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?
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