We have had so much fun watching the Olympics!! There have been some great stories, heartbreaks and triumphs!! Here are my favorites:
1. Michael Phelps. As a swimmer, I love what he has done for the sport. At times he has been really hard for me to listen to his interviews because his mind is all over the place but - that's what makes his story even greater. A kid with ADHD gets thrown into the pool to keep him busy, and his mom sane, and he thrives. Love real people overcoming odds to become super human!!!
2. Oscar Pistorius. AMAZING!!! Loved watching him run and wished I could talk to my grandma about it. She was super fast when she was young and lost her leg in a terrible accident at the age of 24 and as a mom of 2 young, active boys. Prosthetic legs have come a long way. I wonder if she would have donned a cheetah leg and tried it out. Oscar is amazing. And to think they almost didn't let him compete because the thought his prosthetic leg springs would give him an unfair advantage. Also, thumbs up to James who switched name tags with him as a sign of admiration. You just can't make this stuff up!!!
3. Women's Gymnastics. Always a favorite, right. But how about the ladies winning the group competition, Gabby Douglas being the first African American winning the all around and the heart ache of Jordyn Wieber not qualifying for the all around. The oh so controversial "rule" of only allowing 2 gymnasts from each country compete in the all around. A rule is a rule - but that one isn't a good one. Those girls can defy gravity. It is truly amazing their strength and grace.
4. Misty May Traenor and Kerri Walsh are soooooo gooooood! I have played beach volleyball. It is hard on the body. The sand is deep and the dive landings - not as soft and cushy as they look. To be that good - for 3 Olympic games is really remarkable. "The old ladies went out and did it!' Quote from hubby Traenor.
5. The Bolt. Actually the women's 100 and the 2 relay's the 4 by 100 and 4 by 400 as well as the men's same races were crazy good. They are so fast. Way to go women's relay team! They got the monkey off their back and brought home a world record. But what is so amazing is the Bolt!! That guy is fast, unbelievably fast. I was watching the men's 4 by 100 relay and going into the last leg the Jamaicans and the US were pretty much neck and neck then - whoosh..... there goes the bolt. Stride for stride he just took off. He had to work it this time - no chest pumping before the finish line but, he got it done!
6. OK - this is for my 16 year old daughter, Tom (sigh) Daley. There were so many camera flashes on his first dive that he was distracted and kinda messed up so they let him dive again. Good thing because he made up a ton of points and ended up with the bronze. He would've been out of the medals had he not been able to re-dive. But honestly, I had a hard time watching because it just looked like a major clothing malfunction could happen at any time.
Tonight is the Closing Ceremony. (sniff) (sniff) Very sad. The games have given us a lot of entertainment. We've all enjoyed them - and with the diversity of 5 kids ranging in age fro 16 - 9 months, that doesn't happen much. We've all been a little sleep deprived. We actually moved a mattress out to the family room so the kids could have a 2 week long "Olympic" sized slumber party. It's been fun but all good things must come to an end - at least for 4 more years. So, to all those athletes out there who have Olympic dreams - good luck, and we will see you in 2016!
The Kids sleeping on the mattress after a late night of Olympic coverage!
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