Olympic Fever

I've caught the Olympic Fever.
Its probably gonna last a little more than two weeks.... then after that I'll probably be spending less time in the freezing TV room downstairs, wrapped up in layers and shivering, refusing to leave until the last event.
I'm watching Australian TV, so naturally, I only get to watch live broadcasts of the events Australian athletes excel in.... Thank goodness one of them is swimming.
If there wasnt swimming I would have bashed the TV in after sitting through hours and hours of rowing, esquestrains, judo, beach volleyball... etc etc... And of course, I wont be able to watch any Malaysian athletes perform as well ( I'm not sure if i want to) as the only thing we're good at is badminton, and Australian's female badminton player lost on the first day of the games..
Oh well.... So I've been watching swimming, my absolute favourite, for the past few days.. Haven't had classes yet so I havent missed a single event, and boy have there been some jaw-dropping and history-making performances in the Water Cube this past few days...

First of all, my swimming hero, Michael Phelps from the States. On a quest for 8 golds, hoping to break the record of 7 golds in a single game previously held by fellow States retired swimmer Mark Spitz. He failed to do that the last olympics when he lost a gold to Ian THorpe in the 200m freestyle and one of the relays..Well, Phelps dived into the challenge and is making waves at the pool first by winning AND breaking the World Record for 400 Individual Medley, then breaking the WR n getting his 2nd gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay ( one of the greatest races I've seen since watching the 'RAce of the century" featuring Thorpe, Hoogenband and Phelps in the Athens 2004 Olympics) and finally today, winning the 200m freestyle and breaking the WR as well, making him one of the few Americans to win this event ever in history. In every one of his individual races, he beats everybody at least a full body length, and that is a LOT, considering how tall he is. After every start, every turn, Phelps always comes out way ahead of other swimmers.... So yeah, I have to say, this guy is my ultimate favourite when it comes to athletes. He's a superfreak, I;ve never seen anyone like him... its like he's got super water powers or something...
Another defining moment in the Games when 20-year-old Stephanie Rice from Australia won and broke the WR for the 400m Individual Medley... She won Australia's first gold in this Olympics and also Australia's 400th medal since their first medal in their first ever Olympic games. Rice powered through the whole 400m like the champ that she was and won it 2 nearly 2 seconds ahead of world record time.
Libby Trickett- Winning the 100m Butterfly. Trickett has always been touted as one of Australia's best female swimmers, but has never been able to perform well at the Olympics. Well, she finally got the gold she had been fighting for and that had eluded her for so long yesterday. Nearly breaking the world record as well. Wonderful swim.

I suppose all this action might have made up a leeetle bit for me missing out on the Opening Ceremony.... Major bummer... GOtta watch that on Youtube, everyone's telling me how awesome it was...

What a feeling it must be to win an Olympic medal. To look at that board and see your name on it, knowing all your hard work finally paid off, to know that you won a medal for your country, to stand on the podium and hear your national anthem being played and your flag raised as your family and fellow countrymen look on with pride and joy for you. What a feeling it must be. And only so few get to experience it...

Oh well. Gotta get back to the events now. Here's to the Olympics and many more surprises and record-breaking and glory to come.