Reflections on What Has Happened

Three Asian Olympics in a row.  I know I have mentioned this before, but I am having trouble handling it.  The ideal Olympics would be on the east coast of the US, with me on the west coast.  I would wake at about 6 am, I could watch everything live until about 9:30, then go to bed.  Rio was good, but still ended a little late for me.  And that was before my days started at 4:00 am (or 5 am for now.)  As I was thinking about this today, I was considering my Guidelines for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.  Guideline #1 won't change (stay strong my friends, stay strong and focused.)  But #2 may be to go full vampire.  That way you are less likely to miss anything.

Today, I was finally able to take a breath, relax and just soak in a bunch of events.  So with that, I go straight to:

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

1.  Did you see the start of the Men's Triathlon a few days ago.  There was a big boat directly in front of half the field and the starter STARTED THE RACE.  I have been a starter for swimming races.  Admittedly, not with 100 or so swimmers, just 6-8 swimmers.  The last thing you do, before you start, is check to make sure there is nothing unusual in the water.  You know, like a boat, blocking half the field.  What. was. the. starter. looking. at?  He (or she, but seriously, we all know this was some dumb guy) clearly was not looking at the water.  I really can't say this enough.  Big Boat.  Blocking half the field.  With that said, I'm not sure the guy driving the boat (again, you know this was some dumb guy) made the right decision by trying to quickly back the boat away, while the swimmers were diving in, some of whom were right behind him.  In another not great decision, the guy who decided to dive under the boat probably could be making better life decisions.  I understand your dream of winning an Olympic medal, but you can't win one, much less enjoy it, if you are stuck under a boat.

2.  They should plan the Olympic surfing competition around a tropical storm every time.  Not a hurricane, because that would be dangerous, but grey skies, big waves and some crazy currents made for a very entertaining competition.  And gold for American Carissa Moore.

3.  The 3x3 Basketball rules seem to be "no blood, no foul."  I'm not sure what gets the ref to call a foul and I'm certain the players have to be baffled whenever one is called.  There is almost as much contact in 3x3 Basketball as there is in Water Polo, which is basically a Jaws re-enactment.  I did enjoy watching and the US Women win two close and very exciting games in the semis and finals to win Gold. Just as exciting was Latvia's win in the gold medal game against Russia.  (Or the Russian Olympic Committee.)

4.  Speaking of, what kind of punishment is Russia serving.  All their athletes are competing.  All their teams are competing.  They are currently fourth in gold medals and third in total medals.  Every time I watch a US team competing, they are either playing "the ROC" or they have a game against "the ROC" sometime in the next week.  Ryan Murphy lost to two "the ROC" swimmers in the 100 back.  The ROC was in the finals of both 3x3 Basketball Tournaments.  Their punishment seems to be having to compete under a stupid name and denying the world the joys of the greatest national anthem whenever one of these people win a gold medal.  This is telling a Notre Dame student that the entire school cheated so they must be punished.  They can compete, in anything.  They can win anything.  While competing, instead of calling them the Fighting Irish, they will be called "A sporting student who attends Notre Dame."  But THEY CAN'T WEAR GREEN!  Or ND on anything.  They will be called ASSWAND (A sporting student who attends Notre Dame.)

5.  I was watching archery earlier today and Middle said, "These people aren't as good as the South Koreans."  Duh!

6.  Do you have to be really, really old to compete for the US in Men's Beach Volleyball?  And go watch those forty-something guys play beach volleyball and explain to me why you are sitting on the couch eating Cheeze-Its.

7.  Alix Klineman is not replacing Kerri Walsh-Jennings and she is not trying to.  No one can replace those accomplishments and that butt smacking chemistry she had with Misty May Treanor.  However, through a couple matches, I am a fan.

8.  The US Men's Basketball team beat Iran and nobody cared.

9.  Subway's product is not good enough for them to be able to afford more than one celebrity endorser.

10.  Did I mention Water Polo?  Apparently you are allowed to try to drown your opponent and if the referee ate a bad burrito, you have to sit in the corner for 20 seconds.  If the referee ate a healthy lunch, no holds barred.

11.  The videos of families celebrating at home are great.  The interviews with families at home are a disaster.  After a beach volleyball match, they gave either Kelly Claes or Sarah Sponcil headphones from a Walkman made in 1986.  Then the connection went bad.  I have yet to see one of these special "talk to your family at home" surprise moments work at all.  The connection is always bad.  NBC makes literally like a billion dollars from this, you think they could afford a premium Zoom account.

12.  Speaking of videos from home, Alaskans are CRAZY for swimming.

What to Watch for:

1.  Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil in action again.  Will they upgrade the headphones?

2.  Olympic golf is starting.

3.  Rowing - Women's Coxless Pair.  Must. Not. Make. Joke.

4.  Track and Field starts Friday, which I think means tomorrow night here.

5.  In 3 years, the Olympics will be in Paris, which is only 6 hours ahead.  That I can deal with.

Predictions recap:

1.  UVA Girls Silver and Bronze in 200 IM.  Huh?  I got something right.

2.  Ledecky Silver in 200 Free.  Wrong - Yeah, that's back to normal.

3.  No medals in men's 200 Fly.  Right.  When I'm not a homer...

4.  Ledecky Gold in 1500 Free, but no World Record.  Right.  But I feel like I should be penalized for not predicting the Silver for Erica Sullivan (who is an amazing person.)

5.  Britain wins 4x200 Free Relay.  US Silver.  50/50.  That homer thing is really not working out for me. 

Predictions:

1.  Dressel gets gold in men's 100 Free (I'll never learn on the homer thing when it comes to swimming, and he was wrapped in bubble wrap, so we should be good.)

2.  No US Medals in Men's 800 Free and Men's 200 Breast.  (Maybe I can learn.)

3.  Flickinger Gold, Reagan Smith Bronze in Women's 200 Fly.  (Or maybe not.)

4.  Silver for US Women in 4x200 Free Relay.

5.  Djokovic wins tennis.  Just throwing that out there now.  I'm not watching tennis, so I have no idea when, but I'm going for the Golden Slam.

6.  US Women sweep Turkey in volleyball (I really don't learn.)

The Only Certainty is Uncertainty

A few days before the Olympics, I asked each one of my family members, "if you had to bet everything you had on one gold medal, who would you bet on?"  The answers I received were Simone Biles in the individual all around, Katie Ledecky in the 1500 free and the US Men's basketball team.  My answer was the US Women's basketball team.  We are four days in and one of my family members has already lost everything.  Another isn't looking real good with that basketball team.  I am confident that Ledecky will win the 1500 tonight, but my confidence in American swimming recently has been, shall we say, a bit too strong.

Every Olympics has favorites and underdogs.  Every Olympics has surprises and upsets.  Raise your hand if you picked Tom Daley and Matty Lee to upset the Chinese and win the Synchronized Platform Diving.  Now put your hand down and stop lying.  The only thing we can be sure of is that we can't be sure of anything.  Even the South Koreans in Archery, who look like Robin Hood out there, are not a certainty.

In the Women's Cycling Road Race Anna Kiesenhofer of Austria won after an early attack, a big lead, and the fact that the Dutch forgot about her.  You read that right.  She rode the final 41 KM alone and after the main group caught the rest of the early break, Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten attacked at the end and crossed the finish celebrating her gold medal, only to find out later that she had not won gold, because someone else was there over a minute earlier.

In the Women's Mountain Bike race, France's Loana Lecomte was the favorite.  Not only had she won every race she entered this year, she had led the entire way in every race she entered this year.  But today wasn't her day.  Apparently, this was her only bad day this year.  France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was with eventual winner Jolanda Neff until she slipped and fell on a rocky uphill, then watched her bike slide down the hill away from her, then had to slide down the same hill like she was on ice.  I can't make this up.

Today, in one of the biggest shocks of the Olympics so far, Simone Biles withdrew.  A few days ago, Ledecky lost the 400 free.  Yesterday, China lost the Mixed Doubles Table Tennis gold to japan, after having a 2-0 lead.  (OK, I'm not well versed in the Table Tennis world, I still call it ping pong, but apparantly this was a HUGE upset.  I heard that on the TV and everything you hear on the TV is true.)  The US didn't win the men's 100 backstroke.  The US Softball team was not able to come back in the gold medal game.  A 17 year old won the Women's 100 Breast and Lily King got the Bronze.  Unexpected things are happening everywhere.  Someone cover Caeleb Dressel in bubble wrap, like now.

We like certainty.  Certainty provides comfort.  Certainty allows US Swimming fans to arrogantly assume the the Men's 100 Back medal is our birthright.  But, like the 4x100 Free Relay, which we won every time we swam it until 2000, all good things must come to an end.  Eventually, the Women's Soccer team will lose, uhhh..., or have lost, the Softball team won't be able to come back, the Chinese won't win diving or Table Tennis, and everyone will get old.  People in the swimming world like to say that Katie Ledecky created Ariarne Titmus.  Of course, that's what makes sports compelling.  Certainty is comforting, but can be boring.  If we knew what was going to happen, there would be no reason to watch.  And someone in my house wouldn't owe me everything they have.  you see, the US Women's Basketball team keeps winning...for now.

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

1.  Gotta love the sweep of gold medals in Skeet Shooting.  Bravo Vincent Hancock and Amber English.  Bravo.

2.  Water polo keeps rolling, volleyball keeps rolling.

3.  Our Women's 3x3 Basketball Team lost to japan.  Just when I started to feel another dominant run.

4.  Women's Soccer better figure out what's going on if they want to be the first team to win gold after winning the World Cup.

5.  Do you think they could show more Olympics tennis?  I mean, do you need one channel showing nothing but tennis 24 hours a day?  Maybe that isn't really what's happening, but it feels like it.  I don't need tennis in the Olympics, much less all over the Olympics.

6.  Speaking of, did you need to show the softball game 4-5 times?  Live last night, again this morning, again this afternoon.  I have nothing against Japan, but I am looking forward to an Olympics that doesn't happen overnight.

7.  Tropical storms are great for surfing conditions.

What to Watch for:

1.  Ledecky-Titmus II is actually tonight.

2.  Rugby coming to an end soon.  Watch it if you haven't.

3.  3x3 Basketball medal games.  Can the US win a hostoric first Gold?

4.  What will Great Britain do in the men's 4x200 Free Relay, after finishing 1-2 in the 200 Free.

5.  What will the UVA girls do in the 200 IM?

6.  Will I continue my homer ways in swimming predictions?

Predictions Recap:

1.  US Men's Gymnastics team pulls off a bronze. - Wrong - Uhhhh, no.

2.  Softball GOLD! - Wrong - Uhhhh, no.

3.  Women's Soccer - 3-0 win. Wrong - Uhhhh, no.

4.  Murphy continues the backstroke streak. Wrong - Uhhhh, no.

5.  Regan Smith wins gold, but doesn't get her world record back - Wrong - Uhhhh, no.

6.  Kieran Smith Bronze in 200 Free. - Wrong - Uhhhh, no.

7.  Lily King/Lydia Jacoby 1-2 in 100 Breast. Wrong - Uhhhh, no.  (I was at least close.)

 You have to love my consistency.

Predictions (Swimming only tonight):

1.  UVA Girls Silver and Bronze in 200 IM.

2.  Ledecky Silver in 200 Free.

3.  No medals in men's 200 Fly.

4.  Ledecky Gold in 1500 Free, but no World Record.

5.  Britain wins 4x200 Free Relay.  US Silver.

The Queen is Dead...Long Live the Queen!

Before we get to the Predictions recap section, let's just say, I was wrong.  I mean arrogantly wrong.  Here is the exact quote again, "As much as many people want to somehow turn Ariarne Titmus into the favorite in the Women's 400 Free, don't buy it.  Ledecky has something special in store and you are going to see the best ever show again how great she is tonight."  Don't buy it.  Them's some fighting words.  You would have thought my new found humility would have kept me in check.  You would have thought wrong.

So Ledecky's career is done.  It was fun while it lasted.  I enjoyed the 2021 800 free as much as any swimming event that year as I saw a local teenager take down the defending Olympic Champion in her home country.  She had a good run.  Time to move on to other things.

I have seen both the men's and the women's street skateboarding competition.  I am not well versed in skateboarding.  I know Tony Hawk.  Well, I don't know him.  I have heard of Tony Hawk.  And his video game and move into mainstream media.  I knew some skateboarders back in my day.  I was never any good, and if you knew me, you would know that skateboarding doesn't really fit the rest of the picture.  I saw Gleaming the Cube and Lords of Dogtown.  That gives me, honestly, probably anti-cred in the skateboarding world.

Regardless, I went into this with an open mind.  I have some age old prejudices about skateboarders.  Not a negative impression, just a lack of belief that they really care about the Olympics.  What I saw would have put any winter sport to shame.  Fall after fall after fall.  I saw forward falls, backward falls, painful looking falls.  I saw people doing the same thing and falling every time.  Isn't that the definition of insanity?  Maybe try something different.  But they didn't.  It appears I was wrong.  Why keep falling on your ass trying to do something impressive if you don't want to win?  I honestly believe we would have been more entertained, and the competitors would have been a lot happier, if they were just hanging out at some random skate park with no judges, no cameras and could constantly berate each other for every miss.  But they tried.  Faster, Stronger, Higher.  Or maybe just crazier and more dangerous.

Hmmm, I just saw Katie Ledecky is the top seed in two events after prelims this morning.  It appears my hubris knows no limits and she is not done.  I'll go ahead and predict a bunch more gold medals for her and see how that works out for me.

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

1.  The Gold Medal Match in Mixed Doubles Table Tennis between Japan and China was accurately described as "great drama and theater."  If you are going to watch a Table Tennis Match, this is the one to watch.

2.  The US Women continue their runs in several sports, including beach volleyball, water polo and softball.

3.  Speaking of softball, Holy Cardiac Kids!  Coming back from a run down in the bottom of extra innings against Australia, then tying it in the 6th and winning in the 7th against Japan.  The gold medal game is going to be fantastic.

4.  The Mountain Bike Course was beautiful.

5.  3x3 basketball is a welcome addition to the Olympic program.  Lots of action, lots of fun.

6.  Simone Biles is so good that she can have a terrible performance (for her) and is still easily the best gymnast there.

7.  Where have you been all my life Bowe Becker?  And where did that turn come from?  The US Men won the 4x100 free relay behind Caeleb Dressel's start, Zach Apple's great anchor leg, and Bowe freakin' Becker.

8.  I need to watch more sailing.

What to Watch for:

1.  Softball Gold Medal game.

2.  Can South Korea continue the archery sweep?  How crazy is the South Korean dude in the hat?

3.  Women's soccer - big game against Australia at 4 am.  Yes.  4.  Freakin'.  AM.

4.  Ledecky/Titmus II, in he 200 Free.

5.  What can the UVA girls do in the 200 IM?

6.  Does the US Men's Backstroke dominance continue?

7.  Surfing.

Predictions Recap:

1.  As much as many people want to somehow turn Ariarne Titmus into the favorite in the Women's 400 Free, don't buy it.  Ledecky has something special in store and you are going to see the best ever show again how great she is tonight.  Gold for Ledecky.  Uhhh, oops!  Wrong

2.  Adam Peaty gold in 100 Breast (that's easy).  US is shut out of the medals.

3.  Tori Huske - silver in 100 fly.  Wrong - by 9 one hundredths of a second.

4.  The US Men will be lead by an incredible lead off from Caeleb Dressel and win gold in the 4x100 Free Relay.  

Predictions:

1.  US Men's Gymnastics team pulls off a bronze.

2.  Softball GOLD!

3.  Women's Soccer - 3-0 win.

4.  Murphy continues the backstroke streak.

5.  Regan Smith wins gold, but doesn't get her world record back.

6.  Kieran Smith Bronze in 200 Free.

7.  Lily King/Lydia Jacoby 1-2 in 100 Breast.

So, What Did I Miss?

So, what did I miss?...What did I miss?...Virginia, my home sweet, home, I want to give you a kiss.

Name the musical.

Yesterday was Divisionals.  For those of you unfamiliar with the details of summer swimming (at least in Northern Virginia, Divisionals is the big meet at the end of the summer (ignore all stars for now).  Divisionals is a long meet, usually on a hot day.  At the end of Divisionals everyone, swimmers, coaches, parents, and volunteers, wants to go home, sit in air conditioning and do nothing for the rest of the day.  Unfortunately, for most of those people, the day does not end with the end of the meet.  Most teams also have their end of the season banquet on the same day.

Yesterday morning I worked at Divisionals.  Then I watched the Women's soccer game against New Zealand.  Then i had to purchase a few things for the banquet.  Then i had to help set up for the banquet.  then I had to run the banquet.  then I had to watch paper plate awards.  Then i had to lock the closet after the banquet.  Then I got to watch Chase Kalicz win the 400 IM.

When I finally got home, settled onto the couch and started to prepare to watch Chase win the 400 IM, my mind kept singing, "So what did I miss?"  It turns out quite a bit.  And at the same time, almost nothing.

Friday morning was the Opening Ceremonies.  Then...nothing for most of the day.  I can't say for certain, but I believe the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing in 2008 and PyeongChang in 2018 were only shown on tape delay in prime time.  So those of us in the US got to watch the Opening Ceremonies, go to bed, and wake up to a full schedule of events that had already finished and were happening live, right in front of us.  It was even better than having the Olympics in our own time zone, because if a cat woke you up at 6 am, there was something to watch.

This year, I watched the Opening Ceremonies and then all of Japan was asleep.  Nothing happened on Friday.  I was all hyped up with nothing to do.  Then I went to bed and had a summer swim filled day when all the action was happening.  To make matters worse, I failed to follow The 2021 Guidelines for Watching the Olympics.  I didn't have a plan.  My priorities are not in line.  And I AM COMPLETELY DEHYDRATED!!  I am completely unprepared.  I came into this whole experience arrogant with no justification.  I've done this before.  I've done it great!  I can do it again.  It will all come back.

WRONG!!!...Wrong.  Wrong.  Wrong!

I am not ready for this.  I have no idea what time it is where I am sitting, much less in Tokyo.  What's live?  What's not?  Is this the heats?  The finals?  Am I watching the same kayak competition for the third time?  I have no idea.

As I said on Friday, this is the second of three straight Olympics in Asia and I still can't figure this out.  No offense to the Winter Games, you know I love them, but you can get by with the Winter Games.  You can't in the summer.  There is too much going on.  This is a 5 sided Rubik's Cube like puzzle that not only requires planning (which I hadn't done), priorities (which are completely out of line), and hydration (which is severely lacking), but also humility, which is in dangerously short supply in my house right now.  I needed to be humbled, and as the cat woke me up at 5:45 this morning, I decided that I needed to shake off yesterday, get my priorities in check, make a plan, hydrate, and get on this Tokyo 2021 thing.  Humility served.  Humility accepted.

That said, imagine my surprise and glee last night when I learned hat the US had won exactly zero medals.  There must be something wrong for me to be happy that the US had won exactly zero medals.  But as I said, I missed a lot, and I missed almost nothing.  As I prepared to watch the first swimming final, the Men's 400 IM, I caught up on a few things.  Then I watched the US swim team start the Olympics with a gold-silver in the 400 IM.  Over the next 4 hours, the US won four more swimming medals and vaulted into second in the medal count.

Consider me inspired.  Consider me ready.  Lesson learned.  Stay focused.  Stay humble.  And when you get knocked down, get on your couch, turn on the TV, get the computer in your lap, and watch a lot of Olympic competition.

Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -

1.  South Korea seems to be really good at archery. Apparently they came in with a plan to win five of five gold medals in archery.  And they are now two for two.  Perhaps that humility thing is overrated.

2.  US Women's 3x3 basketball team looks good through the first few games.

3.  US Women's Beach Volleyball Team of Alix and April (Klineman/Ross) looks really good.

4.  US Women's Water Polo Team looks even better.

5.  Love the Cycling Road races ending on a race car track.

6.  HISTORY - Lee Kiefer becomes the first American to win a gold medal in singles foil (fencing) and her reaction upon winning the gold medal match was an example of what makes the Olympics so much fun to watch.  Anastasija Zolotic becomes the first American woman to win a gold medal in taekwondo and her reaction upon winning the gold medal match was an example of what makes the Olympics so much fun to watch.

What to Watch for:

1.  Two greatest ever get started on their 2021 journey - Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky.

2.  Women's Skateboarding - more on skateboarding from me, soon.

3.  Watch rowing while you can.  Apparently a typhoon is on its way to Japan.

4.  Triathlon, live in prime time tonight.

5.  How much of a disaster will the men's Basketball team be?

6.  Surfing.  In the Olympics.  I'm not sure what to make of this.

Predictions:

1.  As much as many people want to somehow turn Ariarne Titmus into the favorite in the Women's 400 Free, don't buy it.  Ledecky has something special in store and you are going to see the best ever show again how great she is tonight.  Gold for Ledecky.

2.  Adam Peaty gold in 100 Breast (that's easy).  US is shut out of the medals.

3.  Tori Huske - silver in 100 fly.

4.  The US Men will be lead by an incredible lead off from Caeleb Dressel and win gold in the 4x100 Free Relay.

Predictions Recap (no written record of this but I verbally announced them last night):

1.  Chase Kalisz Gold in 400 IM - Correct - but I missed Litherland with Silver.

2.  Emma Weyant Gold in 400 IM (yes, I predicted a gold/gold 400 IM yesterday) - wrong - but a very impressive Silver for the 19 year old.

3.  US Women Silver in 4x100 relay - wrong - so close, but Bronze for the women.

The 2021 Guidelines for Watching the Olympics

It has been five LONG years since we got to experience a Summer Olympics.  During this time, it is likely most of you have slipped a little, as it relates to the rules (ok, guidelines) for properly experiencing this spectacle of sport.  NBC will be showing more than 250 hours of coverage this year.  In addition to NBC, an additional five cable networks will provide coverage (USA, CNBC, MSNBC, The Olympic Channel and Golf.)  And this does not include Peacock, the new NBC owned streaming channel that is competing with so many other new streaming channels for my money, all of which combined will likely put me in the poor house.  All told, there will be more than 7000 hours of coverage.  To put this in perspective, that is almost 292 days.  The opening ceremonies of the next Olympics, the Winter Olympics in Beijing, is on February 4, 2022.  That is 196 days away.  If you did nothing but watch Tokyo 2020 coverage until the Winter Olympics, you wouldn't finish. Even I would need to sleep a little.

In addition, Tokyo is the second of three straight Olympics in Asia.  This means three straight games when most of the action happens overnight here, and all of the athletes are asleep (or doing other overnight activities) while we are all awake in America.  So figuring out how to navigate the 6 channels, streaming service and 7,000 hours of coverage can be daunting.  You have to have a plan and you have to be vigilant.

So, I give you my Guidelines (or Rules) for watching the Olympics, copied from, amended and updated for 2021.

1.  No sex.  This is, always has been, and always will be Rule #1.  I have received a lot of push back o this rule.  There are people, several of them, who believe that sex and proper Olympics watching are not mutually exclusive.  I have said it before, and I will say it again, if you have the time and energy to have sex during the next two weeks, you just aren't trying.  This experience requires focus and sacrifice.  Every spare moment needs to be used to its fullest towards your Olympic experience.  Never mind what the athletes are doing in their spare time.  They earned that right with their athletic achievements.  You need to focus, and time spent in the bedroom (or anywhere else not focused on Olympic programming) is simply a waste.  So, tell your sexual partner that you are taking a break.  Of course the time change gives you one more night before the action, I mean the competition, gets going.  So you have tonight.


2.  If you don't have a DVR, we just can't be friends anymore.  Seriously, what is up with that?  Don't tell me anything about streaming channels and YouTube and "I saved money by cancelling cable."  This is the Olympics.  At the end of a pandemic.  You need cable and a DVR.  Otherwise, you are just not prepared.  Streaming is not going to cut it.  You will barely be starting to watch track and field before the Winter Olympics start.  I have recently finished my deleting barrage to prepare for the next two weeks.  Sure, there were some tears from those small creatures who inhabit my home, but everyone has to sacrifice.


3.  Check TV listings.  This is where the plan comes into play.  It bears repeating, 7000 hours of coverage.  Seven.  Thousand.  You need to know what is on, where it is on and when it is on.  Otherwise, it is likely you will miss the archery, the speed climbing or maybe even trampoline.  We simply can't have that.


4.  Prioritize.  In all seriousness, decide what you want to watch and see when it is on.  This is a unique experience.  Rarely do you get to watch trampoline on TV.  If that is your thing, and I highly recommend it for about 3 minutes but no more than 3 minutes, find out when trampoline is on and watch.  (This was directly taken from the 2016 Guidelines, because it is that good.)


5.  Watch something new.  Take advantage of the opportunity to watch something you have never watched before.  I recommend a Judo match, because that is one baffling experience.  If you watch a Judo match, and know nothing about Judo, don't learn anything before you watch.  Just watch and try to figure out what the hell is going on.  There are plenty of opportunities - Team Handball, Judo, Fencing, Archery, Table Tennis, Speed Climbing.  Seriously, watch Speed Climbing.  Spiderman, and Spidergirl live.  Don't stick to just the spotlight sports.


6.  Get inspired.  Every Olympic, I am inspired to get into the pool and start swimming again.  This year, I am already swimming again, but it will inspire me to push a little harder.  If you ever had any dreams of athletic glory, it is very easy to get inspired by the Olympics.  The successes, the failures, the stories, the scenery, the music are all inspirational.  If you need more inspiration, make a game of it.  Every time Rowdy Gaines says someone is getting a draft, do 5 push ups.  Every time he mentions that someone only breathes to one side, do 5 sit ups.  Every time you see an attractive athlete, do 5 jumping jacks.  If you see someone wearing a mask without covering their nose, go for a 2 minute jog.  If you are creative, you can find a lot of games to play.  Regardless of how, use the inspiration.  The Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius.  This means Faster, Higher, Stronger.  Not Fastest, Highest, Strongest.  Be inspired to go faster, higher and stronger.


7.  Watch as a family.  This is really fun.  Let the kids experience the joy of winning and the pain of losing through some of the greatest athletes in the world.  Learn a little about the athletes and the sports and Japan.  Let them see what it takes to be that good.  Maybe they will be inspired, maybe they won't.  Regardless, fun for the whole family.


8.  Hydrate.  Good God, how did I forget this for the past several Olympics?  To get through this you need to be on top of your game.  Water is life and you need a lot.  Not so much that you need a bathroom break every 15 minutes, but peak performance requires proper hydration.  Get a good water bottle and use it.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.


9.  Check out this Blog.  I will be on, regularly if not daily.  You get to experience my observations, my thoughts, my predictions and my suggestions for things to look forward to.  Eventually, I will repeat my always in demand You Are Beautiful.


So, there you have it.  My guidelines for experiencing the Olympics from afar (meaning we aren't in Tokyo.)  Use these as you see fit, except for #1.  That is a hard line rule.


Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -


1.  Uhh, the Women's Soccer Team lost.  That wasn't good.  Observations from the Opening Ceremonies will come tomorrow.


Predictions Sum Up -


1.  No predictions, yet, so...huh.  This isn't very exciting, so far.


Predictions -

This will start tomorrow.


What to Watch for:


1.  The games actually begin, so get to bed early, wake up early and start watching.  Oh, and try not to let something silly like a 5 hour swim meet that your own kids are competing in get in the way. Or a Banquet to celebrate the end of their season.  Yeah, these were poorly planned.

Ready! Set! ...

 Go?

 Here we are, about 12 or so hours from the Opening Ceremonies of what promises to be the MOST.  BIZARRE. OLYMPICS.  EVER.

 OK, so maybe the 1980 Olympics in Moscow with no Americans and the Soviet Union winning everything that didn't have a British dude named Sebastian in it was bizarre, but I'm not sure it will match this year.  Are they going to have spectators at the Opening Ceremonies?  Who are the athletes going to be waving to?  Who will they be filming?  Will they do a crowd shot?  Are they currently in the midst of making 70,000 cardboard cutouts to fill the seats? Will they still go to commercial just before the Latvians enter the stadium?  Will all the athletes be wearing masks?  So many questions and I have done nothing to answer any of them.  I am just looking forward to a massive surprise tomorrow morning.

Yes, tomorrow morning.  NBC is hyping the morning Opening Ceremonies.  Because who doesn't want to wake up and watch the Opening Ceremonies.  I, honestly, purposely have left tomorrow morning free for the Opening Ceremonies, so I'm good.  (Uhhh...to those of you I am coaching tomorrow, there is this cool invention called a DVR.  I will be coaching and we will be there the whole time.  This is not an excuse to skip practice.)  But there may be people who have to do things like, I don't know, go to work.  The Wife comes to mind.  She already missed the soccer debacle on Wednesday because, hello, 4:30 am?  Is it possible the US team was still on US time?  I hope so.

NBC is also hyping how excited the Japanese are for the Tokyo Games.  I'm not saying they are lying, but this seems kind of like one of those late night shows where they ask someone who the President is and the answer is "Uhhh...George Bush?"  I think they found the 17 people in Japan who are excited for the Olympics and interviewed them.  They skipped the vast majority who see it as a COVID breeding ground in a country with less than 20% vaccinated.

I, for one, am excited.  As is Bob.  Bob told me he was so excited he even watched softball on Tuesday night.  For Bob, that is excitement.  For those of you who don't know Bob, let's just say you are missing out.

My excitement was not tempered by the Wednesday morning that will not be spoken of.  (See, soccer, US, 3-0 loss.)  OK, it was tempered briefly.  But now that I am a mere half day away from learning if they will go to commercial just before Latvia enters the stadium, again.  My excitement is right back where it belongs.  I'm even beyond watching softball excitement.  I'd be willing to watch at least 2 minutes of trampoline.  And we all know after one minute, you realize you are watching trampoline and you quietly change the channel and pretend nothing happened.  I'd go to 2.  Maybe 3.  That is how ready I am.  It has been 5 years since the Summer Olympics happened and over three since Jessie Diggins wowed us with her historic finish and gold medal. (I see you Kikkan Randall and I know you were right there winning that medal with her.)  Why shouldn't I be excited?  Let's get ready to do this!

Over the next three weeks we have the pleasure of watching some of the best athletes in the world compete at the highest level.  We also get to watch a bunch of other athletes, who are not the best in the world, compete to be the best they can be.  And we get to see this in a bunch of different sports, most of which we don't get to see, or don't bother watching, any other time.  The Olympics are a big money-sucking, corrupt mess of whatever, usually protested by someone, definitely showcasing athletes using illegal substances, and with a lot of warts.  But at its most pure, it is entertainment of the highest order.  People with amazing talent putting their hearts, minds, bodies and emotions on the line, in front of the world, with the goal of being the best they can be, or the best in the world, or the best ever.  Why shouldn't I be excited, indeed?

I am ready.  I am set.  And I am about to go.  In the next few days, the swimming will be the highlights of the Olympics and my life (not just in Tokyo, but also in Franklin Glen on Saturday and hopefully at CSL All Stars in 9 days.)But, as always, I will find some nuggets outside of the pool to share with you, my 6 loyal readers.  We will start tomorrow with the rules of watching the Olympics.  Those of you who have been with me for the last 8 years know that NOW is the time for physical intimacy with, well, whoever you get physically intimate with, because starting tomorrow, your focus, energy and time awake must be directed towards your Olympic experience, not your.. "other" experiences.  That is, has always been, and will always be, Rule #1.  We will review the rest of the rules and share them with you tomorrow.  Then, we are literally off to the races.  And the jumps.  And the shots.  And the twists.  And the hits.  And...and...and...

I.  Can't.  Wait!

The US Olympic Swim "Team"

 Is swimming a team sport?

I have debated the answer to this question with several people.  There are various ways to answer the question.  At its core, the answer is no.  Swimmers competing in a pool swim in their own lane, with no assistance from any teammates, staring at the black line at the bottom of the pool, or at some rafter in the ceiling during backstroke (unless you are outside where the sun will be in your eyes no matter what the weather, what direction you are going and what time it is), all by themselves.  When your arms feel like they weigh 100 pounds on the last 50 of the 200 fly, or your lungs feel like they are on fire off that last turn in the 200 back, or you have to swim the last 100 yards of the 400 IM, your teammates can't help.  There is no help defense, no one blocking for you, no substitutes in the middle of the game, no one giving you a perfect pass for a tap in goal.  It is you.  In your lane. All alone.

If you watched the Olympic Trials every day, you would argue the answer is yes.  NBC has shown several scenes of swimmers being embraced by hordes of teammates after earning their trip to Tokyo.  The Florida crowd practically attacked Caeleb Dressel.  We also saw scenes of Clair Curzan and Tori Huske being embraced by teammates.  After going 1-2 in the 200 IM Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh celebrated together, college teammates joining each other in a trip to the Olympics.  And Annie Lazor practically drowned Lilly Kin, her training partner, after they went 1-2 in the 200 Breast.

In a little over 24 hours, the US Olympic Swim team will be final.  Up to 12 of them will be relay only swimmers.  They will have a teammate with them, not while in the water, but in each of their races.  When it comes to relay teammates, the best example is Jason Lezak.  Michael Phelps needed many teammates to win his 8 gold medals in 2008 (he was in three relays, so three teammates each), but Lezak pulled a super-human feat to keep the quest for 8 golds alive in the 400 Free Relay. 

Relays are fantastic, and swimmers, like Lezak, often find that they are able to accomplish something in a relay that they could not do just for themselves.  The relay is a team event, but does that make swimming a team sport?  I would still argue no.

It is not the relay, it is not the celebration, it is not the race.  It's the work.  Swimming is hard.  Yes, all sports and all exercise are, or can be, hard.  But swimming is lonely.  You don't breathe, or at least you don't breathe as much as you want.  Practice is often at un-Godly hours of the day.  there is that black line at the bottom of the pool.  Your teammates are the ones who get up at the same time as you.  They are the ones getting in cold water with you.  They are the ones pushing you to work harder during those long practices.  They laugh and cry with you.  Sometimes, they are the ones who go to breakfast, or for a longer practice brunch, or for those really long practices lunch, with you.  That is where the team is in the sport of swimming.  They can't help you in the competition, but they are invaluable in the preparation.

Predictions results:

Men's 800 Freestyle - Bobby Fink, Ross Dant - so close!
Men's 200 Breast - Nic Fink, Will Licon - This one out of two is a real trend.
Women's 200 Fly - Hali Flickinger, Regan Smith - nailed it.
Men's 100 Free - Caeleb Dressel, Zach Apple - nailed it.

These I did (see below), but didn't publish:

Women's 200 Breast - Lilly King, Annie Lazor - right 2, wrong order.
Men's 200 IM - Chase Kalisz - Michael Andrew - there was a trend developing last night
Women's 100 Free - Abbey Weitzel, Olivia Smoliga - so close.

Predictions:

Men's 100 Fly - Caeleb Dressel, Tom Shields
Women's 200 Back - Regan Smith, Phoebe Bacon (a battle a year in the making)
Women's 800 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky, Erica Sullivan

What to Watch for:

1.  Who gets more Olympic spots - Michael Andrew or Caeleb Dressel?
2.  Does Simone Manuel have one last Olympic bid in her?  (If not this year, she could be back in 2024.)
3.  Could we really get more absurdly close races?
4.  How will the number caps (26 total men and women, 12 relay only swimmers) play themselves out?
5.  What happened yesterday?

I'll answer #5.  Remember that glowing discussion of summer swim a few days ago.  Last night we were enjoying a summer swim social event.  An ice cream social.  Lots of swimming children, eating ice cream and playing.  Teammates, ages 6-18.  At one point, the Wife turned to me and beamed, "I love summer swim."  Then Eldest broke his finger.  Summer...you never know what to expect.

She's a Little Cocky Isn't She

"She's a little cocky, isn't she," Middle asked the other night while watching Lilly King.  I wasn't sure how to respond.  The proper father, adult, mature human being wanted to say, "Yes," because truer words have rarely been spoken.  The thirteen year old that still lives inside me and comes out from time to time wanted to respond "DUH!  Have you been watching the last four years?"

I love Lilly King.  She is brash.  She speaks her mind.  She is fun.  And she backs it up with great swimming.  it is hard not to love Lilly king.  Unless, of course, you are not American.  If you are not American, I imagine you hate Lilly King.  If Lilly King was not American, she would be the most hated person in American swimming.  Chad LeClos won a gold medal in 2012 in the 200 Fly, was a little cocky about it, and shadow boxed in the ready room in an effort to psych out Michael Phelps.  America HATED him.  America still hates him.  if Lilly King shadow boxed in front of Yulia Efimova in the ready room, she would become the most favorite meme in America.  We would love it.  All she did was wag a finger and America went crazy.  We love the cocky, brash American.  But we hate the same person living in a  different country.

In 2000, American Gary Hall Jr. made an off-hand remark that the U.S. was going to smash the Australians like a guitar in the Men's 4x100 relay.  The Australians?  We love the Australians.  Have you ever met an Australian you didn't like?  In 2008, may family went on a trip to France.  Eldest was 4.  Middle was just shy of 2.  We had the standard sherpa look going on the plane.  An Australian took the car seat and a bag from us, despite our objections; carried them on the plane; went 20 rows past his seat; helped us get our stuff together; and then had to stand there for 10 minutes until the crowd in the aisle eased up enough to get back to the front of the plane where his seat was.  Later on that trip, while waiting 2 hours to go up the Eiffel Tower, a small group of Aussies entertained our two boys while we waited.  They didn't have to.  Their just great people.  We love Aussies.

 Back to 2000 and that 4x100 Relay.  Well, we didn't smash the Australians.  In fact, we lost that relay for the first time ever in the Olympics.  A cocky, brash, bald Australian named Michael Klim made an air guitar motion just to rub it in the face of the Americans.  I hate Michael Klim.  He is everything I hate.  He is brash.  He speaks his mind.  He is fun.  He backed it up with great swimming.  He...sounds a bit like Lilly King.  In fact, if he was American, I bet I'd love Michael Klim.  Hmmm....He's also Australian.  I love Australians.  I'm...a...bit...confused...

I...got it.  I know.  Americans would never do anything like that.  Sure we like the cocky, brash breaststroker, but she wagged her finger at another athlete who had tested positive for a banned substance.  It's all good.  Justified.  I feel better about myself.  Whew!  For a moment, I thought I was I was a hypocrite.

The American would never do anything like that in a relay.  In 2004, we lost the 4x100 relay again.  In 2008, Alain Bernard, the world record holder in the 100 free at the time and the anchor of the French relay said, "The Americans...we're going to smash them.  that's what we came here for."  In the greatest swimming race ever, Jason Lezak caught Alain Bernard in the anchor leg to win and Michael Pheos and Garrett Weber-Gale reacted by...screaming like mad men.  There was no air guitar, but maybe it was a touch over  the top.  God, I love that race.  I have watched it at least 30 times and about half the time I pause it, just to see the look of  shock on the French swimmers as hey try to figure out how they lost that race.  i may go watch it right now, just to get ready for tonight's finals.  I have not seen the Peacock Documentary, The Greatest Race, yet, but I will remedy that oversight shortly after the trials end.

OK, so I am a hypocrite.  I loved seeing the French get their comeuppance in 2008, but hated the Australians for doing it to us in 2000.  I love Lilly King and can't stand Chad LeClos.  I said, "yes she is" to Middle's question, but wanted to say, "DUH!"  I love the brash cocky American and am offended when someone outside the US does the same thing.  She may be cocky.  She is probably obnoxious.  Hell, she admitted to trying to psych out a 17 year old from Alaska in the ready room before the 100 Breast.  From Alaska?  Who has anything against anyone from Alaska?  That's like hating an Australian.  But she is our cocky, brash, obnoxious swimmer.  So we love her.

Predictions Results:

Women's 200 Free - Katie Ledecky, Paige Madden - missed by .01, but very happy for Schmitty and I am pretty good at getting the winner and missing second
Men's 200 Fly - Luca Urlando, Zach Harting - Huh?  The rare picking the winner to get 2nd
Women's 200 Medley - Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass - Nailed it
Women's 1500 - Katie Ledecky, Ashley Twichell - Again, got the winner.

Predictions:

Men's 800 Freestyle - Bobby Fink, Ross Dant
Men's 200 Breast - Nic Fink, Will Licon
Women's 200 Fly - Hali Flickinger, Regan Smith
Men's 100 Free - Caeleb Dressel, Zach Apple

What to Watch for:

1.  Do the veterans win the day or the youngsters, especially in the Women's 100 free?
2.  Do we start to get some doubles to make that 26 swimmer limit a little less relevant (Hello Ryan Murphy)?
3.  Is Melanie Margalis the greatest person alive?
4.  Does Lochte have one final miracle in him?

The Agony of Defeat

 After each race in the Olympic Trials, the television zooms in on the winner.  The emotion of that moment an be one of the greatest parts of watching this spectacle of sports.  Whether the winner reacts with shock, excitement, or tears, as Regan Smith did last night, watching the moment someone realizes a life long dream is one of the great joys of sport.  The swimming trials are a unique experience as we all become voyeurs into one of the most emotional moments these young, or in the case of some of them (I'm looking at and cheering for you, Nathan Adrian), not so young athletes' lives.  I know after each race I get a little jolt of joy seeing the winner celebrate in whatever way they choose.

After most of the races in the Olympic Trials, the television zooms in on the swimmer who finished second.  The emotion of that moment is also one of the greatest parts of watching this particular spectacle of sports.  The second place finisher almost always reacts with a level of excitement consistent with the accomplishment of likely reaching your life long goal, while also realizing how close you were to third place.  Again, we all get the voyeuristic treat of watching one of the most emotional moments of these young, or not so young, athletes' lives.  I know after each race I get a little jolt of joy seeing the second place finisher celebrate in whatever way they choose.

After some of the races in the Olympic Trials, the television zooms in on the swimmer who finished third (or any other place that is not first or second).  The emotion of that moment can be the worst part of watching this particular spectacle of sport.  The third place finisher almost always reacts with a level of grace and joy for their fellow athletes that is beyond remarkable for someone who just realized their life long goal is not happening.  In these moments, we are forced to experience the real pain of Olympic trials.  A small part of the little boy swimmer in me dies every time I see an athlete have to put on a brave face, successfully or not, when their dreams just came to an end.

I experienced this last night, when Olivia Smoliga, who I have been cheering for for the last four years, just missed making the 100 Backstroke.  It was even worse on Monday when the camera showed Kelsi Dahlia in tears, walking down a flight of stairs, shortly after finishing fourth in the 100 fly.  I was more than impressed with Melanie Margalis showing more excitement for Emma Weyant and Haley Flickinger than they showed for themselves after Margalis finished third, by 0.12 of a second.  Melanie Margalis is either the greatest person alive or one of the greatest actors.

It is often said that the US Olympic Trials is the most stressful swim meet in the world.  The third place finisher in the Olympics gets a medal and watches their country's flag go up.  The fourth place finisher gets to walk in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and know that they were an Olympian for their entire lives.  They may even get one of those Olympic Ring tattoos.  (I really, really want one of those tattoos, but that was not in the cards for my life.)  Everyone else at the Olympics is an Olympian.  Third place at U.S. Trials gets you ignored, or you get to act excited as others get the dreams you have, or your pain is shown on live TV, for everyone to see.  And most people getting third or fourth or even fifth at U.S. Trials would be legitimate medal contenders at the Olympics.

I rooted for Olivia Smoliga.  I literally yelled at the TV during the race.  I was not rooting for Kelsi Dahlia.  I wanted the local northern Virginia girl, Torri Huske and my new favorite swimmer, Claire Curzan, to get their dreams.  I wasn't rooting against Dahlia, just for the other two.  And Kate Douglas.  I wanted three people to win that race.  But only two could get there.  I am crushed for Dahlia, and Douglas, and Smoliga, and Kathleen Baker, and dozens of other swimmers who had a legitimate hope that they would make it to Tokyo, and hundreds of others who made a trials cut, but never really had a chance to go top two, and thousands of others who just wanted to make a trials cut, and hundreds of thousands of others who never even came close.

Predictions Results:

Men's 200 Free - Kieran Smith, Zach Apple - got the first one, a little off on the second
Women's 100 Back - Regan Smith, Olivia Smoliga - Nope and that hurt a little
Men's 100 Back - Ryan Murphy, Shaine Casas - I am sensing a trend, got the first one, missed the second
Women's 100 Breaststroke - Lilly King, Lydia Jacoby - at last.  Nailed it

 Predictions:

Women's 200 Free - Katie Ledecky, Paige Madden
Men's 200 Fly - Luca Urlando, Zach Harting
Women's 200 Medley - Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass
Women's 1500 - Katie Ledecky, Ashley Twichell

What to Watch For:

I have a familial obligation so running out of time.  Only one thing.  Will the UVA girls turn me into a prognosticating genius?

Yes, I am Going to Do This Three Days in a Row

 If you asked me five minutes ago, I would have told you it wasn't going to happen.  I have a cold (just a cold, really); I am exhausted, I got in the pool for the first time in a week just a few hours ago, and I don't have anything to give.  However, with 19 minutes to go until the Finals and Semis tonight start, I am watching Katie Ledecky swim the 1500, just a short time after swimming the 200 Free.  If you asked me to swim a 1500 right now I would likely whack you over the head with a cucumber.  (Don't ask, a cucumber just seemed like something accessible that would get the point across, but not do real damage.)  I understand Katie Ledecky is not really human, but a 200/1500 combo is particularly ridiculous.  If she can do that today, I can at least get in a paragraph or two.  Of course, an emergency call from the vet put a pretty big wrench in that plan.

For today, let me just say this is a really hard sport.  I am a little under the weather at this point, I put in one hour in the pool, and I am wrecked.  If you are a swimmer, you already have a healthy respect for what these athletes are doing at Olympic Trials. If you aren't, go jump in a pool and try to do a 400 IM.  If you live, you'll understand.

So, now I am going to relax, recover and enjoy.  I hope you do the same, and tomorrow I'll be back with more.

Predictions results:

Women's 100 Fly - Notwithstanding my whole commentary above, I am sticking with the teenagers, Tori Huske, Claire Curzan - Nailed it. 
Men's 100 Breast - Michael Andrew, Nic Fink - SO CLOSE.  .07 seconds separated 1st from 3rd.
Women's 400 Free - Katie Ledecky, Paige Madden - Nailed it.

Predictions:

Men's 200 Free - Kieran Smith, Zach Apple
Women's 100 Back - Regan Smith, Olivia Smoliga
Men's 100 Back - Ryan Murphy, Shaine Casas
Women's 100 Breaststroke - Lilly King, Lydia Jacoby

What to look forward to:

A better effort from me tomorrow.

What a Difference a Year Makes

 Oh what a night!

In their wildest dreams, USA Swimming could not have asked for a more exciting first night of the Swimming Olympic Trials.  I took "knock me out" cold medicine when it was all over and it still took me an hour to fall asleep.

Before we get to the meet, let's consider the last year.  Tonight is the finals of the Women's 100 Fly.  The Women's 100 Fly is a going to be a battle.  The top two seeds are teenagers.  The third seed, Kelsi Dahlia, has been the dominant U.S. flyer for the past four years.  If you asked me two weeks ago who I thought would be most hurt by the year delay of the Tokyo Olympics, I would have said Kelsi Dahlia.  (And seriously, why didn't you ask me that?)  In early 2020, she was still the dominant U.S. flyer.  One year later, an 18 year old named Tori Huske (from Arlington, VA - go VA) and a 16 year old named Claire Curzan have had the chance to emerge as not just a threat to Kelsi Dahlia, but arguably the favorites to make it to Tokyo.  Kelsi Dahlia has gone from the favorite to win Olympic trials, a probable medalist in the 100 Fly and a potential gold medalist in the 400 medley relay, to looking up at two teenagers.  What a difference a year makes.

Everyone knows what the last year has brought.  Anyone who pays attention to the world of swimming has heard the stories of searching for an open pool, swimming in open water, trying to find a backyard pool, or buying an endless pool last spring/summer, just to get in the water.  Endless pools were virtually impossible to find last year.   (Perhaps I shouldn't use the word virtually - it has a whole different meaning now.)

Aside from the breaks in training, the extra year has given a new, young group of swimmers one more year to grow, mature and train to make their Olympic dreams come true this year, rather than waiting for 2024.  At the top of that list is Claire Curzan, who is a legitimate contender to make the Olympics in several events.  It is possible Curzan could go on to a career that rivals those of some of the best swimmers in U.S. history and the delay from 2020 to 2021 could give her 1-5 more medal chances than she likely would have had.  Tori Huske is another who likely would not have been ready to compete for an Olympic spot a year ago.  Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass, Rhyan White, Emma Weyant (who qualified last night), Carson Foster (who just missed last night), and Jake Magahey (who also didn't make it last night) are others who likely have a much better chance in 2021 than in 2020.

Dahlia was my pick for swimmer hurt the most by the delay.  This has more to do with the rise in her competition than any drop in her performance.  However, we all know Father Time is the only undefeated person in sports.  Eventually, he always wins.  It is difficult to say who may have been impacted by the extra year of mileage on their bodies.  Did Anthony Ervin lose anything more by turning 40?  It is arguable Nathan Adrian benefited, by having more time to recover from and train after being treated for testicular cancer.   Ryan Lochte may also have benefited from an extra year to train after his various debacles.

Of course, my pick for person hurt the most by the delay looked FANTASTIC yesterday, so I am not looking real good right now.  And how I look is the most important factor in all this.  Perhaps I should have gone with Zane Grothe, the best U.S. 400 freestyler the past 4 years who failed to make the final.  I may still be right, but as we have already learned, nothing is certain in the most stress filled swim meet in the world.

Speaking of...back to yesterday.  From two incredible races in the 400 IMs to Kieran Smith's pressure filled 400 Free (needing not just to finish in the top 2, but also to make the Olympic Qualifying time), to two American Records, Day 1 was worth the wait.  The award for best sport goes to Melanie Margalis who finished a 400 IM, missed an Olympic spot by .12 seconds and reacted by laughing and giving the two women who beat her big congratulatory hugs.  The Women's 400 IM was also the best race, but just barely over the Men's 400 IM, both coming down to the last 10 meters to determine who will finish top 2.  Tonight promises to be even better.

Predictions results:

Men's 400 IM - Chase Kalisz, Carson Foster - So close.  I thought Foster had 2nd, but Jay Litherland had an incredible finish to sneak into second place (or blast into second place)
Men's 400 Free - Kieran Smith, Jake Mitchell - Nailed it.  To be fair, I would have picked Grothe second if he made finals and would have picked Jake Magahey if he had made finals.  Smith was my pick for 1st all along.
Women's 400 IM - Melanie Margalis, Hali Flickinger - as the three swimmers raced the last 50 meters, I changed my thoughts on how they would finish about 9 times.  Just simply a great race to watch (but really, really painful to swim).  I correctly predicted Flickinger 2nd, so, half credit.

Predictions:

Women's 100 Fly - Notwithstading my whole commentary above, I am sticking with the teenagers, Tori Huske, Claire Curzan
Men's 100 Breast - Michael Andrew, Nic Fink
Women's 400 Free - Katie Ledecky, Paige Madden

What to look forward to:

1.  What happens in the bloodbath that is the Women's 100 Fly?
2.  What happens in the semifinals of the bloodbath that is the Women's 100 Back?
3.   How does Katie Ledecky respond to Ariarne Titmus putting up a 400 Free time less than half a second off the world record?
4.  What does Michael Andrew do for an encore?
5.  Is 2016 Ryan Murphy back?
6.  Will I actually go three days in a row?

At Last

Today, after five long years, we will have an official US Olympic swimmer, in the pool.  In fact, we will have three.  Tonight is the finals of the Men's 400 IM, the Men's 400 Free and the Women's 400 IM.  Although realistically the top two finishers in each of these three events will qualify for the Olympics, technically, only the winners will officially be Olympians tonight.  This is because the U.S. is only permitted to take 26 men and 26 women to swim in the pool in the Olympics.  There are fourteen men's events and fourteen women's events.  If two different swimmers qualify for each of those 28 spots, we have too may swimmers.  This has never happened and likely won't happen this year.  But if you are watching tonight, and why wouldn't you be watching tonight, this is why the winner will be the only swimmer who technically makes the Olympics tonight. 

We have to point out that tonight is the qualification for pool swimmers.  The qualification for open water swimmers has already happened.  Ashley Twichell, Haley Anderson and Jordan Wilimovsky have already qualified in open water.  All three will also be swimming in the pool this week.

I have been looking forward to today for more than a year.  I have really been looking forward to today for almost five years, but the last year has been brutal.  There is much to talk about, and we will do it over the next seven days.  However, as I thought about the Olympic Swimming trials, I realized that yesterday was a much more important day in the world of swimming.

Today, we get to see the fastest swimmers in the country compete for the greatest accomplishment a swimmer can achieve.  Yesterday, I got to see many children swim in a summer swim meet for the first time in two years.  It was only a team time trial, but it was special.  And it was not only me.  There were hundreds of similar meets conducted across northern Virginia, and I imagine, in many other places throughout the US.

Summer swimming is special.  I have discussed this before.  Many swimmers start their careers with a local summer swim team.  A rare few of these swimmers go on to represent the U.S. at the Olympics.  More of them, but still very few, will swim at Olympic Trials.  More will swim in college, but that is still rare.  Many will swim in high school.  Many will swim for a year round team.  Most will swim for their local summer team, and that is it.  That is what makes it special.

Summer swim is about fun and junk food and making friends and cheering and going out to lunch and community.  There is competition, sometimes fierce competition.  Sometimes there is unhealthy competition.   Mostly, though, there is fun.  There are donuts.  There are kids making friends and adults making friends.  I help run the summer team my kids swim for.  Every year I have a parents meeting and tell all the new parents that swimming is different from most youth sports.  Everyone is needed to do something, whether they are timing, officiating, writing ribbons, recording results, selling the junk food (and some good for you food), keeping the kids in line (or trying and failing) and many, many other things to make this the special sport it is.  It really does take a village.

A week and a half ago, the Olympic trials started with the beginning of Wave I.  Tonight we get the first official pool Olympians.  Yesterday, however, we got to experience the heart and soul of swimming.  As much as I have been looking forward to tonight, I realize yesterday was more important.  Several hundred swimmers get to chase their dreams at Olympic Trials.  Thousands upon thousands of kids got to experience the joys of swimming yesterday, whether they dream of being an Olympian, just want to compete, or just want to get a donut.  The pandemic took so much away from us over the past 16 months.  We are getting a lot back.  Tonight is a small step back to normalcy.   Yesterday was a giant leap in the same direction.

Predictions:

I cheated a little, because I did not do these predictions until I saw the results of this morning's preliminary heats, but here they are - 

Men's 400 IM - Chase Kalisz, Carson Foster
Men's 400 Free - Kieran Smith, Jake Mitchell
Women's 400 IM - Melanie Margalis, Hali Flickinger

What to look forward to:

1.  Do the teenagers continue their run to the Olympics in the 100 Fly?
2.  What does Katie Ledecky do in her first swim tomorrow?
3.  What does Caeleb Dressel do in his first swim (200 Free) tomorrow?
4.  This blog, actually having content on a regular basis.

How About a Double

Pandemic, pandemic, pandemic...

My motivation to sit and write disappeared, along with many, many other things over the past 6 months.  For me, I think the pandemic has proven the law of inertia (Newton's First Law).  An object in motion will stay in motion unless acted on by another force.  An object at rest tends to stay at rest unless acted on by another force.  With the pandemic, I have a lot more free time.  I was going to write more. I was going to write a book.  (Okay, maybe not.)  I was going to organize the whole house, learn a new skill, actually take care of the yard.  I didn't have swim meets or Cub Scouts or basketball games.  The world was open.  But I was at rest.  I tended to stay at rest.

Of course, Tokyo 2020 was also postponed.  The one thing that gets me to sit and write was suspended for a year.  And we still don't know if it will really happen.  The Olympic games are supposed to begin on July 23, 2021.  That is 170 days from now.  This morning on the news I learned that the Olympic organizers have created a "playbook" to make the games happen.  The "playbook" includes details of how they will keep things safe.  Things like testing athletes every 4 days, everyone wears a mask all the time (not quite, but a lot), and a bunch of other things I am too inertiaed out to research for you.  See, I can't even move to a different tab to do the research I should properly be doing for you.  Or to even see if inertiaed is a word (no need to check for me, I am certain it is not.)

The news is generally good for the Olympics, even though 80% of Japanese polled want the games either cancelled or postponed again. I want the Olympics to happen.  As a swimming fan, I want to see what Regan Smith, Claire Curzan and Shaine Casas will do in what is likely (and hopefully) their first Olympics.  I also want to see if the old guys can make it one more time (I am rooting for you Nathan Adrian.)  I want to see if Caeleb Dressel can make us forget, perhaps for even a moment, the name, Michael Phelps.  I want to see what Katie Ledecky will do in her third of perhaps 5 Olympics.  I want to see the greatest gymnast ever on the Olympic stage again.  I want to see Noah Lyles.  The Wife really wants to see Noah Lyles.  And so much more.

So I might have something to live for.  The Olympics really is the only thing I have to live for.  I am hanging on a string, sitting at home, staring at an unused laptop computer, waiting, hoping, longing for inspiration.  I've watched repeats of events from past Olympics on the Olympic Channel almost as many times as even I can stand...OK.  That's a lie.  If there are no live Olympic broadcasts to watch I could binge watch past Olympic events all day.  I have several saved on "DON'T EVER DELETE" on by DVR.  I can never hear "Here comes Diggins!" too many times.  No one outside of France will ever get sick of hearing Dan Hicks ask, "Can the veteran chase him down?" as Jason Lezak closes in on Alain Bernard in the 2008 4x100 freestyle relay.  Even so, I want to see the new moments.

And today, after hearing the mostly good news about the 2021 Tokyo Games, I looked on the inter-webs and found the single fact that could make me pick up that slow, dusty laptop computer and reach out to you.  I could not have picked a better day to find the motivation to care about something, because that brief moment of caring led me to this discovery that I now share with you.  The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing start on February 4, 2022!  If I remember how to read a calendar correctly, that means we are exactly one year away from both the SUMMER and the WINTER Olympics!!  How about a double, indeed!!  I could get Jessie Diggins and Caeleb Dressel in the same 365 day period?  And that 365 day period begins today?  I have found my Holy Grail and thy name is Asia.  As in give me my Olympics from Asia this summer and next winter.  This was enough to even get me out of bed today.  And seriously, nothing gets me out of bed.  I just lay there, all day, reading 1274 text messages from the same group of 7 people.  Yes, 1274 messages on average, per day.  Seven people.  That is my life.  Wait, that WAS my life.  Now, two Olympics!  One Year!  One!  New!  Man!

I was so excited, I made lunch for my three boys, just so I could eat with them and tell them my exciting news.  Shockingly, they lacked my enthusiasm.  I told the Wife.  She was just happy I got out of bed and stopped asking "Where is Diggins?"  Eldest did have the courtesy to comment that we have never had TWO Olympics in one year before.  I was so excited that he showed even an ounce of caring that I excitedly said, "I KNOW!"  And then, it hit me.  We had two Olympics in the same Calendar year every four years from 1924 until 1992 (except of course 1940 and 1944.)  I was devastated.  The single fact to get me out of my funk was merely a return the norm of life for literally the first 20 years I was alive (as well as the previous 70 or so years (don't ask me to do math - remember the inertia thing))?

However, I have recovered.  If the pandemic has taught us anything, it has taught us that we need to find small victories.  (I think I said that before, at the beginning of the pandemic.  Then I was inertiaed.  And started making up words.)  I don't care that the summer and winter Olympics were in the same year for decades.  I only care that I might, just might, get to see both in the next year.  I got to see my favorite cross country skier literally tear down a pull up bar with her incredible strength, just because I was inspired by the next year of my life.  I get to dream of Caeleb Dressel and Simone Biles and the US Soccer Team and Beach Volleyball and Biathlon and dozens of other athletes and sports and stories.  I'm even looking forward to Mary Carillo and her stories.  I miss her stories.

Things are looking up.  Vaccines are happening.  My kids might actually go to school.  I got out of bed.  And there are two Olympics coming in the next 365 days.  Thank you Olympic Gods.  Yes, I'll take a double.