Olympics Time!

Every four years I get very excited for the Summer Olympics. I like the idea of athletes competing at their highest levels to represent their country. Mostly, I watch for the swimming because I know a lot of the competitors or have at least heard of them. I would say that since Friday, the vast majority of my time outside of work has been spent watching the Olympics. I even go online and check the daily results while I'm at work...shhh. The games have been very exciting but also disappointing.

Most of the excitement came from the Men's 400 Free Relay....Wow! I was screaming at the TV in my apartment and cheering as Jason Lezak caught the French team after being down by .6 seconds, a lifetime in swimming. I was so excited to see the passion those guys showed, especially Weber-Gale. I so often think of Michael Phelps as a swimming robot, so it was nice to see him show some emotion. I think I was most excited for Cullen Jones and GW. I was also very excited to see Peirsol do so well in the 100 back, that guy is a machine. Also, Peter Vanderkay getting the bronze in the 200 Free was great, he deserves it. Finally, Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe has been swimming out of her mind. It's great to see her doing so well, because as my brother says, "she's a sweetheart."

Biggest disappointed has to be Brendan getting fourth in the 100 breast. He looked pretty good until the last 15 meters or so. I'm so sad for him because I know how hard he has worked and how quick he can go. If the Olympics were at this time last year we would have destroyed everybody, but I guess even the best have off years. I know he will keep swimming and know he will work even harder to get his world records back. Katie Hoff hasn't been swimming real well either. Luckily she has a few more events in order to get back on track.

I'm looking forward to the men's 400 medley relay, the men's 100fly which will be a shootout between Ian Crocker and Phelps, watching Eric Shanteau swim the 200 breast and hopefully medal, and seeing if GW can medal in the 100 or 50 free.