Enjoy! Call Of The Champions http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RFN1CFS2 Olympic Fanfare & Theme http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LBKJ2YE0 Olympic Spirit http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SHNFPSFB Summon The Heroes http://www.megaupload.com/?d=630PP616
No, becasue that's how it's always done. the second fastest-qualifier in the trials swims the preliminary, and the winner of the individual event swims in the final. In fact, two years ago, Phelps was the second-fastest qualifier in the trials for the butterfly leg, and swam in the Prelims, and then he beat Crocker in the actual Olympic race, giving him the right to swim in the final as well, but he gave up his spot to Crocker to allow him the chance at the Gold. How is that interesting? He has to swim every event, not just 8? He's not a long-distance swimmer; that's an entirely different specialty. You mean like he did this year, backing up his wins in those events in 2004? He has already said that he's planning on changing focus in training to sprints after this year, becasue he wants to do something new. Because that's how it's done. It both a) gives more people a chance to comete and medal (since the prelim swimmers get medals as well) and b) reduces the number of overall swims for everyone, allowing them to remain in top form. So, in 16 years, he would be 39, and would have competed in 7 Olympics (this is his 3rd). Which no swimmer has ever even come close to. Whata completely fucking unreasonable standard to set. It was, and the other guy basically committed and error by going for the wall too early. If he had had a decent finish, he would have won, so it was a combination of luck and Phelps putting himself in the position to take advantage of the error. Well done for her! She broke the oldest standing record in swimming too.
Anyone know where I can find the music for when the medals are handed out? I heard its a chinese song reworked.
I just watched Men's Water Polo -- the US upset Croatia (apparently, it's epic) and the Croatian team looked...vaguely gay. The mustache, the chest hair, the helmets and the speedos. Trampoline is on now -- and really? This is sport. Almost as surreal as racewalking as a sport. As for Phelps, also take into account his dominance between 2004-2008 in other competitive events and there is a pretty good case for his dominance -- the Olympics just cements it for the general public who only pays attention ever 4 years. I understand the media fatigue (cause NBC has been ridiculous) but his achievements tower among many in his field today and put among the all-time elite. -nobody
Originally Posted by Emh Is anyone else bugged by the fact that Phelps didn't compete in any of the heats or semis for that? He's just swimming in the final. Seems a bit lame to me. Thank you. I was pretty sure that's how it was done, and I remember him giving up a spot to Crocker. I'm saddened at this urge some have to put Phelps down. What did he do wrong? Train like a slave to accomplish his goals? Seems pretty admirable to me. How often do we chastise young people for being lazy and wasting their gifts? God gavd him a body that was perfectly designed for swimming and he took advantage of his blessings.
I never said I had a problem with Phelps: ... Yeah, I knew about Phelps giving up his spot for Crocker. I meant (and I admit I wasn't clear on this) that I think it's weird (or lame, take your pick) that it's not the same team the whole way through in any situation, rather they're given the option to switch swimmers. Okay, I thought this was his only second Olympics. Change that to 8, 12 years. I'm covering five Olympics because I remember one of the commentators (not necessarily in swimming but possibly during some other event) mention someone who had won gold (or maybe it was just medals in general) in five Olympics. Either way, I still think longevity is still a key factor in calling an athlete great.
How many Olympics do swimmers usually compete in? I honestly have no idea. I know there's a 39 year old this year (I think in swimming, but I can't really remember), but that seems like the exception, not the rule.
^Emh, the British rower Sir Steven Redgrave competed at five Olympics and won five Golds and a bronze.
So will I have to get through Trampoline the same time History is occuring tonight just to get to damn Michael Phelps? Good lord, even I could do Trampoline and maybe even get a medal. How did this become an olympic sport. How I wish we had sports like Rally Car, Any of the Moto X (Step-up) sports from the X-Games, or street skateboarding or something. Anything of that is so much better than Trampoline.
SI has put up the frame-by-frame of Phelps' finish in the 100m butterfly. It's pretty incredible to see. Media be damned, how did he pull this off? -nobody
Key word as in rowing is a tough sport? Cavic glided (I guess he thought he'd definitely got it seeing as Phelps was definitely behind for the entire race), Phelps threw himself at the wall.
Well, my point being that if you look at longevity for an athlete, compare it to others in the same sport.
Mhm, but winning medals at 5 Olympics is extraordinary in any case - competing on a world class level for 20 years, is something that only few people can achieve in any sport.
Steve Redgrave's achievements throughout his rowing career is really something. Especially all those wins at the Worlds and Henley.
That is nuts!! I haven't been paying too much attention to the Olympics, but I did hear about that finish. However, I was blowing it off as "another close finish". However, that was down-right incredible!
Is there any way on God's green earth that someone on the West Coast of the US can watch the Phelps race live?