Oh, Olympics! YAY!

[arabian]

Caught up on some of the Olympics -- still have a few more hours to go, but wanted to jot down some thoughts ... So here goes:

I'd actually had no intention of watching this, just planned on fast-forwarding through it, but the sight of Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania in the lead caught my attention. And it was so worth watching. She just ran an amazing marathon. It never ceases to amaze me how emotional I (and many others) can get watching sports event, and especially the Olympics. It really does come down to seeing someone who could be just an ordinay human being doing something extraordinary. And that's what Tomescu-Dita did here. She took that lead early and she just kept it. I'm in awe. WOW!

Yay!!! He did it (okay, they did it, go USA), but eight for eight, Olympic history. GO PHELPS!!!!!!!! Again, I was on feet, cheering it on and I yelped with joy when Lezak touched first again. So exciting. So very, very exciting!!!

Comments

[hiddeneloise.livejournal.com]

It really does come down to seeing someone who could be just an ordinay human being doing something extraordinary.

I have to say, I wouldn't call any of these people ordinary. They are possessed of special abilities, recognize them from early on, and persist in honing them for decades. The very draw of these sporting events is in watching extraordinary people display their superhuman gifts, skills, and achievements. I think. :)


And that's what Tomescu-Dita did here. She took that lead early and she just kept it. I'm in awe. WOW!

It's worth noting that she did that in several previous olympics. And many more other marathon events. Except for keeping it to the end part. She'd pull ahead, by a lot, recognizing that it's her only chance to get away from the unrelenting Kenyans. She'd gamble, and she would almost make it. But not quite. She'd run out of steam at the end, and one or several people would overtake her. Marathon is one grueling athletic discipline where age is not necessarily a handicap. It's not that she's gained experience. She had plenty before. And she's been using the same strategy year after year after year. There's a thin line between a crazy person, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different result, and a person with only one usable strategy and an undying hope that, with enough stamina built, it'll eventually pay off. Hard to call her crazy given the pay off did materialize. LOL.

[arabian.livejournal.com]

I know they're not ordinary, that's the point ... they COULD be. They could be any Joe Schmoe or Jane Schane on the street, but they have pushed themselves, spent most of their lives trying to be more. That was my point.

I know Tomescu-Dita did, they talked about it a lot in the commentary, but it was still amazing to watch it happen at the Olympics where she had never succeeded.

[harper47.livejournal.com]

I know. It's just a moment out of time where people are just people. I cheered as much for Constantina as I did for the America women who won the 8 oars thing. Especially because the announcers kept saying she could burn out, she did this before and failed. And I wanted her to just rub it in their faces that she wasn't going to fail. Yea Constantina!

And Phelps. Well, we've already talked about how there are just no words for what he did. This was his destiny. Luck stayed with him (that fingernail win in the 100 - wow!). He had heart and humility and drive and dedication and it truly was a moment out of time.

[arabian.livejournal.com]

It really is awesome how overwhelmed we can be and so moved by amazing feats done by people we don't know, but there you go ... that's humanity! :D

(Squee!! Calvin & Hobbes!! Best comic EVER!!!!)