Speed skating love!

[rms10]

I love speed skating, and have ever since the 1988 Olympics, when my eight-year-old self was entranced by Bonnie Blair. I love the form and technique and endurance of the athletes, and I love watching them on the turns. (The love for the form on the turns goes double for short track. Such grace and balance!) And I totally love the Dutch speed skating fans! Wheeee!

I must confess that I love love love Apolo Anton Ohno. He clearly loves competing and loves his sport, and it shows every time he races. And not only does he appreciate the attention that his obscure sport gets during the Olympics, he loves the Olympics themselves. As a total Olympics geek, I love it when the athletes are thrilled to be there, and see the Olympics as more than just another competition. Bode Miller should take notes.

(And oh my god is Ohno hot. Yeow.)

Meanwhile, due to traveling, I missed all the petty Shani Davis-Chad Hetrick drama. Ha! As far as I can tell they're both giant tools, so I'm focusing on Enrico Fabris and Clara Hughes. Yay! What incredible finishes they had.

At one point I was considering going to the SLC Olympics, and tickets for the various speed-skating events were only $25-$35. But I knew I couldn't afford a hotel or anything like that, and I wasn't keen on driving from Michigan to Utah in February. However, I should have no excuses for Vancouver in 2010.

Comments

[pescana.livejournal.com]

Joey Cheek! He was my favorite of the other speed skaters, he seemed so much more thrilled and humble than the two jerks. Being from Seattle, of course, I love Ohno. I loved his answers when the idiot newspeople would ask about how disappointed he must be at not winning everything. No drama from that boy!

If you come out for Vancouver, there must be a massive meetup. It's only three hours from here and I have been known to drive up for the day, although I'm not likely to attend anything if I can help it. Not big on crowds.

[rms10.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I never got to see Joey Cheek in action, but I have heard only good things about him. And it's impressive that his fellow athletes chose him to carry the flag.

And I really intend to make it to Vancouver and/or Seattle before 2010 -- I don't want to have to wait four years for a meetup!

[pescana.livejournal.com]

I watched Mr. Cheek win his gold medal (in the 500? Can't quite remember and much too lazy to look it up). He was so completely thrilled and happy about it. I was hoping he'd overshadow the other two idiots, but apparently not. There's a great picture of him on the front page of nbcolympics.com today - it's the fourth one in the rotating photo spot.

After those two guys went 2 & 3 after Fabricio, I was very pleased that they both played down the whole rivalry thing as a media build-up and said they respected each other and it was no big deal. That lasted until the press conference. Stupid people.

Come out anytime!

[gieves.livejournal.com]

Hi, Becky! You may or may not remember me at this point - you dropped by my journal a couple of years ago - but I occasionally do a 'drive by' and am amused by our commonalities... so I thought I'd succumb, say hello, and add you to my Friends list (if you don't mind. )
---

In this case, Oh my God, Apolo Anton Ohno, and speed skating! I am such an Olympic (and speed skating) obsessive! I must admit that even in the face of Ohno's appeal, my heart now belongs to Joey Cheek; he's another likeable guy who has a slightly geeky allure. Missing the Davis-Hedrick drama is no loss: it was idiotic.

My favorite weird moment of the Olympics, though, had to be the absolutely random appearance of Jerome Bettis in an interview with Bob Costas. His parents were, of course, in tow.

[rms10.livejournal.com]

Hi, Genevieve! I do remember you, and have added you back.

I finally saw Cheek's 500m race, which they reaired during the Closing Ceremonies. Yay! And he is such a class act. Oh gosh, good sportsmanship makes me all giddy. I am a total dork.

[nein09.livejournal.com]

Ohno's dad owns a barbershop that is about 3 blocks from my house!

[rms10.livejournal.com]

Aieee!

And, his dad owns a barbershop? And hasn't shaved off that rat that lives on his son's chin?