The Olympics are fun for fans, as we get to watch some sports we don’t normally see. I’ve enjoyed water polo, handball, swimming, and table tennis, and last night, found myself drawn to sport climbing. Sport climbing (when athletes run up a wall while attached to a harness in about 6-10 seconds) is a new Olympic sport along with karate, skateboarding, and surfboarding. All of these latest additions bring the total to 33 sports being competed in Tokyo. This also includes baseball and softball which returned after being out of…
Category Archives: Olympics
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What is a Sport?
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“I’m Really Good at Hiding My Emotions”
Continue ReadingAs the USA’s best male swimmer, Caeleb Dressel entered the Olympics with hype, high expectations, and pressure to carry on the legacy of Michael Phelps. The 24-year-old undeniably delivered by winning five gold medals, setting records, and swimming the 50-meter freestyle without even taking a breath. Despite accomplishing what he set out to do and proving he’s the best male swimmer in the world, Dressel made these eye-opening comments following the completion of his six events: “I’m really glad to be done. It’s not an easy week at all. I…
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What Olympians Do
Continue ReadingAs this year’s Olympics start up, some of the key USA athletes to watch include Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel in swimming, Simon Biles in gymnastics, Kevin Durant in basketball, and Erriyon Knighton in track. We love the Olympics because all the top athletes from around the world represent their country and compete in 339 events in 33 sports during an intensified short time frame. The most memorable moments oftentimes take place in a tight competition or a close finish. We enjoy seeing a winner decided in the final seconds…
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Plunging Down an Ice Track of Sin
Continue ReadingSkeleton is one of the craziest and most attention-grabbing Olympic sports to watch. To think that these athletes are willing to jump on a small sled headfirst, and zoom down a frozen track at 80 miles per hour with forces up to 5 G’s, is mind-boggling. When watching these athletes compete in this ridiculously dangerous sport, I can’t help but wonder why they would willingly subject themselves to the possibility of a major mishap. It’s overwhelming to think about what could happen to these guys while blasting down a Skeleton…
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We’re Drawn to Stories
Continue ReadingThe Winter Olympics are in full swing, and even though most of the showcased events are niche sports, large audiences are still tuning in each night. There’s a slew of figure skating fans who love watching a sport similar to dancing…and extreme sports fans are certainly drawn to the coverage of snowboarding, skiing, luge, and skeleton. We all try to like (and understand) curling and believe it’s one sport we could actually do. The truth is, the majority of people turning on the Olympics are more drawn to the individual…
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Lyin’ Ryan
Continue ReadingThe 2016 Olympics in Rio have officially ended. Overall, fans were entertained by the wide range of exciting events, the US achieved great success by winning 121 medals, and many athletes experienced happiness while making their dreams came true. Unfortunately, with all of the memorable moments making Olympic history, swimmer Ryan Lochte stole the most headlines. I’m sure you’ve heard the bizarre story by now – the fake one and the real one. Originally, Lochte and his teammates reported they were robbed at gunpoint. However, after authorities dug deeper, details revealed the group was actually forced to pay for damages that…
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Pushing Bolt to Gold
Continue ReadingLast night, Jamaican track star, Usain Bolt, won his third straight 200-meter Olympic gold medal and his 8th career gold medal. When watching Bolt race, he dominates the field of runners while making it seem so easy. Canadian runner, Andre De Grasse, is a rising star who has developed a nice friendship and rivalry with Bolt. They had a great race in the semifinal of the 200-meter where De Grasse forced Bolt to step up his game and let him know he was right behind him. After the race, De Grasse said, “I had to push him a little bit, you…
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Overlooking Opponents
Continue ReadingThe USA Men’s Basketball team entered the Olympics as the clear favorite to take home the gold medal. Steph Curry and LeBron James aren’t playing, but the team is still stacked with elite NBA players and high expectations are understood. With so much talent on the roster, it was believed they would blow away the competition and dominate the rest of the world. However, despite the deep confidence the USA players and most onlookers had for the team’s success, they have struggled and shown vulnerability. USA only beat Serbia and France by three…
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Olympic Rest
Continue ReadingThe Olympics have proven to be excellent so far – with captivating events and intense finishes. When I take a step back to consider the commitment and effort these athletes demonstrate to compete at this level, it’s remarkable. Their dedication and sacrifice are greatly evident. It’s also clear that when these athletes finish a race or the Olympics end for them personally, they are absolutely exhausted. They’ve given all they have and are extremely drained. US swimmer, Ryan Lochte, recently confirmed this after his final race: “I need a break, mentally and physically.” He later said, “I…
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Synchronized Living
Continue ReadingI have great memories of spending my summers at the pool as a swimmer, lifeguard, and coach. Although I’ve been on a diving board countless times, I hate to admit I’ve never been able to do a flip. With this fundamental feat out of my reach, I’m blown away when I watch what the Olympic divers do in the air. I’m especially impressed with synchronized diving – a must-see if you haven’t already watched this extraordinary event. Seeing two people dive, flip, twist, and land in the water at the same time is astonishing! It’s hard enough to…
