Attention, attention, attention.....spoiler alert. If you don't know the results of the ladies gymnastic team event, turn down your sound and/or look away now. The USA won the gold medal, and what a large medal it was.
Hey.....you can come back now.
By now I'm sure that anyone who cares about such things knows the five American girls won gold, and good for them. The last team to do this was in Atlanta in 1996.
I can't imagine the pressure on these mostly tiny athletes. As the camera pans to the parents of these kids I'm thinking better to be the do-er than the watch-er. A mother of one of the girls, festooned with enough bracelets to start her own carnival ring toss, was squirming in her seat so much it looked like she had ants in her pants. A mom and dad of another were holding their breath while their daughter was on the balance beam. They may have set a worlds record, if such things were measured.
For the "Fierce Five" or the "Fab Five" or whatever nickname the media has given them, life will never be the same. They are now and forever, Olympic Champions.
Every day I lose a little more integrity. I don't like this expression but I'm using it, It's all good, or is it? I did not watch the ladies gymnastic qualifying rounds. I also did not watch much of the men's team events. Wanda said watching the men was "painful." I'm writing from memory, from what I heard while watching the ladies team last night. I don't know much about gymnastics and what is expected of the team players. This morning I did a little research.
There are five women on the team. They compete as a team and also as individuals. The top two from the qualification round compete in the all-around. Each competitor does his or her routine on each apparatus. The high score from each are awarded medals. Then the individual scores from each apparatus are totaled and the three high combined scores win the gold, silver, and bronze individual all around, got it?
One of the favorites for the all around gold medal from the US team did not qualify to compete. She was awarded the gold medal for her participation in the team event but will sit out the rest of the competition. One of the announcers last night talked about how hurt and upset she was, how she went "from the abyss to the mountain top," after winning the team gold medal.
Like I said, I don't know much about gymnastics. I have never been in a mind numbing all out body wrenching competition. So, I truly have no clue what that athlete must have felt. But, I think the abyss to the mountain top may have been a tad over dramatic.
The team is portrayed as close knit. The girls are good friends. Along with the frustration and disappointment of missing the chance to compete as an individual I'm sure she is supporting the girls that are.
All this gym and Olympic talk has me very excited.
The beginning of July I got serious about loosing a few pounds. I have never gained weight on a cruise vacation. I'm not going to on the next one. On the ship I do eat more but I exercise more as well. I wore a pedometer on one cruise. I walked between five and seven miles a day. I'd like to drop five pounds before we leave for Alaska.
I use a Wii Fit Plus for the majority of my work outs. I'm able to keep my mind off the torture. This morning I did forty minutes of step aerobics while watching TV. At my age exercise is really important. The less I can think about doing it, the better. This morning I got great news.
According to my Wii Fit, I'm only 50. Last week she said I was 26 but that's ludicrous. The Wii has several tests for strength and balance that determine Wii Fit age. I'm going to take a picture of my results just to have on hand. When the Grim Reaper comes to collect me I'll whip out that photo. "Sorry, I'll say, You're thirteen years early." If that doesn't work I'll try a few dollars and a corned beef on rye.
No comments:
Post a Comment