Reasons I'm in love with our Olympians

[xiphias]

First, let me express my love for the American women's gymnastics team.

Okay, there's McKayla Maroney's vault. I've watched it over and over again, and I STILL can't see the wires that MUST be there. Either that, or it's CGI.

Note the bit where the one judge's jaw drops open.

That's why Buzzfeed just put together a post about Maroney's awesomeness. It's adorable.

Then there's Aly Raisman's parents being all "parents watching their kid play sports".

But the OTHER adorable thing is how they've been reacting to all this. On Twitter. Celebrities have been tweeting about how awesome they are, and they've been tweeting back.

Okay, so that's gymnastics. Let me now express my love for another local: Kayla Harrison, who lives one town north of me. She has One Of Those Stories -- sexually abused as a child by her judo coach, worked through it, and became the United States' best hope for our very first gold medal in judo.

Which she did.

And in another sport, I dare you to not be amazed by Rafalca and Jan Ebling. Mitt Romney said that he wasn't even going to bother being there to see his wife's horse compete. You should follow that link and see what he missed. He oughta have been there. ANY of you who are even a LITTLE bit horse-people? You're going to love that. Any of you who AREN'T even a little horsey? You will be after watching that.

And that only nabbed them thirteenth place! There were twelve EVEN BETTER than that.

Okay, so that's the Americans. Let me throw a little Australian love out there, too:
Here's Australian diver Matthew Mitcham showing that he's got artistic talent as well as athletic:

Oh, and let me ALSO throw some love over to British weightlifter Zoe Smith who absolutely ripped a bunch of Twitter sexist assholes to shreds.

'Cause, love.

Also, Mexican gymnast Elsa Garcia used the music from Legend of Zelda for her floor routine.

Okay, that's enough love for now, I guess.

Comments

[cheshyre]

Also, Gabby Douglas has become the first black individual all-around gymnastics gold medalist in the Olympics

And on their way to the Olympics, the US Swim Team filmed their own video of "Call Me Maybe"

[bercilakslady.livejournal.com]

Really, I should have read your comment before posting mine.

[bercilakslady.livejournal.com]

Went poking through links, and found the USA swim team's video of Call Me Maybe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPIA7mpm1wU

[gingicat]

According to this week's Jewish Advocate, Aly Raisman is the first Jewish American woman to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

[danceboy.livejournal.com]

According to wikipedia Sarah Hughes managed it in 2002. I don't know that she was the first, but she does seem to have done it before Ms. Raisman.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

I saw the Hava Nagila gymnastics floor routine - any more story about who that was? (TV was on)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

This is a lot of love, all so well deserved and hard earned!

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this.

I loved Rafalca and Jan Ebeling; there were a few bobbles but that horse did what she's trained to do, and so there. I am not at all impressed with Mitt for basically dismissing this all as his wife's little hobby.

BTW... I have met Ann Romney; she had horses at a barn where I took lessons while Feronia was lame. She seemed nice enough. I am pretty sure that Rafalca was at this barn, too, for a few months anyway, and Rafalca was a hosebeast bitch... But horses who perform at this level are, um, personalities.

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

Did you see any of the synchronized diving? Seriously impressive.

I am always astounded by the gymnastics. I must be getting crotchety, though, I'm starting to get a judge's eye.

[rebmommy.livejournal.com]

fun post - thanks for sharing it

[penguineggs.livejournal.com]

Large numbers of British people have discovered the joys of dressage through turning on the TV purely to see someone - anyone - beat Mitt Romney's wife's horse.

[tober.livejournal.com]

One more that should be in your compendium:

China's Lu Xiaojun snatches 175kg (~386 pounds), a world and Olympic record. His form is practically perfect.

[seventorches.livejournal.com]

Plus I think Zoe Smith is TOTALLY HOT.

[mangosteen]

I've been passively ignoring the Olympics, mostly because they seem unwatchable unless you have a TiVO. That being said, it has been great to see the video clips showing some pretty amazing things.

Still don't understand the whole horse thing, though.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

I don't own a TV and haven't figured out how to watch on the iPad, and haave been at work so much it'd be over 3g anyway. so happy to see some of the olympics here at my parents' house.