A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I wasn’t the least bit excited about the Olympics. After reading comments from those of you who gave me some really good reasons to watch, I have embraced the Olympics and am even watching men’s swimming as I write this!
On a completely shallow note, it’s not like I have some deep-rooted interest in swimming. I just like looking at these guys. I could watch them read the phone book, and in the case of my beloved Ryan Lochte, I don’t even know if he can do that. All I know is, he must be pretty special for me to overlook his ridiculous diamond grill.
Another reason I’m digging the Olympics, of course, is the accomplishments made by these people. You can’t help but stare at these athletes and appreciate the years they have devoted to their sport while balancing family life, or school, or other obligations, and that has made watching various events worthwhile. In some cases, like the teens on the winning U.S. women’s gymnastics team, it’s exciting to think about what they’re going to do in the future, and how awesome it must feel to be a gold medalist when you’re still in high school.
As much as I am digging some events, others leave me cold. Beach volleyball is a snooze fest, as is the bicycle racing. On the other hand, I find rowing to be far more exciting than I thought, and the same with water polo.
The best thing to come out of the Olympics is it’s really getting me motivated to be more active. I was always playing outside as a child and was on the varsity tennis team all through high school. But during college, I found myself putting the racket down, and I never picked it up again. Now at 27, I am nowhere close to being in as good shape as I was during my non-stop tennis days, but I am now determined to get out there and play again, and I’ll be dragging my soccer-playing 10-year-old niece with me.
Is anyone else enjoying the Olympics for the first time like I am? What’s been your favorite event so far? Who are you rooting for? And let me just say this now: if the comments section turned into a pic spam of oh, I don’t know, Ryan Lochte and other hot swimmers from around the world, I wouldn’t mind.
11 replies on “The Olympics Aren’t So Bad After All”
I found myself watching the weightlifting- particularly the women’s weightlifting events. It’s amazing to me to see a 117 pound woman lifting 289 pounds over her head. Damn. I always like watching the gymnastics. I caught some of the women’s shooting competition where Kim Rhode won her fifth medal, hitting 99 out of 100 targets. I initially found the fencing and judo to be boring but it grew on me. I’m looking forward to watching the track and field stuff now!
And okay, I pretty much root seriously for the women and lick my lips for the men, but oh well! I decided that the Chilean gymnast Enrique Tomas Gonzalez Sepulveda is my Olympics Future Husband.
The guy has a moustache, a silver hoop earring, and a cute little run when he vaults. I’m in love.
Zoe Smith rocks my socks:
I am usually not into mustaches, but I am totally digging his! And yay for Kim Rhode, who trains in the city I live in (or at least does some of her training…somehow, she is connected to a shooting range here!).
This remains my favourite:
(that is British diver Tom Daley – there’s a whole host of gifs here, possibly not all SFW)
Also: Gabby Douglas was awesome! What I loved was that she nearly always looked like she was having fun.
That gif is mesmerizing! And I love Gabby! You’re right, she always looks like she is having a great time.
I have seen a Speedos version of it:)
I’ll just leave this here…

Also, if anyone can teach me real quick how to do the spoiler thing, I’ve got another that’s maybe NSFW…
I think it’s [ spoiler ] and [ /spoiler ] without the spaces.
Like so
[spoiler] spoilery stuff [/spoiler]
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
That’s hilarious!
Um, you are completely and totally awesome! Keep ’em coming everyone! :)