Bye, Olympics!

The closing ceremonies

Well, it was a great 17 days! I'm sad to see the Olympics go, for I enjoy getting to know all of the athletes and rooting for them as they compete to perform their best. Maybe that is what it likes to love a sport's team. I wouldn't know. But most sports fans don't have to wait 4 years between competitions!

Here's to hoping for the best for all of the athletes. I'm excited to see what many of them do next, and to discover who will rise to take the places of the veterans who will no longer be competing in the Olympics.

It's no secret by now that I'm a big fan of Apolo Anton Ohno and am so happy for him with his record-shattering 8 Olympic medals, making him the most decorated winter Olympian in history.

That said, I completely disagree with the call made by the head Canadian speed skating ref which disqualified Ohno from the 500m final. Apolo lightly rested his hand on the back of a Canadian skater (which is common practice in speed skating to avoid bumping into the other skater and to let them know that you're there)... and the guy lost his balance and fell. You can tell from the footage that Apolo wasn't applying any pressure, but as often seems to happen when Apolo is behind someone, the skater fell. I swear they realize a god is behind them and freak out. The same thing happened to Apolo in an early race (when the Canadian used enough physical force to literally push Apolo out of his position) but no call was made. Probably because Apolo's a better skater and didn't fall. He skates lower to the ice than most of the other guys, which seems to give him an advantage when it comes to balance.

My Facebook status that night sums up my feelings on the matter: "I am now so very motivated to buy a new recurve bow. So that I can use a picture of the Canadian Speed Skating Short Track ref as a target. I'm being nice right now."

But while Apolo has said that he disagrees with the call and that he thinks it was biased because the ref was Canadian, he's more than gracious and happy with his accomplishments. So if he's happy, I suppose I should be, as well. But given that I hit a bull's eye from 30 yards when I pretended it was Bellatrix Lestrange's head after reading the fifth Harry Potter book, I think this whole scandal with the ref might improve my aim.

The Olympics celebrate many different forms of self-expression: figure skating, ice dancing, etc. However none are more classy, emotive, and amazing as US Bobsledding pilot Steve Holcomb's "Holcy Dance."

The Holcy Dance

Talk about ridiculously catchy. Now I'll be able to wow everyone with my mad dance skillz. And for those who don't know, Holcomb and his team won the US its first gold medal in four men bobsled in 62 years! That's cause to do the Holcy dance!

Mackenzie's Momma -- Aww you must really miss your kids! And as for the winter Olympics being events "normal" people can do, I suppose I agree, but at the same time... I can't even stand still and stick out my leg at a right angle, much less while balancing on an ice skate! ;)

Tracie -- This particular Commie is relentless. The only way to get him to stop rubbing on us is to let out an "ooooooo" sound in harmony so that the noise drives him away. And even then he takes his time until the sound irritates him. But we love him anyway, and it doesn't help that as soon as he's gone, we miss him and want him to come back and annoy us again like a true little brother.
the other amanda -- Isn't that video clip hilarious? It's silent afterwards because Alex and I were laughing so hard that we couldn't breathe!