Ten Thoughts On The 2014 Winter Olympics.
- The women athletes and by NBC's coverage of them. How many times was one of them described as strong, competitive, athletic, daring, brave, determined -- and all in a tone of admiration rather than disapproval? Now let's move that admiration into the rest of women's lives. [/rant]
- The contrast between the attitudes of the women figure skaters and the women snowboarders. The figure skaters were unbearably tense before their routines and visibly relieved afterwards. The snowboarders were all smiles, boucing around, hugging each other no matter whether they wone or which team each hugger was on -- they were having FUN! We decided figure skaters tend to be prima donnas.
- The USA woman skeleton competitor, Noelle Pikus-Pace, clearly not aware of what she was doing, who clawed her way into the stands to embrace her family when she realized she had won a medal. And when she was interviewed the word "I" never crossed her lips; it was all "We did it!" And it truly was a family effort. Not mentioned in those links: her husband built her sled.
- Jason Brown, the pony-tailed figure skater from Highland Park, Ill., who always (this photo notwithstanding) looked so happy when he was skating. And why not? He was a joy to watch.
photo credit: Marissa Babin via photopin cc - More on Jason Brown: when he did that jump/spin toward the end of his routine WITH ONE ARM OVER HIS HEAD! That has to make it so much harder, plus doing it late in the routine when he was probably getting tad tired. Spectacular.
- The skating -- can you tell I love the figure skating? -- seemed so much more beautiful in this Olympics. There appeared to be more emphasis on skating rather than jumping. Reading this confirms my impression.
- When the Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu did this move:
- The music Hanyu skated to. For a moment I thought it was Pink Floyd. I am a Pink Floyd lover and a blues lover, and that soundtrack delighted me.
- Have the Winter Olympics always lasted for three weeks? Well, I know they started out much shorter, but I do not remember them going on as long as the Summer Olympics. Probably just my memory failing me (again)...
- Watching the skiing and snowboarding aerials reminded me of Stein Ericson, the person who invented aerials. In high school my boyfriend, an accomplished downhill and giant slalom skier (but not so good in the slalom) told me about the Stein flip. I think his pipe dream was to be able to do it. He went to college in Boulder and we lost touch. Don't know if he ever did.
A couple minor last thoughts:
- Why are the announcers for bobsled, luge, and skeleton Australian? I am not criticizing their commentary; I'm sure they are doing a fine job. It's just that Australia has neither mountains nor snow, which seem to me to be requirements to become expert in those sports.
- Irony: BMW, a German company, is bragging that it designed the US two-man bobsled for the Olympics. I wonder what the German team thinks of that? (Probably depends on who gets the medals.)
Olympic rings photo credit: Atos International via photopin cc
