August 23 2008: The Olympics: Some Rambling
Filed under Asian-ness & Media
So, the Olympics. Yadda yadda, insert fangirl gushing and conspiracy theory here.
The Australian team were clearly only in Beijing to take advantage of the cheap souvenirs at the silk markets, because they obviously weren’t there to actually compete. With the exception of Stephanie Rice (three from three!), the Australian team are on the express train to the land of fail and choke. Leisel and Libby, you don’t ‘win’ silver when you’re the undisputed world champion of the particular event, and barely even scrape into the final. You chokers lose gold. Whatever happened to our rightful place as the kings and queens of the pool?
Speaking of the swimming, how ugly are the bathers/togs/swimming costumes they wear now? Full leg, full arm? Fug. I say they should bring back skimpy Speedos for men (I really don’t care about the women). I’m glad the divers still wear Speedos though. No diving competition is ever complete without some ogling of Alexandre Despatie’s crown jewels and the way they’re perfectly packaged in his skimpy budgie smugglers. I’m not drooling…much.
I didn’t watch as much of the gymnastics this year as I normally do. I did watch some faceplanting by the American women (seriously, can you do anything but laugh?), and fell a little bit in love with a Japanese male gymnast with totally pinchable cheeks. Kohei Uchimura, he’s just a boy and almost illegal! Little cutie. I could eat him up with a spoon.
China’s obviously way on top of the medal tally, and just because Western media can only paint the Chinese as bad evil people who kill and eat puppies and kittens for fun, it’s obvious that the reason China’s excelling is because they’re drug cheats. We certainly shouldn’t give those dirty yellow bastards the benefit of the doubt. I mean, it couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that there’s 1.2 billion people in the country (the probability of there being at least one person excelling at a sport just exploded), and the fact that sporting talent is spotted at a young age in China with the talented being supported by the state for the rest of their lives in special sporting academies designed to bring the best out of them. That could be logic, and we couldn’t possibly have that if we’re to demonise the country right?
Oh, and all that “OMG Michael Phelps” nonsense? I’m going to link you to two people: Lori (who was practical about the “greatest Olympian ever” nonsense) and Sarai, because she said it well - the man is not good-looking. He’s the antithesis of good-looking. He is officially fug. It’s not to say of course, that I would turn him down if he was to proposition me, because mon dios, I bet that man’s like the Energiser Bunny in the sack. He’ll just keep going and going and going and going.
Anyway, I can’t wait for the closing ceremony and all the “OMG CHINA SUX” commentary that’s bound to arise from that. Huzzah.
Holy shit, Amanda! You’re worse than those whiny Canadians that pretty much condemned their kayaker for coming last in a final where he was “MEANTS TO WIN GOLD!!!1one”. When our biggest gold medal hope (and world champ) only got bronze, there was a resounding ‘On ya, mate’ heard around the country. None of this ‘You’re a world champion, but you can’t even get a gold medal!’ shit.
The whole Olympic athlete on a pedestal thing is silly. They may have exceptional sporting talents, but they’re just normal people.
I’m disappointed with this post. *goes and cries in the corner*
Reply: I believe in doing the best in everything one does, whether it be competing in a sport on an international level, or something as mundane as attempting to perfect one’s lemon cake recipe or getting good academic scores (the latter which you should relate to as you get bitterly disappointed with your own results if you feel like they’re not up to scratch). As dominant world record holders in their respective events, the girls didn’t do the best that they were physically capable of doing - getting into a final by default is hardly ‘the best’.
Nellie on August 23 2008 #
How do you know they didn’t do their best?
I get upset with my results only when I try my best and it doesn’t pay off. There’ll be times when I don’t have to try at all and do well, but there are also times when I slip up and things don’t turn out as well. Doesn’t mean I didn’t try.
The same thing applies to Olympic athletes.
Anyway, Australia isn’t doing too bad overall so saying that the Australian team isn’t there to compete is silly. Swimming isn’t the only Olympic sport.
Nellie on August 23 2008 #
I agree with what Nellie’s said above. People forget (especially the fucking media) that a world champion is still a human being, not a robot. Other athletes can reach their level, the athlete could make a slight error they can’t recover from and other athletes might want it that little bit more.
But I definitely agree with you that any drug cheat speculation about the Chinese athletes is ludricrous. They put in the effort to get to Olympic level like all the other athletes, they’re the best at what they do and get the medals. Simple. And China aren’t very dominant in track & field. You’d think if they were using drugs to cheat, they’d let the track guys share the love as well.
Also, I agree with you about Michael Phelps. He only looks attractive when he’s wearing his swimming cap to disguise his ears and hair, and when he’s in the pool so you don’t see how freakishly out of proportion he is. I hate having to stare at that fugface all the freakin’ time.
Emily on August 24 2008 #
I didn’t mind all the Michael Phelps talk until I saw this two minutes ago:
http://celebedge.sympatico.msn.ca/Michael+Phelps+to+write+new+book+telling+story+of+historic+eight+gold+medals/ContentPostingCP3column?isfa=1&newsitemid=94890040&feedname=CP-ENTERTAINMENT&show=False&number=0&showbyline=False&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=False
Now THAT’s where it’s gone too far for me. Blegh.
Michelle on August 24 2008 #
Eff this “Olympic althetes shouldn’t be on a pedestal” shit. They Olympic Friggin’ Athletes. OF COURSE THEY SHOULD BE. Hello? Best in the world. Anybody?
On a separate note, it’s surprisingly easy to forget to breathe when you’re competing. Trust me.
Mike Haddad on August 25 2008 #