It's not like Lochte has been terrible, just not up to that sensational 400 IM. I think in general the rest of the world has caught up to U.S. swimmers. We used to dominate both men's and women's events, then the Aussies caught up to or surpassed us, and now they are coming from all directions. I think this is actually healthy. Now the medals mean more. It used to be harder to make the U.S. swim team than to medal once you got there. Our swimmers are doing pretty well. Even whats-his-name from Baltimore, who was being written off a couple of days ago. He came back very strong yesterday, even though he was outtouched for gold in one of his signature events, the 200 fly. It looked like he had it, then somehow the other guy got to the wall faster. It was eerily similar to his closest call in Beijing, when he was the one pulling victory from the jaws of defeat at the finish. This is still not a guy you want to have to race.
How can anyone not be delighted by Missy Franklin and Allison Schmidt? Their personalities are even more winning than their swimming. I liked what Rowdy Gaines said about Missy. "She can't possibly be 17. Are you sure she's not 25?" Not only is she always sunny, she is a National Honor Scholar, resisted entreaties to relocate to California or Florida for swimming, and has turned down lots of endorsement opportunities to stay eligible to swim on her HS team. (Can you imagine getting in the water for a HS dual meet and seeing Missy Franklin in the next lane?) She lit up with a smile showing Rowdy and Dan her new driver's license. Yeah, she's 17. There are some people whose success you don't resent in the least because you can tell what nice people they are, and she is one of them.
Didn't the men's gymnastics team overachieve the first day? Unlike the women's team, who were expected to win and did, I didn't think much was expected of them. I was happy for the British men, one of the rare opportunities so far for the home crowd to go wild. It took a little away from it when they were dropped from silver to bronze after a successful protest by Japan over the scoring of their last pommel horse contestant, who almost landed on his head on the dismount. But not very much. They still medalled, which hadn't happened in a very long time if ever.
I have been avoiding all forms of news during the Olympics. I want to be able to watch in the evening not knowing what happened.
>A few thoughts:
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>- After the Chinese 2008 female gymnasts (calling them women would imply they were of age) were given a pass I hold little faith that anything will come of this unless Ye Shiwen actually fails a blood test.
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>- Besides, they way Lochte has performed since the IM, it's not like he's THAT fast. ;)
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>- Speaking of letdowns, how about a grand round of fail for the US men's gymnastics team. NBC bailed on them after 2 rotations.
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>- Speaking of NBC, the ratings show that their delay works well, however, if you're going to delay and save things for primetime how about you don't give away the results 6 minutes before you show the event.
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/07/31/Olympics/Franklin-Today.aspx>
>- Kim Rhode on Sunday became the first American athlete to win five medals in an individual event in five consecutive Olympic Games. 99 of 100. WOW!
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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/sports/olympics/kim-rhode-of-us-takes-gold-in-womens-skeet-setting-records.html?_r=1>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUiN0Sih214&feature=related>
>>Here we go again.
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>>Page 1 story in the NY Times today, me thunking my forehead not to have seen it. Without making a direct accusation, it strongly implies that the Chinese swimmers in the London Olympics have been getting some unnatural help. It focuses on Yu Shiwen, the 16 year old female Chinese swimmer who has been setting the time clock on fire. In winning the gold medal in the 400 IM on Sunday she came home in the last 50 as fast as Ryan Lochte in his statement making men's final.
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>>Now maybe this was just an incredible performance by an unknown athlete. But the Chinese have a history, as does the sport of swimming. Remember the notorious East German "womens" teams of the 80s, who looked and performed like NFL linebackers? As does bicycling, where the elite athletes are basically all assumed to be doping.
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>>I am a little disappointed in the NBC coverage that this has not even come up for discussion. I have been watching the swimming events closely and had not picked up a whiff of Yu Shiwen's times being fishy. I like Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines a lot. They make the races and competitors compelling, especially the break out star of these games, Missy Franklin. I would really hate to think their corporate masters have zipped their lips given the corporate stakes. That would be even more disappointing than a young athlete cutting corners for a shot at the gold ring.
