Olympic Randomness

**Edited and updated to add this story about Michael Phelps. Thanks so much to one of the readers for sharing this because I think that perhaps this is a bigger accomplishment than a gold medal.  THIS is the kind of young man that you want representing our country, one showing his compassion and strength of heart.

Peyton has decided she’d like to swim in the Olympics someday.  But on the men’s team…because they “win lots of necklaces”. Yes, that’s right, baby, it’s all about the bling.

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I will admit to acting like an absolute maniac when during the US Men’s 4×100 relay when they so totally snatched the gold from the French.  If you’re French, I’m sorry for this next thing I’m going to say (not really).  IN YOUR FACE, FRANCE!  I don’t think the Olympics should be about talking smack, but if you’re going to do it, make sure it’s not against someone who can outswim you in the last 50 feet.

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Rachael and I watched some of the qualifications for the women’s hurdles.  Being Rachael, she asked, “Wouldn’t it just be easier if they took those things out of the way?”

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I want to sit down at a table and talk to these commentators who feel the need to ask things like, “So, what happened out there?” to people whose answers could very well be, “Well, let’s see, I went out there as the best in my country to do something .0000001% of the population could make their bodies do.  I tried my hardest. I got a silver medal.  Now SHOVE OFF for trying to make it sound like a failure!”

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Nathaniel was horrified to find out these two bits of Olympic trivia his first day back at school…1) The original Olympians were naked….2) A dead guy got an Olympic medal once. He explained that a wrestler got a guy in a hold that caused him to have his own windpipe blocked and he choked to death, but his hold on his opponent was so strong that the guy tapped out and they gave the gold medal to the deceased.  I have no idea if that’s true, but it’s fascinating for a 10-year-old boy to contemplate.  Nathaniel is having some serious issues with the naked sports…which, I can’t blame him…but mostly because he thinks having “everything just flopping out there while you’re trying to play volleyball or rowing a boat would be distracting.”  I love that kid’s logic! I’d be more worried about the chafing, but that’s just me.

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I’m only going to say it once more during this Olympics…Michael Phelps is HAWT!  Love my Petey, but sheesh!  Don’t worry, he’s been ogling the women’s volleyball team with impure thoughts.

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Last thing, I wanted to share the story of silver medalist Oksana Chusovitina.  Her son was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 3, and she went to the Olympics wearing Germany’s colors because that is the country she had to move to for him to receive treatment.  There’s nothing you won’t do for your kids. EVER.  I will say that when there have been days that I can barely make myself get up and brush my teeth, let small accomplishments like laundry or toilet-cleaning….and this woman still managed to train for the Olympics. Wow. Double WOW!  She probably doesn’t want to be thought of in terms of “the cancer mom that won an Olympic medal”, but in my mind, she’s the “cancer mom that proves you can still achieve your goals, even when childhood cancer comes into your life.”  Silver medal WOW.