anyone else, and it shouldn’t be played out in media quotes and old websites.

A real investigation with real explanations is long overdue. It’s time for the IOC to do more than count the money here.

Exactly! I don't know why they keep looking the other way. Man up and check these allegations out!

[Rosebud]

Great gymnastics final last night. I just watched it this morning on TIVO and got all teary during the medal ceremony. Nastia is always so composed and seeing her cry made me super emotional. And good for Shawn, she's awesome too. I really like both of those girls and think they're amazing performers with classy personalities.

[miaclear]

So I'm watching beach volleyball. Why is the girls have to wear bikinis basically. And the guys are in long shorts and sleeveless shirts? They should at least have to be shirtless! IMO ;)

[imagirliegirl]

:eek:

Please tell me someone else just saw that...

[PookiePrincess]

I did! We had to rewind the DVR and play it in slow motion just to make sure he really got it. Unbelievable!

[udsweetpea]

HOLY CRAP! What a finish!!!

[rachrich]

phew! that was amazing! even in slow motion it's kinda hard to tell for sure. Through all the replays of every angle, i said, I bet it's like a hundredth of a point difference. When they posted the scores in order, sure enough... WOW!

[Chimichanga]

Phelps is a swim god.

And how cool is Dara Torres?!?!

[Dizzy]

Wow, Phelps sure knows how to win a race! That was incredible! I could totally see in slow motion Phelps's fingers touch first; it's pretty obvious at super slow speeds. I do think the protest was in poor taste, though. Maybe I would have done the same thing were I in Cavic's shoes so I try not to judge.

But, wow! :eek: DH and I re-wound it like five times!

[Squee]

Maybe I would have done the same thing were I in Cavic's shoes so I try not to judge.


Im sure most of us would.

[jesseybell]

We rewound it too - we really didn't think he won. But in super slo-mo it is more obvious.

I was telling DH the same thing about men's beach volleyball when that was all that was on the other night - I don't get why they don't go shirtless!

[lbs27]

I said to DH that I wondered if the other guy touched first but didn't touch the pad hard enough to register (like fingertip touch) whereas Phelps definitely slapped it. I don't know how hard you have to touch the pad to have it register though. It was funny how even his mom was holding up 2 fingers thinking he had come in second.

And yeah, how come the men don't go shirtless in beach volleyball?!

[Dizzy]

Im sure most of us would.

Yeah, and in listening to more of the coverage of Phelp's crazy win, it sounds like it was the Serbian swim association (or whatever it's called) that protested, not Cavic himself. Cavic was quoted saying he was "stoked" about a silver medal.

[Squee]

I knew it wouldnt have been him protesting and when I first watched it I thought Cavic had won. Im pretty sure if you want to protest a result you have to before the swimmer is out of the pool, so I can see why they did it. Phelps won, the other guys finish wasnt timed well enough or I think he would have won.

Last night the exact same thing happened to the Kiwi rowers! The Germans didnt protest but I doubt I would have thought it was poor sportsmanship if they did. They thought they had won, then results came up that we had won.

The New Zealand twins, who pushed past the German crew in the last few strokes, won by the incredible margin of .001 of a second.

Some experts put the actual distance between the two boats at the finish line at 4.5cm, hard to fathom after a race of 2000m.

[imagirliegirl]

That silver medalist is going to kick himself when he sees how close it was. Gliding in really cost him!

[jmvan74]

My eyes about popped out of my head at Phelp's race! Holy Smokes, he's good.

Definitely need shirtless men's beach volleyball. ;)

[rachrich]

And how cool is Dara Torres?!?!
She's such an inspiration! I just watched the women's 400 medley relay, and thought for a moment she was going to catch up with the Trickett. She did so awesome, especially for just getting silver in the 50 free!

Now I'm anxiously awaiting the men's relay here in a few minutes!

[miaclear]

I am so nervous!!!! I can barely watch!

[PookiePrincess]

YAY!!!!

[miaclear]

Whew....I can breath again! Wow....just wow!

Those Japanese guys hung in for the Bronze too.

[rachrich]

SWEEEEEET! :) Phelps brought them into the lead. Man, the Japanese had me scared for a minute there!

[JillyBean]

YES!!! That was awesome! :D

[dizylizy]

That was so exciting! I can't even believe how proud Phelps mom must be... to give him the oppurtunity to develop this talent is so great! Thanks for the thrill!!!

Dara Torres... so great! just makes you feel like anything is possible!

[kdotp]

She's such an inspiration! I just watched the women's 400 medley relay, and thought for a moment she was going to catch up with the Trickett. She did so awesome, especially for just getting silver in the 50 free!
And she's so classy. She didn't get angry she didn't win the gold in the 50 free, she immediately congratulated the gal who did. I'm sure it was disappointing, but she took it in stride, like a mature adult. Maybe there's something to be said for competing at 41!

[Renee34]

Does anyone know anything about Phelps' dad? If anything was ever mentioned why only his mother and sisters were there, I missed it. Anyway, Phelps is awesome!!!!!

[udsweetpea]

Does anyone know anything about Phelps' dad? If anything was ever mentioned why only his mother and sisters were there, I missed it. Anyway, Phelps is awesome!!!!!

Wikipedia says his parents divorced in 1994, but I don't see why his father wouldn't want to be present at these Games.

[PookiePrincess]

It's my understanding that he was raised by a single mom (don't really know the specifics...that's just what I've heard), so maybe his dad isn't in the picture at all. If I were him, I sure wouldn't want my dad cheering at the Olympics like he's an awesome dad if he isn't, but I have my own dad issues.

[maxandmolly]

It's my understanding that he was raised by a single mom (don't really know the specifics...that's just what I've heard), so maybe his dad isn't in the picture at all. If I were him, I sure wouldn't want my dad cheering at the Olympics like he's an awesome dad if he isn't, but I have my own dad issues.
Agreed. You don't get to skip out on a wife and three kids, let someone else do all the work, then go to China like any other athlete's dad waving a flag.

[JenniferEC]

The articles I've read say he has a distant relationship with his dad. He didn't see him very much during his teen years.

Did anyone catch the interview tonight with Michael and his mom? I love how close he is with his mom and sisters. He was teased and picked on when he was younger and I guess a few of those asses are trying to get in touch with him now. And I couldn't help but just stare at his legs. He has one awsome body!

[boilermaker]

What a great story about the 33 yr old German/former Soviet vaulter! How thrilling for her to medal considering everything she has gone through.

Though I feel very bad for Alicia. These were just not her games :(

[quest]

Though I feel very bad for Alicia. These were just not her games :(

I agree, but again, WTF is up with the judging? I seriously can't believe someone can have such a huge mistake/fall and still medal in front of someone who had only a little hop. I understand about start values and all that, but for crying out loud! Maybe the new judging system isn't the improvement they thought it would be. (Besides, I miss the excitement of a '10'!)

[boilermaker]

I hate this new scoring system. There is so much emphasis placed on the difficulty portion that these gymnasts are doing tricks that they have not mastered. And it doesn't matter, they can still get higher scores. I think they need to reconsider the importance of execution, maybe double that score, then add the difficulty portion in.

[imagirliegirl]

How do you fall & medal? That's BS.

I love how nerdy Michael Phelps is. His mom seems so sweet, what a lucky guy to have such a good mom.

[Wrighty26]

Anyone else annoyed that these gymnastic events happened last night and they are STILL spreading them out? Grrr. I avoided looking at the headlines all day today and I was hoping I would be able to go to bed at a decent time tonight! GRRRR. NBC you are killing me!

The interview with Phelps was well done. I love that he/his coach are SUCH perfectionists. It's crazy that he won all of these races at WR times, yet there they were tearing them apart!

[risa00]

A picture of his dad from 2004

Fred Phelps (http://www.dailypress.com/bal-2phelpsphoto0817,0,4638902.photo#9)

[kd 9.21.02]

I thought the whole US team was better at the vault than the rest of the competitors in the individual event. Why didn't the US have more than one team member competing on vault? Shawn is also great at that event I thought?

[katmg]

That's one thing I love about Bela - he doesn't mince words. He totally called BS on the vault scoring and basically said Alicia was robbed. Plus he's so dramatic about it all. :)

[IrishEyes]

A blog entry (http://www.baltimoresun.com/services/newspaper/printedition/bal-sp.olyblog15aug15,0,3939494.story) with a little about Fred Phelps.

[imagirliegirl]

That's one thing I love about Bela - he doesn't mince words. He totally called BS on the vault scoring and basically said Alicia was robbed. Plus he's so dramatic about it all. :)

I couldn't help but laugh. "I am going to cry." He's such the dramatic one. :)

Any opinions on what happened to Nastia? I had no idea they stopped sharing the medals. I don't understand why they don't do that anymore. If 2 people get the same score, they get the same damn score!

[phoenics]

Anyone else a little surprised by how nationalistic they are feeling? I'm rooting for people to fall (not to get hurt; I have limits), which is a little weird for me.

ETA: And also thinking very bitchy things about how it's easy to balance/stay in bounds when you are 12 years old and 4 ft tall. Even though the men were clearly of age and very impressive.

OMGosh - you are me!!! I've been doing the SAME thing. I kept wishing for the chinese girls to fall and even had some conspiracy theory about how they built that arena with some special chi in order to ensure that only the chinese would win!

I didn't mind the chinese divers winning because we'd dominated so much in swimming, but the gymnastics was pissing me off. I so don't believe those girls were of age except a few and the scoring was just completely biased against Shawn Johnson. She may not have won the all-around, but she got jipped last night on floor.

So did Nastia, to be honest. No way that Romanian gymnast was better than Shawn. And Alicia got jipped too. And thankfully Nastia won the all-around - this after getting shafted on that perfect vault she did.

But anyway.

After knowing all of the tricks and stunts China pulled in the opening ceremonies, cheating wouldn't be beneath them.

[phoenics]

I'm right there with you - if the US had performed flawlessly and lost, that's one thing, but with the mistakes it wasn't a gold medal performance anyway.

And I'm getting really tired of the Karolyis talking about the Chinese ages - it's almost as if they're using that issue to diffuse any issues with the US women. Either get physical proof of the age (birth certificate, etc.) or let it go. Beating a dead horse just isn't worth it.

The problem for China is that there is a discrepancy between THESE passports and the ones they used for Worlds - back when those girls couldn't compete. When Bela did the math, it would mean that they STILL wouldn't be eligible for the Olympics. And since Bela was there and knew of that, then he would know that those girls were still too young because he even knew of one girl's birthdate as recorded during the World championships (and she couldn't compete) and then that same girl's birthdate jumped back a full year for the Olympics.

The girls were great though and deserved to win. But if they were underaged, then they did not deserve to compete. But the US had a bad night then anyway.

I'm mostly irritated about the individual medals, but it looks like the Chinese are being shut out a bit there. I can admit that I'm glad about that.

[phoenics]

Seems like the NYT reporter found some proof or at least enough legitimate doubt to spur an IOC investigation. Before February, one of the girls was listed as having been born in 1994. Since getting her new passport, her year of birth is 1992.

China is blocking access to the sites that list her original DOB though some can be seen via Google's cache.

Solid evidence? No. But definitely enough to make you go "hmmmm."

Ah - I should have read your post before replying, lol!

[phoenics]

I don't have a problem with the Chinese girls winning. The US Team did not perform to their potential.



That's true, however in the past, China has used older gymnasts who cracked under pressure and made mistakes FAR worse than the US did.

So basically you can't say that the US didn't have a gold medal performance because you're using an unfair measure to say what's gold and what's not gold. Sure, the US could have done better, but a gold performance does not mean perfect and even if it had been, I STILL think China would have edged them out - the scoring was really biased throughout against the US. It's a miracle Nastia and Sean took 1 and 2 in the All-Around.

If those Chinese girls are too young, then you not only get a physical benefit, you get a psychological one. Take a look at the Chinese SINCE the team competition - they are falling A LOT - all except the very youngest looking ones - because they are old enough to process all of the pressure and they are less fearless than their younger counterparts.

If they had been a team full of older gymnasts, I guarantee you that the China Syndrome (where they are known to CHOKE) would have been in full effect.

But we'll never know. Those girls were really good - but it's not a fair comparison if they're too young.

[phoenics]

I thought the whole US team was better at the vault than the rest of the competitors in the individual event. Why didn't the US have more than one team member competing on vault? Shawn is also great at that event I thought?

You have to qualify to compete on the individual events. That's another reason Alicia Sacramone was so upset when she messed up in floor - she wouldn't qualify to compete for a floor medal.

[phoenics]

I couldn't help but laugh. "I am going to cry." He's such the dramatic one. :)

Any opinions on what happened to Nastia? I had no idea they stopped sharing the medals. I don't understand why they don't do that anymore. If 2 people get the same score, they get the same damn score!

Wait - what? What happened? Nastia didn't get a medal?

ETA: That is just &(&*()&*P) up.

[kd 9.21.02]

So, phoenics, Shawn didn't qualify for the vault? I thought she was so good at that apparatus.

[KK812]

What happened with the individual events? I missed them.

[bostonbride06]

So, phoenics, Shawn didn't qualify for the vault? I thought she was so good at that apparatus.

I think you had to two vaults during the preliminaries in order to qualify for vault finals in the individual competition. If I recall, Alicia was the only U.S. gymnast who did two.

[imagirliegirl]

Wait - what? What happened? Nastia didn't get a medal?

ETA: That is just &(&*()&*P) up.

She got a medal, she just got the silver and the Chinese girl got gold. They had the same score but the Chinese girl had a higher execution score so she got gold.

Which, in my opinion, is horse crap. If you are doing an easier routine it should be easier to perform it better. I think if they were going to choose a winner, they should have selected the person with the higher START value.

Or just give 2 medals. Which is more fair.

[kd 9.21.02]

Actually, their execution scores were the same too!

This article *sort of* explains it. Still doesn't seem right though...

Finally, proof that gymnastics scoring needs an overhaul (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/writers/em_swift/08/18/judging.controversy/index.html)

[udsweetpea]

She'll get the gold back when they figure out that little Chinese girl didn't make the age requirements.... but then again, I see the IOC ignoring that issue forever.

[katmg]

Aww shit, I hadn't seen the uneven bar controversy. That is getting me all worked up. I just need to turn the tv off. What a load of horse crap.

[Lauren23]

The scoring of the gymnastics is just plain awful. It's amazing that Nastia and Shawn managed to get gold and silver in the all around because there was plenty of scoring there that made no sense.

To me this new scoring system is simply killing the sport. Killing it. If you fall on your knees doing a vault - I don't care how hard it is - you should not win a medal. Not sharing a medal if you get the same score? Absolutely ridiculous. And don't even get me started on the age of the Chinese gymnasts. The fact that they're clearly going to do nothing about it just makes me sick.

I probably sound so dramatic, but the fact is these girls train so hard for YEARS and they deserve to be scored fairly -- and they deserve a scoring system that will award them accordingly. I don't see what the problem was with the old one. That one seemed to make a lot more sense to me.

[imagirliegirl]

Actually, their execution scores were the same too!

This article *sort of* explains it. Still doesn't seem right though...

Finally, proof that gymnastics scoring needs an overhaul (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/writers/em_swift/08/18/judging.controversy/index.html)

OMG! I must have misunderstood what I heard on TV!!! That is SUCH BS! Unbelievable. :eek:

[phoenics]

Actually, their execution scores were the same too!

This article *sort of* explains it. Still doesn't seem right though...

Finally, proof that gymnastics scoring needs an overhaul (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/writers/em_swift/08/18/judging.controversy/index.html)

I guarantee - GUARANTEE - that He won't be able to do the six-release stuff in four years. Why? Because she'll have gotten past PUBERTY and her body won't ALLOW her to.

This is SUCH BS!

Aargh! :mad:

[JillyBean]

It really ticks me off that NBC hasn't even aired the uneven bars and beam finals yet (unless I missed it - I've only seen the vault and floor finals. My guide says the other events will air tonight). The events were several days ago, but I think they're trying to stretch it out to keep viewers now that Michael Phelps is done swimming.

[Wrighty26]

They events were split into 3 nights because they are doing men's and women's at the same time. The uneven bars occurred early this morning (6pm in Beijing) (and they are airing it tonight here) and the beam event is early tomorrow morning. It do agree that it's SUPER annoying that the spread it out. I think it's because the track and field events are live -- but still really aggravating! I really like watching the events and it annoys me that I knew first thing this morning that Nastia didn't get the gold.

I really don't understand the gymnastics judging. I truly cannot believe that girl fell flat on the vault landing and still won a bronze.

I'm still trying to figure out how the tiebreaker with Nastia works -- they drop the highest and lowest score and then average -- so did Nastia score much lower with one judge and much higher with another or what?

[diam124]

I would like to know who Kerri Walsh and Misti May-Treanor bribed to get so much airtime for beach volleyball. I'm obviously kidding, but I feel like that's all that's on during Primetime (other than some swimming). I appreciate that they're trying to show the live events but it seems like they could have showed some other sports at times!

[kugrrly]

I agree with ya Diam!

[maxandmolly]

I would like to know who Kerri Walsh and Misti-May Treanor bribed to get so much airtime for beach volleyball. I'm obviously kidding, but I feel like that's all that's on during Primetime (other than some swimming). I appreciate that they're trying to show the live events but it seems like they could have showed some other sports at times!
But do other sports have girls in skimpy bikinis jumping around? It has little to do with anything other than the good ol' fashioned T & A factor.

[udsweetpea]

I would like to know who Kerri Walsh and Misti-May Treanor bribed to get so much airtime for beach volleyball. I'm obviously kidding, but I feel like that's all that's on during Primetime (other than some swimming). I appreciate that they're trying to show the live events but it seems like they could have showed some other sports at times!

FOR REAL! My dad shares the same opinion, and he likes women in bikinis! They seriously have gotten so much airtime!

[diam124]

Re: the outfits - I played volleyball in high school but quit after a couple years. The reason I quit was because our team switched from shorts to "butt-huggers". I was so self-conscious about my body back then that I'd rather quit than play in those outfits!

[Chimichanga]

I would like to know who Kerri Walsh and Misti May-Treanor bribed to get so much airtime for beach volleyball. I'm obviously kidding, but I feel like that's all that's on during Primetime (other than some swimming). I appreciate that they're trying to show the live events but it seems like they could have showed some other sports at times!

I believe because it's played in the morning in China; prime time here. So, they can show it live. Plus - they are a really great team (haven't lost in more than like 105 matches!). And, it's girls in bikinis... buff girls in bikinis :)

DH said he saw the interview with Costas and Phelps. Phelps addressed the time when someone threw a flag to him and it fell, and he wouldn't take it from the camera man who tried to hand it to him. Michael said it would be improper to display the flag because it touched the floor.

Class act all around. :)

Oh, and I guess Michael saw a former classmate at a swimming event, and the guy was like "don't you remember me" and Michael said he didn't. His mom asked him why Michael said that, and he said the guy picked on him all the time in high school and he didn't want to deal with it. Awww - glad to know Olympians are normal and got picked on in school too. What a great inspiration for little kids.

[imagirliegirl]

I preferred Nastia's routine. I get that the other girl's routine was supposed to be more exciting, but to be honest, I thought some of her release skills looked quite awkward.

The second it popped up that they'd tied she got a look like "I'm screwed". She looked so upset.

I really thought Nastia's routine was much prettier. I really enjoy watching her more than any other competitor. She's so graceful! Not like these other girls who just fling themselves around.

The commentators kept saying this was a rip off and I completely agree. She got gipped. :(

It makes NO sense to me that they can't each get a gold medal. If you're going to have a sport with subjective scoring that leaves the possibility open for a tie ... well, then you need to give the deserving their freaking medals.

[imagirliegirl]

Um...did anyone else see the explanation of the scoring?

I am so confused. How is it that the Chinese girl had to 8.x scores and Nastia only had one 8.x yet both of the Chinese girl's 8.x's were dropped thanks to the tie breaker system. (Sorry for the x's, I can't remember the exact scores.)

:confused:

What ze hell?

Did Bela really just say ONLY gymnastics refuses to give double medals? That's such crap.

[Kanga]

They're taking all the fun out of the spectator aspect of it. If the best person doesn't win, I just don't like watching anymore like I used to.:(

[amygrrl]

nevermind. this guys' explanation isn't the same as the one tim dagget did on nbc

[udsweetpea]

Oh, and I guess Michael saw a former classmate at a swimming event, and the guy was like "don't you remember me" and Michael said he didn't. His mom asked him why Michael said that, and he said the guy picked on him all the time in high school and he didn't want to deal with it. Awww - glad to know Olympians are normal and got picked on in school too. What a great inspiration for little kids.

I saw that interview too, and I just wanted to cry when Michael said the kids in school would throw his baseball cap off the bus. His mom said she was so proud of him saying that he didn't know that one guy who said "do you remember me?" Michael was only 15 and had that much maturity to not deal with the situation.

ETA- Oh, and about the gymnastics ordeal... why can't they give both girls a gold medal? They gave 2 runners from Jamaica both the silver medal when they tied.

[mel7dog]

The uneven bars final is such crap. It was so interesting that all the judges scoring the event came from countries who had never won a metal in gymnastics. It seems that by using a 3rd tie breaker for the gold, they got down to a level where only 1-2 judges really made the decision. When you get that nit picky there is no room for check/balance in the judges scores. And I'm sorry that girl in NOT 16. Why is no one doing anything about the ages, we all know it's true. The way women's gymnastics has been handled this year makes me sick.

I agree that they need to make execution more important than trying to do a super hard routine. I'm sure many more gymnasts could go much harder vault if it was ok that they landed on there knees :(

I found it really interesting to watch some of the other countries on the bars. Some of those girls looked like they were rushing big time and it was awkward to watch for me. They had the skills, but overall the routines just didn't look right.

[udsweetpea]

Speaking of the age rule, I'm assuming Nastia could have gone to Athens when she was 15 if the rule hadn't been in place. So she followed the rules and put her dreams on hold to abide by the rules, but China puts this little girl in there and takes the gold away from her. What a crock!

[kd 9.21.02]

Did anyone else read about the results from the beam yet...?

[I don't want to post a spoiler in case anyone here is avoiding the news until they watch it on TV tonight.]

[kd 9.21.02]

Speaking of the age rule, I'm assuming Nastia could have gone to Athens when she was 15 if the rule hadn't been in place. So she followed the rules and put her dreams on hold to abide by the rules, but China puts this little girl in there and takes the gold away from her. What a crock!

Yes, I think I read that Nastia had mentioned this. She was qualified for Athens in every way but age.

[udsweetpea]

Did anyone else read about the results from the beam yet...?

[I don't want to post a spoiler in case anyone here is avoiding the news until they watch it on TV tonight.]

I just saw it on nbcolympics.com.... Post it in white just in case.

[imagirliegirl]

The results are everywhere. If you're on the internet you know. Im looking forward to watching tonight. :)

Did anyone see Access Hollywood's interview with Michael Phelps? I happened to catch it this morning. Lindsay Lohan (!) sent him a text telling him he was "f-ing awesome"! What the hell? Apparently they flirt. Don't do it, Michael!!

[sdianems]

You mean to tell me that LL was up, sober, watching tv????? Who would've thunk it? ;)

[Chimichanga]

Oh, if he does anything with her, my thoughts of him are totally shot. Blech. I hope he has way more sense than that; but I do also understand young men's libidos... But wait, isn't she a lesbian now?

[imagirliegirl]

I was so distracted by Alicia getting scammed the other night I forgot to mention this:

PLEASE tell me I wasn't the only one weirded out by that 30-year-old gymnast the other night. I mean, kudos to her for still doing gymnastics in her 30's but ... it looked like someone had pasted an adult's head on a child's body.

[kugrrly]

That chick did look quite weird.

USA has gotten robbed several times in gymnastics IMO.

[lbs27]

Did anyone see Access Hollywood's interview with Michael Phelps? I happened to catch it this morning. Lindsay Lohan (!) sent him a text telling him he was "f-ing awesome"! What the hell? Apparently they flirt. Don't do it, Michael!!

Oh, no. I had seen a blurb before the commercial about LL but I didn't see what it actually was. Ugh, I agree with the others, if he does anything...ick. I think he's too smart for that. ;) And wasn't his mother there when he got the text, or something like that?!

[katmg]

I was so distracted by Alicia getting scammed the other night I forgot to mention this:

PLEASE tell me I wasn't the only one weirded out by that 30-year-old gymnast the other night. I mean, kudos to her for still doing gymnastics in her 30's but ... it looked like someone had pasted an adult's head on a child's body.

Yeah, when they cut to her, it kinda scared me. Her story was bittersweet - I was glad she was able to get a medal.

As long as we're being catty...did anyone see the trampoline last night? It looked liked maybe China decided they weren't "pretty" enough to do regular gymnastics so they all had to do trampoline instead. y'know, like the little girl who sang the Olympic song at the opening. ;)

[tenofcups]

I don't know why I can't find this anywhere, but maybe someone knows -- anyone know what time (eastern) they're airing the balance beam tonight? You'd think I could find that easily with a quick Google search, but no luck.

I thought the 33-year-old winning was freaking awesome. She's certainly not an attractive woman, but to be able to pull out a silver medal at 33 competing against 16 year olds (and possibly younger) ... priceless. And her story literally made me cry. I was *thrilled* for her.

[kdotp]

Oh man, my heart just breaks for Lolo Jones, who was in the lead in the 100m hurdles until she clipped a hurdle. She couldn't regain her lead and ended up 7th. She did such an awesome job in all the qualifying races, too.

[imagirliegirl]

And wasn't his mother there when he got the text, or something like that?!

Ha yeah she was! She was like, "oh Lindsay. Delete that, delete!". It was super cute. I bet mama Phelps would slap her son silly if he went near that girl!

Yeah, when they cut to her, it kinda scared me. Her story was bittersweet - I was glad she was able to get a medal.


I was also very happy for her! She just looked so odd with that ageless body.

ETA: I am SO happy for Shawn Johnson after watching her beam routine. Girl earned it!

[JenniferEC]

PLEASE tell me I wasn't the only one weirded out by that 30-year-old gymnast the other night. I mean, kudos to her for still doing gymnastics in her 30's but ... it looked like someone had pasted an adult's head on a child's body.
I thought she kind of looked like a man. I've seen pics of her with longer hair and she really should let her hair grow out!

Wasn't Hohan Michael's crush from 4 years ago? I remember some tv show asking him 4 years ago and he mentioned her. Of course, that was before she turned into a hot mess.
He should run, fast! And then change his cell number.

Yay for Shawn. I'm so glad she got a gold medal.

[maxandmolly]

Yeah, the 33-year old wasn't the most gorgeous in the sea of teenagers. But she showed she still has it-and that's really all that counts. When they did the piece on her, dressed in regular clothes, she looked much more attractive. Also, apparently the parallel bars bronze winner-first medal for their country in gymnastics-trains at a gym named after her. Thought that was kinda cool.
Shawn is just so adorable. Great to see her finally get her gold.

[kd 9.21.02]

Shawn looked SO happy. Good for her! Her parents were sobbing.

I felt terrible for Lolo Jones. However, she was extremely gracious in her interview this morning on the Today Show.