THE OLYMPICS

I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!

I always have. I spent most of my childhood years in the swimming pool as a competitive swimmer. I dreamed of one day being in the Olympics. I obviously didn't care enough to keep at it through high school and college, but I still love to watch those amazing athletes excel during the Olympics. I love to hear the stories about the athletes lives back home. Whether that home is in the United States or in some remote country in Africa where they have to walk to their training facility everyday in the pouring rain or blazing heat. How they have a passion and drive to hone the God given talent they have received.

I have the TV on a NBC affiliate channel at all times during the next two weeks. I will watch sports I never cared about before just to experience the adrenaline and emotion of the games. I really get the Olympic Fever every four years. I have really enjoyed reading (like always) the On The Eastern Journey blog by a college friend Sandra. She is currently living in china with her husband and son. It has been neat to read their posts on the Olympic Fever striking China. They have experienced some really neat moments in the past several months - from seeing the torch relay in person as it passed through their town, to actually holding one of those torches.

I have the NBC Broadcast Schedule on my favorites list on my computer and have several alerts set (to send me e-mail messages) so I can keep up with the results of a few key events/sports in real time. I of course LOVE to watch swimming, and it trumps most other events if there is a broadcasting conflict. It absolutely amazes me at how fast those people can move in that water. I was the fastest swimmer in Texas (at least in the 100 meters freestyle) many years ago. My time was many seconds (almost a minute) slower than what these athletes can do. AMAZING!

I will shed many, many, many tears in the days to follow. I really get caught up in the emotions of it all. Even though Shannon would tell you that I cry at just about anything. I will admit I cried the other day when the Rangers beat the NY Yankees with a walk-off grand slam. I also will cry at movies I've seen thousands of times, and TV shows almost weekly.

Gymnastics is also one of my favorites, as I think it is for many others. I really enjoy seeing those kids excel as well.

So, I want to know - Do you watch the Olympics? If so, what are your favorite events?