Ok, Maybe I am weird... wait hold on, let me rephrase that, I know I am a bit weird, but I love watching the U.S. Olympic trials- at least for the big four (Diving, Swimming, Track and Field, and Gymnastics) almost as much as I love watching the Olympic Games. Every two years I put my life on hold for 17 days of me balling my eyes out over a sporting competition. But, every four years, right before the summer games, I do the same thing in chunks as I watch the Olympic Trials in four sports and just fall to pieces.
Usually during this time, I watch, and then I go out side and run, bike, or other wise train myself to be mentally and physically in the games. This year, I am benched with a foot injury =( so I will have to not do that, so instead, I am going to blog my way through the trials, the build up to the games, and then the games itself. I don't expect you to become as weird and passionate about the Olympics as I am, after all I make this my life every two years- for the majority of sports. I Sang the national anthem with the athletes every time an american won since at least when I turned two and my grand ma gave me my favorite towel with the Olympic rings and that cute bald eagle mascot from the 1984 Los Angeles games. I used that towel very carefully and protectively, then hung it like a flag when it started to get thread bear. I am pretty sure i still have it somewhere, in a box. My mom instilled in me a love and passion for the Olympics, my grandma helped that along, and being a volunteer with the 2002 games in Salt Lake brought it all home.
I have pleanty of blogs ahead to go on about the history, but to give you a taste, my top ten Trial moments so far- just to wet your appetite for the coming Games.
Usually during this time, I watch, and then I go out side and run, bike, or other wise train myself to be mentally and physically in the games. This year, I am benched with a foot injury =( so I will have to not do that, so instead, I am going to blog my way through the trials, the build up to the games, and then the games itself. I don't expect you to become as weird and passionate about the Olympics as I am, after all I make this my life every two years- for the majority of sports. I Sang the national anthem with the athletes every time an american won since at least when I turned two and my grand ma gave me my favorite towel with the Olympic rings and that cute bald eagle mascot from the 1984 Los Angeles games. I used that towel very carefully and protectively, then hung it like a flag when it started to get thread bear. I am pretty sure i still have it somewhere, in a box. My mom instilled in me a love and passion for the Olympics, my grandma helped that along, and being a volunteer with the 2002 games in Salt Lake brought it all home.
I have pleanty of blogs ahead to go on about the history, but to give you a taste, my top ten Trial moments so far- just to wet your appetite for the coming Games.
10. Chris Colwill out dives Troy Dumais and Kristian Ipsen to qualify in the #1 spot for the mens 3 m individual springboard. This was awesome to me, because I watched half the diving rounds in the final (3 of 6) and I had to go to church. Kristian Ipsen seemed pretty solidly in the lead when I left, and Dumais and Colwill were battleing for second. When I got home, and found out Colwill had risen to first and Ipsen fell to third out of qualifying range, i was kind of shocked. Then I watched the rounds I missed, and his dives were a beautiful thing.
9. I saw someone in mens platform (sorry, dont know who) do a forward 4 1/2 summersault dive. It was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen in my life, and I have know Idea how that is possible, but it is a thing of beauty , and you should definately watch for it in London.
8. Troy Dumais qualified for his fourth Olympics in 2 events- individual 3 m mens, and also in the syncro, at age 32. I am 30, Thank you to all you athletes that keep going and inspiring me (more of those to come in this weeks swimming trials)
7. Ashton Eaton breaks a world record for track (in decathalon) the first one for the US since 1996, and breaks a 20 year old American record in decathalon. And watching him do it, was something supper special.
6. The most absolute dead heat closest race I have ever seen in my life!!!! the 3rd place spot for the 200 m Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh at 11.068, and they will probably have to do a run off, because its based on whos torso crosses first, and look at them- no difference. Crazy!!!! and the games haven't even begun.
5. Sad moment- Bryan Clay hit a hurdle with his hand in the decathalon and was disqualified. he pettitioned and was re qulalifed, and then botched the discus. Every trials has its sad moment where someone who you really expected to make it and go through just gets lost, and i think that was it so far.
4. Ryan Lochte hottie swimmer supreem beat THE MAN Michael Phelps in the 400 MI. Lochte is the man now. Just sayin.
3 Connor Dwyer comes from a little back, and then blows most the field out on the last 50 of the 400 IM, except Vanderkaay, who really kicks it in and wins it. It was exciting watching those two.
2. Beisel in the womens 400m IM. Can I just say that watching this was a very very exciting moment. Any time I see someone up on the field by a body length I just think its really really amazing, and it was.
1. Dana Vollmer in the 100 m Butterfly- again Sizable lead on the rest of the field, and she broke the american record. lots of records are falling in these trials, runners and swimmers are beating the field by sizable margins- body lengths in swimming, ridiculousness in track .its exciting. Get the feaver, Start watching. More swimming, more track, and soon Gymnastics to come!!!
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