Athletics
If people were shocked to see a Caucasian winning the men’s 400m last week, they should have seen the women’s 10,000m. One athlete was quoted as saying after the 400m, “I’ve never seen a white man run so fast.” Well, I’ve never seen a Chinese win a running competition at the Olympics either. In an event dominated from the start by 3 Ethiopians and 1 Kenya-born Dutch, she sure stood out as she clung to the leading pack. When she surged forward with just half a lap to go, I near dropped my breakfast muffin. She won easily. I wish I could hear what the Ethiopians had to say after that race.
Diving
There is no question who was the star of the diving pool. For perhaps the first time in 2 Olympics, Malaysia is in the spotlight. Of course much of that probably had to do with the fact that Bryan Nickson is just 4 feet 6 inches tall, 14 years old, 30 kgs, and really cute. Like, in the small boy kinda way. But another major part of it was the fact that he missed qualifying for the semifinals of the 10m platform by just 1 position. 1?!! I was devastated. And how do I know he’s finally made it? Channel 7 not only showed his dives, the studio commentator actually mentioned him. For like, 2 whole sentences. If you’ve been watching Channel 7′s coverage of the Olympics, you’ll know what a great achievement that is.
I miss cable.
Other breakfast highlights:
The pole-vaulter who well, pole-vaulted over the bar and missed the landing cushion or whatever you call that thingamajig completely. I mean, completely. The poor man could still walk after that, but that has got to hurt something awful.
Rhythmic gymnastics. It takes a special kind of person to be able to bend herself into all kinds of absolutely the weirdest positions, while constantly twirling a 6 metre long ribbon, and with a smile on her face. And the choreography is so, so creative. Ya, it needs a special kind of person to be able to come up with all that too.
The women’s 4x100m relay. The US won so convincingly in the semifinals, I can’t believe they didn’t manage to pass the baton in time.
Did I mention that I really miss cable?
