Olympic Excitement

Normally in life I don't care about sports, athletes, athleticism, strength, ability, or anything else related to competing in any sport. But when the Olympic games come around, I'm suddenly a sports fan. I've been looking forward to these Beijing Summer Games for at least a year now, hoping for some spectacle as shocking as gymnast Paul Hamm coming back from a terrible fall (on the judge's table!) to win the gold in 2004.

This year, of course, it's all about swimmer Michael Phelps. He's a juggernaut, after all. As I write this there's only one event for which he doesn't hold the world record in swimming. And he's just surpassed Mark Spitz's 1972 record for most gold medals. Some of his prowess is due to a very fortunate gene pool, but most of his success has to do with rigorous training, discipline, and talent, I'm sure. Not bad for a 23-year old kid.

Also we have gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, 16 and 18, respectively, with similar levels of talent and discipline (if not yet the shelf-ful of gold medals to show for it). Again, just kids with incredible abilities and opportunities.

So I guess this is why I get turned on to sports during the Olympics...it seems so much more exciting than sports at any other time. I don't really get wrapped up in the competitive aspect of it; I just like to watch the individuals perform. (Even during the Olympics I don't spend much time on the team sports). Watching the swimmers or the gymnasts (or even the trampolinists - if that's what you call them) just feels like art.