Archive for August 22nd, 2008

Usain "Lightning" Bolt

Jamaica's world record-setting double Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, seen here, will look to complete a golden treble Friday in the men's 4x100-meter relay at the Bejing Games(AFP/Adrian Dennis)P

Poor Usain Ligthning Bolt, if it wasn’t for Michael Phelps, this would be his Olympics.Three shattered world records, three gold medals, and an obvious unparalleled expression of joy with victory.

The 100m sprint was the greatest 9.7 seconds in sports.

With 20 meters to go in the 100m, Usain chose to start celebrating his victory… and the world stopped and wondered why? And he answered, quite plainly, he didn’t care about the record, he just wanted to win. And of course the world said he was show-boating, but maybe, just maybe for him winning the race was the point, not setting some record.

And maybe he was as surprised as the rest of us with his victory. And maybe if we found ourselves 10m ahead of our competition in the greatest race on the planet, we too would want to celebrate our victory…

It was an insane sprint, an awesome sprint, an unbelievable sprint.

And in the 200m where apparently the record was more important,Usain didn’t let up until he cross the line, breaking an age old record by Michael Johnson.

And in the 4×100m, he was so determined to win and break the world record that he chased asafa powel around the track.

But Mr. Bolt, Phelps was there first, so your accomplishment is Phelpsian instead of Mr. Phelps’ accomplishment being Boltian …

Add comment August 22nd, 2008

If all else fails

So one of the more interesting(?) aspects of the Chines diving program is the monumental focus the Chinese diving program has.

The diver’s childhood is sacrificed on the altar of potential Olympic gold.

In America, that level of dedication is viewed with a certain dose of healthy doubt about whether the trade off is worthwhile.

But the reality is that the focus, the training and the dedication of the Chinese was creating a two tier diving ranking: The Chinese and everyone else.

The US team confronted with an inability to win anything in the last few Olympics has decided if you can not beat them join them.

So now we too have a sports academy where children go to try and be Olympic champions. Sacrificing their childhoods on the altar of a diving championship.

The children are home schooled, the parents are uprooted, everything is done in the name of victory.

And I don’t blame the American athletes. This is what it takes to win now that the Chinese have raised the bar in terms of training.

I just wish that an authoritarian state that had no concern for the lives of it’s citizens was not forcing the rest of us to be as heartless…

Add comment August 22nd, 2008

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