1/100th of a second was the difference between Gold and Silver in the Men’s 100m Butterfly swimming event today. 1/100 of a second made Michael Phelps more of a history making figure than ever, as he now earned his seventh gold medal in Beijing, a perfect 7 for 7 with one event left and is tied for most medals won by a single person at a single games, and he still has an event left.
Tag Archive for 'Olympics'
Michael Phelps in his element (via Flickr user vironevaeh)
Its official. Michael Phelps is a beast. While watching him isn’t as much “Go USA!” as it is “Break another record dude!”, it is still exciting as anything else on tv right now and totally worth all the hoopla of the Olympic coverage.
I have a lot of respect for the guy. Any person who chooses to dedicate so much time and energy into one thing in their life certainly is crazy in a good way! I am also crazy as you all know, but in the super-creative-wants-to-try-lots-of-new-things-so-he’s-never-the-best-at-anything crazy, which is the exact opposite kind of crazy as Phelps, but that we’re both crazy means we have lots in common.
And that is another reason why the Olympics are so dang cool, because awesome sports like swimming, diving, and volleyball that are never on TV are actually on a major network and hella-exciting to watch!
Back on topic, I totally hope Phelps can pull it off and get 8 Golds. I’ll be rooting for you man!
Scene from Beijing Opening Ceremony (Via Flickr user Ligadier Truffaut)
Tonight I watched the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I was expecting a show boasting of ethnic pride and national ego, but instead I witnessed a spectacle; a mix themes including history, hope, and world peace portrayed majestically by a masterfully choreographed mix of pyrotechnics, technology, performers, and music. The show was unlike anything I’ve ever seen at the Olympics or otherwise, I sit here still stunned and still with a smile on my face. This show turned my ill opinion of these games around, and it reminded why I love the games so much.
So here is to Beijing! Go USA, and more importantly, go World!
1/100th of a second… again
Today we wrapped up Olympic swimming until 2012, and it was monumental.
Everyone and their brother are talking about Michael Phelp’s 8th Gold Medal. And congrats to him. I’ll let everyone else comment on that accomplishment, as I have already discussed Phelps enough here.
What was also monumental tonight was that another race was decided by 1/100th of a second, the Women’s 50m Freestyle. Again, the result included an American. But this time, the American got Sliver. Still, props to Dara Torres for that Silver, she deserved it. She is another “crazy” person by my standards, she busted out three Silver medals in her sixth Olympic appearance since 1988. But she is not why I am posting.
I am posting because of 1/100th of a second. Because twice the difference between Gold and Silver was 1/100th of a second! I see an inspirational poster coming on… “Make every fraction of a second count, it could be the difference between success and failure, a win or a loss, your dream accomplished or missed, Gold or Silver”.
These two races, each with the same miniscule time difference but two different outcomes, highlight how we as a people should make every moment count. Even those 1/100ths of a second.