Olympic Fever

First Men's baseball and now soccer! We lost a qualifying game to Mexico and now there will be no US men's Soccer team in the Olympics. To be fair, the entire team is under 23 years of age which means it's a REALLY young team! Well, better luck next 4 years.

I contend that Ice Dancing is not a sport, but an artform. Discuss!

jenny thompson kicks butt in nyc

from the article:

For the first time in her career--to her recollection--Jenny Thompson was ushered out of a swim meet with the crowd chanting her name.

Thompson certainly gave them something to cheer about.

Swimming in her adopted hometown, the three-time Olympian had another stellar night of swims, taking her New York World Cup stop tally to four-for-four. Thompson book-ended the night with wins in the first event, and the last. After winning the 100m free (overtaking Finland's Hanna-Maria Seppala to win in 53.63), Thompson led a 1-2-3 sweep of the 50m fly to end the night (26.04).

The swim could be Thompson's last major meet in New York, as the most decorated female Olympian in American history is set to retire following the 2004 World Championships in October.

"I'm more lighthearted with my swimming now," said Thompson. "I know my future is in medicine and I'm just enjoying my last hurrah."

According to the Athens Olympic site, "synchronised swimming is one of only three Olympic disciplines in which only women are allowed to compete (the other two being rhythmic gymnastics and Softball)." However, there is a US male listed as an athlete for the summer games: Bill May who will be competing with a female partner in the duet competition. So...which is correct? You'd think the official Athens site would be right but then why on earth would Bill May be listed as an athlete? I'm confused.

Iraq elects new Olympic committee for Summer Olympics - KATU 2 - Portland, Oregon

from the article:

Iraqis hope the committee will pave the way for the IOC to lift the suspension in time for the country to compete at the Aug. 13-29 Olympics in Athens.

According to the Athens Olympic site:

An Olympic sport must be "widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents, and by women in at least 40 countries and on three continents".

So Trampoline gymnastics must be more popular than I knew! In case you care, the "new" sport for the upcoming Olympics is women's wrestling! I think that might be very cool as long as they are not in bikinis or jello. ;)

I would like to know when Trampoline Gymnastics became an official Olympic sport. Trampoline Gymnastics and not golf? Who makes these decisions? Personally, I think bowling should be in there. Then I could say I have an Olympic athlete's body! ;)

from the official United States Olympic Committee site: Chris Witty to take a break from cycling to focus on speedskating. Chris says:

“My heart is simply not in the sport of cycling at the moment and to make the kind of commitment and sacrifice it takes to be a successful athlete in an Olympic year, you have to love what you’re doing. I appreciate the support and opportunity to ride for the U.S. National Team and Team T-Mobile, but I’ve decided to turn my attention to my true passion.”

She is one of a handful of athletes to compete in both the winter and summer games. I would have loved to see her compete and take a cycling medal. However, one must respect her being honest with herself and her team.

For me, her bouncing back from mono to win the gold in the 1000m longtrack sppedskating event in the 2002 winter games was the highlight - especially after listening to the announcers pretty much say she didn't stand a chance. She is a favorite athlete of mine. I have an autographed photo of her in my office. She has a great easy-going attitude, and a seemingly effortless style - but beyond that is a great competitor. I wish her all the best.