2012 Olympic Games

[h2oville rocket]

Could Gabby Douglas have looked more bored on the medal stand during the national anthem? At least look straight ahead and fake like you want to be there.

You think she didn't want to be there?

[musicman2343]

Could Gabby Douglas have looked more bored on the medal stand during the national anthem? At least look straight ahead and fake like you want to be there.

She didn't look bored, IMO. To me it looked like she was taking it all in. When you're presented with your first ever Olympic medal, I'd have to think you're still in shock. In their interviews they all said "surreal" - that's how I would interpret her reaction.

[Flipper]

Yep...now these guys looked bored and disinterested...



But Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett were engaged in a protest at the 1972 Munich games...

[TG1996]

Could Gabby Douglas have looked more bored on the medal stand during the national anthem? At least look straight ahead and fake like you want to be there.

You think she didn't want to be there?

Oh, I know she wanted to be there, she just looked inconvenienced by the national anthem.

Apparently, that's just my opinion. I figured she was "taking it in", or at least looking for family in the crowd, but it just didn't look like that to me. Then again, I'm one of the type that likes to see every gold medalist on the stand singing their AZZ off when the anthem is played, or at least spend most of their time looking up at the flag. She was on the other end of that spectrum, IMO.

[Lord_Byron]

The whole thing must be some sort of out-of-body experience. It's hard to say what's going through people's minds or how they are holding their emotions in check.

Heck, this guy forgot to take his hat off!

[h2oville rocket]

The whole thing must be some sort of out-of-body experience. It's hard to say what's going through people's minds or how they are holding their emotions in check.

Heck, this guy forgot to take his hat off!

Pretty rude. To his credit he was mortified when it was brought to his attention.

[Lord_Byron]

Pretty rude. To his credit he was mortified when it was brought to his attention.

Agreed, I remember it well. He also has his hand over his heart. I wasn't trying to be insulting to him, only to point out that when people are overcome by emotion, it's impossible to know what they are thinking inside by what they are showing outside. I thought using one of our heroes to point this out would drive home that point pretty succinctly.

It's as disingenuous to say someone looked "disinterested" during the ceremony as it is to say that Mr. Wottle was being unpatriotic. (which I didn't say)

[TG1996]

Looks like that's how she is. I stand corrected. Good work Gabby!

[musicman2343]

Wow - major congrats have to go to 15 year old Katie Ledecky for setting a new American record in the 800 free. The youngest Olympic athlete in the entire American contingent. She was just half a second from a new world record, IIRC. She's going to be a great competitor for the US in the next few Olympics!

[h2oville rocket]

Wow - major congrats have to go to 15 year old Katie Ledecky for setting a new American record in the 800 free. The youngest Olympic athlete in the entire American contingent. She was just half a second from a new world record, IIRC. She's going to be a great competitor for the US in the next few Olympics!

As I told my wife (a former Rocket swimmer) "You can tell she's young-she went out WAAAYY too fast. She'll be lucky to finish and she has NO shot at a medal". My knowledge of swimming is nearly unsurpassed and I feel pretty good about calling that one right. Kid just needs to gain experience and someday she'll learn not to do dumb stuff like that.

[RobbyFalcon]

I need help with the swimming. What are the uses of the butterfly and breaststroke? I know the backstroke is used in life saving. Why would anyone if given the choice use the 'fly (dig the lingo) or the breakstroke instead of freestyling? To this uneducated viewer it seems like the butterfly is the aquatic equivalent of hopping or skipping and a medley is running, runing backwards, hopping, then skipping.

[h2oville rocket]

I need help with the swimming. What are the uses of the butterfly and breaststroke? I know the backstroke is used in life saving. Why would anyone if given the choice use the 'fly (dig the lingo) or the breakstroke instead of freestyling? To this uneducated viewer it seems like the butterfly is the aquatic equivalent of hopping or skipping and a medley is running, runing backwards, hopping, then skipping.

Why try to hit something that someone throws with a stick? Just get out of the way. Why do a twist off the diving board instead of just doing a somersault? In fact, why somersault-if you ever need to enter the water you aren't likely to do it that way-you'd just jump or front dive straight in. Why triple jump, when in life you probably will long jump over puddles etc but never triple jump? Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you come near?

[Flipper]

Let's not leave 17 year-old Missy Franklin out of the swimming discussion. She's won four golds (2 individual) and a bronze. When I was 17 I spent my summer bussing tables at Bill Knapp's in south Toledo. I do not recall getting any medals.

[h2oville rocket]

Let's not leave 17 year-old Missy Franklin out of the swimming discussion. She's won four golds (2 individual) and a bronze. When I was 17 I spent my summer bussing tables at Bill Knapp's in south Toledo. I do not recall getting any medals.

that was you? the big guy who kept dropping all the plates? Small world.

[fredthefalcon]

Let's not leave 17 year-old Missy Franklin out of the swimming discussion. She's won four golds (2 individual) and a bronze. When I was 17 I spent my summer bussing tables at Bill Knapp's in south Toledo. I do not recall getting any medals.

But did you get any tips from the senior clientele?