. . . I've got the Olympic Spirit.As a cyclist, I'd enjoyed Nicole Cooke's win in the women's cycling road race, but I'd happily avoided pretty much everything else . . . right up until Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny and Jamie Staff won the team sprint gold medal on Friday. From then on I've been shouting at the tv all weekend. The men's coxless four in the rowing, Rebecca Adlington in the swimming pool, Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins, Rebecca Romero and Wendy Houvenaghel in the velodrome, and Ben Ainslie in the sailing. They've all experienced my vociferous armchair patriotism.
GO GB! GO GB!
I have to say, again as a cyclist, Britain absolutely kicks ass in the world of the bicycle. We're absolutely dominating the Olympic track cycling events, with potentially more gold medals to come, but even outside the games themselves, we rule. The men's, women's and men's junior downhill mountain bike World Champions are all Brits, and I still cannot believe that, what I consider to be, one of the most exciting and impressive world sports ISN'T included in the Olympics. Downhill mountain bike racing is, quite frankly, fucking incredible to watch, just cast your eyes over this clip of Britain's Gee Atherton becoming a God if you don't believe me.
Also, what can you say about Usain Bolt?
With a healthy porn addiction, it's not the first time I've been impressed by a big black man, but his 100 metres final was one of the most jaw-dropping spectacles of the games so far. He backed off with 10 metres to go and still annihilated the world record. When the day comes when he really goes for a world record time, I think it'll be a time that will stand for decades.
Vive le Sport!
P.S. - I've recently received a new Nokia N95 mobile phone, and while it's an incredible little bit of kit, it's quite clearly a bad thing to have when you're in the pub. I give you exhibit A and exhibit B.
6 comments:
I've yet to grasp it fully. Any time I've sat down this week and flicked over to the Olympics I've been hooked and can't watch enough, but I'm not finding myself drawn to the TV just to watch it.
Maybe I should make the effort to watch more TV.
I must admit, being 3rd in the medals list has got my juices flowing a little bit.
I can't believe what is happening to Britain in the Olympics. I'm still welling up watching our East London lass sprint to the finish in the 400m. I don't bother with sport normally, but I do love the Olympics.
I think all the money ploughed in to sport is paying off and the fact we're hosting it soon has given everyone a psychological boost.
How'd you get those beer bottles to stick in your head like devil horns?
Empress - Much as I'm against London hosting the 2012 Olympics, I have to agree that it's great to see our men and women doing so well.
Dr.Ken - We used The Force.*
*Actually it's just someone out of shot holding them.
The Usain Bolt thing was one of the most incredible things I have seen in sports--with a couple meters to go, he thumps his chest and still makes a world record in a highly contested category.
Oh, and it's good to see the USA doing so well in volleyball.
That way douchebags who wear wifebeaters and baseball caps backwards can have their own sport and won't compete for my grownup job.
Post a Comment