Synchro swimming goes gangsta
They marched onto the deck at the Water Cube in costumes embroidered with a menacing cartoon character across the front and back, his cap backward and carrying a stick in a threatening manner.
August 22, 2008
Beach Gold
The 12,200-seat venue was packed, the dancers in bikinis jiggled to rock music and the players pressed on without concern for the weather.
He was going onto the horizontal bar and trying a "crazy" routine (his description) that he had performed, well, never. Not in practice or in competition. Having broken his nose on the bar a few months ago, Horton knew all too well how much of a risk he was taking.
The reward? Horton won a silver medal, second to China's Zou Kai, capping a surprisingly good Olympics for a U.S. men's team that lost stars Paul and Morgan Hamm to injuries just before the Games.
August 19, 2008
Friendly rivalry
Olympic gold medal is not something to be shared, no matter how close the friends.
I don’t know if Michael Phelps is better than Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali or Michael Jordan. And because Wilt Chamberlain stands over Jordan, I don’t know if he’s better than Wilt.
August 14, 2008
Politics interrupt Olympics
In a bikini version of real-life conflict, the Georgian and Russian women’s beach volleyball teams met in the sand Wednesday, and underdog Georgia squeaked out a victory in three sets to the delight of the Chinese crowd.
But animosity boiled over after the match, when the Russian competitors refused to acknowledge that their side actually lost to Georgia.
Alexandra Shiryaeva, one of the two Russian players, sneered that both Georgian players are native-born Brazilians who only recently obtained Georgian passports so they could play in the Olympics.
“They don’t even know who the Georgian president is, how can you call them Georgians? They are Brazilians and that is who we played against today,” Shiryaeva said.
Her partner on the sand patch, Natalia Uryadova, echoed her feelings: “We’re not actually playing against the Georgian team.”
Georgian Volleyball Federation President Levan Akhvlediani called the Russians “bad losers” and said the 21-10, 20-22, 12-15 victory for his nation’s team was “wonderful for the Georgian people.”
August 14, 2008
Olympic roundup: China dominates Phelps-less day
Michael Phelps finally had a breather, a day to sit and count his gold medals instead of trying to add to his collection. There was no slowing the Chinese, though.
From getting their first swimming gold in a world-record time to a long-awaited gold in men's gymnastics to golden redemption for a shooter, the hosts continued to amaze. With five more golds Thursday, their Olympic tally is up to 22.
China's winning percentage is ridiculous - more than 1 in every 4 events. If the Chinese can somehow keep it up, they would claim 78 golds - the most by any country in a non-boycotted games since 1904, back when tug-of-war was still on the docket.
It was only a couple of years ago - back before the local dealership gave 16-year-old Shawn the red Land Rover LR2, before the local businessman leant her his private jet, before reporters from publications nationwide gasped in delight upon finding out a huge scoop. Shawn's - lean in close - prom dress was... yellow!
It was before Teri and Shawn went to the local supermarket together and Shawn came face-to-face with a Coca-Cola advertisement of herself.
Like any teenager would, she ran outta there, lest anyone catch her looking.
If these Beijing Games go as she hopes, Johnson's going to have to get used to seeing her image everywhere.
“She has everything going for her, absolutely," gymnastics icon Mary Lou Retton said recently. "A smile and a bubbly personality - she makes gymnastics fun to watch."
August 12, 20082 Photos
Games not same, but drama remains
Quickly, name all the Olympians over the past dozen or so years that became, at least for a while, transcendent stars in this country.
Olympic roundup: China dominates Phelps-less day
Michael Phelps finally had a breather, a day to sit and count his gold medals instead of trying to add to his collection. There was no slowing the Chinese, though.
Expectations are high for gymnast Shawn Johnson
BEIJING - It's easy for Doug and Teri Johnson to remember when their daughter wasn't the IT girl.
