. . . 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.
