Olympic athletes/stories in the news.

**Grace** · 08-07-2008, 08:13 PM

- Lopez Lomong, one of the 'Lost Boys' from the Sudan.

From CNN -

A U.S. athlete who overcame the chaos of war in Sudan to become a middle-distance runner in the United States will carry the American flag during Friday's opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Games.

Lopez Lomong, a 23-year-old competitor in the 1,500-meter race, will lead the U.S. Olympic team as the flagbearer.

Teammates chose him Wednesday, the U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement.

**RICHARD** · 08-07-2008, 09:46 PM

HBO ran a story about him on the monthly sports show.

Wow, he had one heck of a road to hoe. Good on him.

**smokey the elder** · 08-08-2008, 08:46 AM

I'm really glad the team picked that Sudanese guy. He sounds like a good person.

**RICHARD** · 08-16-2008, 11:52 PM

DUDE!

If anyone knows who the cute U.S. soccer ref for the women's games is - let me know....I think her name is Cary/Kari/Carri Sykes.

Otherwise I am going to marry a woman pole vaulter.......Abs like that belong on a mutant!

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Did anyone notice the American Flag that Phelps didn't bother to pick up after his race?

He was walking along the side of the pool when someone threw an American Flag into the area next to the first row. He bent over the railing to look at it and backed away. A photographer picked it up and attempted to hand it MP, buyt he turned and walked away.

Hmmmm, that kinda sucked.

**sparks19** · 08-17-2008, 11:52 AM

After which race richard? I didn't see that. The last race was the relay and they were all holding the flag for pictures.

Dangit. I had a story and now I forget what it was lol

OOOOH I remember.

the US women's beach Volleyball team May-Treanor/Walsh. Did anyone hear the story about Misty May's mom passing away in 2002 from Cancer? So when she went to Athens she brought a little pill bottle with her moms ashes in it to spread in the sand on the volleyball court if they won gold. She plans to do the same again if they win gold. and she has a nice little tattoo of her mom's initials with angel wings and a halo. I thought that was very touching.

ETA: Did anyone watch any of the women's marathon? We only watched the last half hour because I really don't need to see the full 2 1/2 hours of running. anyway romanian Tomescu-Dita is 38 years old and took the gold with a formidable lead for the last half hour of the race... and then continued to jog around the track multiple times with her flag on her back. I would have dropped dead and they would had to carry me out of there. Good for her.

**Grace** · 08-17-2008, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by sparks19

ETA: Did anyone watch any of the women's marathon? We only watched the last half hour because I really don't need to see the full 2 1/2 hours of running. anyway romanian Tomescu-Dita is 38 years old and took the gold with a formidable lead for the last half hour of the race... and then continued to jog around the track multiple times with her flag on her back. I would have dropped dead and they would had to carry me out of there. Good for her.

We watched the entire race. ITA with you. When they said she was 38, I couldn't believe it!! And she took that lead with a good 10 miles to go, and continued to stay around a minute ahead of those young gals.

Did you see the British runner, Paula Radcliffe? She dropped out in the Athens Marathon, and the British press crucified her as a quitter. She had a stress fracture in a femur not that long ago, and the doctors told her not to race. But she did, and she finished this one.

**sparks19** · 08-17-2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Grace

We watched the entire race. ITA with you. When they said she was 38, I couldn't believe it!! And she took that lead with a good 10 miles to go, and continued to stay around a minute ahead of those young gals.

Did you see the British runner, Paula Radcliffe? She dropped out in the Athens Marathon, and the British press crucified her as a quitter. She had a stress fracture in a femur not that long ago, and the doctors told her not to race. But she did, and she finished this one.

I did she her. she was in OBVIOUS pain and you could really see it on her face when she entered the stadium to finish on the track. such determination. I do hope she hasn't hurt herself too badly though.

**RICHARD** · 08-17-2008, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by sparks19

After which race richard? I didn't see that. The last race was the relay and they were all holding the flag for pictures.

I think it was race 7, it also may have been number 6

He was looking up into the crowd, and he paused near a lower level of seats that looked like it was reserved for press and the photogs. After every medal ceremony the swimmers would stop at different areas around the pool to have some pics snapped.

He stopped for a second and the someone tossed the flag down. It landed to the right of the photog and MP looked over the rail at it. The camera guy picked it up and tried to hand it off but MP walked away. It may have not been a flag, but did see red and white stripes on the material.

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Did anyone hear about the "olympic effect"?

It has to do with all the people who get into shape after the games are over.
they get inspired because they see the fit people in the games.

I often wonder about the poor kids who show a little interest in a sport and their parents wreck their lives by making them take classes and push them to become 'gold medalists'

That's scary.

**carole** · 08-17-2008, 03:47 PM

Did any of you see our Rower Mahe Drysdale collaspe after winning the bronze medal,poor guy was so sick, he had the bejing belly as they call it, food poisoning,he still managed a third, at one stage he looked set for the gold, was very disappointing for him,he had been vomiting just before the race and was after as well,he was suffering from dehydration,but he still stood up for the medal presentation, i liked how humble he was when interviewed, he never once blamed his stomach bug,even though it played a huge part in it.

Also did you know our silver medalist in the track pursuit cycling Hayden Rolleston has a heart condition, did not seem to hold him back though, thank goodness.

Richard i did not see Phelps do that ,but i must say that is pretty off isn't it? he has been down in NZ recently and is keen to come back.He may have done some training here i think,not quite sure.