Winter Olympics Vancouver 2010

Well today is the last day. What a two weeks it has been. The excitement alone has been an adrenaline rush. It's helped make the long, long winter a little brighter.

Thank you to MSNBC for replaying the entire figure skating groupings this morning. It gave me a chance to get a closer look of the things I missed. I am much more critical of it because it was a major part 33 of my 48 years. Living and breathing something puts everything in perspective.

Individually, my take on the games. Something that will really never change about the sport is that exposure to international competitions greatly influences where you place in the Olympics. Favorites will always win before true skating. The outside stories also tend to influence the outcomes. Overall the competitors did well but the inconsistency of rewarding or overlooking the obvious still will probably never really change in this sport.

In re-watching the ladies competition it was very obvious. Korea's Kim Yu-Na really was alone in the race for gold. After watching her program a second time it was very interesting how many influences she had in her program. I saw alot of Michelle Kwan, Sasha Cohen, and as far back as Nancy Kerrigan. Of course also saw alot of her coach Brian Orser. Much of the footwork moves were all Brian. (I couldn't help but think back to the "Dualing Brians". He lost the gold that Olympics and made me think he got his gold medal with Kim's performance) It will be interesting to see how she holds up in her career. She really doesn't seem to skate for herself more for her country and culture. Something that will never change in the Asian nations. The same could be said for the silver medalist Mao Asada. Her story was alot like the men's silver medalist, Plushenko. Although her tricks included three triples or was it two, they were not clean and complete so it really didn't count. You could really see the sadness in her face also. She had the silver medal but still didn't seem happy.

Canada's Joanie Rochette was a heart rendering story in itself. I can't help feel her performance was awarded due to the fact also of the sympathy factor and home advantage. Although her program was good, it did have several mistakes but those seemed to be slightly overlooked due to her personal tragedy to still give her the bronze medal.

The same is true with the ice dancing. The Russians ecked out a bronze, partly due to their higher scores in the Compulsory Dance. The "costume question" in both the Free Dance and the Original Dance were the same issue. But, since the Russians have always placed in the top 3 since the inception of the Ice Dance category, the really squeaked by.

In the men's competition it was really only Lysacek/Plushenko. It goes to show here any quad won't do.

It will me interesting what the World's Championship next month will bring. In the past most Olympians chose not to compete. I am sure it won't be any competition like the Olympics but still it's just as important.

Pushing Yourself to the Limits

I feel as though I have been living my own Olympic event the past 11 days. Valentine's Day was suppose to be a day of love and heartfelt giving and it was my first day of feeling totally awful. I spent the day in bed feeling like I had been literally struck in the heart with an arrow but this arrow was a good case of bronchitis. I made my way to the doctor's office where his first comment was "gee I haven't seen you in a long time".. Which like most is the way you like it unless you are a hypochondriac. I proceed to get my z-pac and codeine cough syrup and today is the first day I have felt actually human again. I guess this is my version of my gold medal getting back to good health.

My path has been fully loaded with way to much on my plate as usual with no end in sight. I guess this was my bodies way of telling me slow down. The one bright spot in this is that I have been able to direct my attention to many of the Olympic events. Being sick made me think of how often athletes compete while being sick. Adrenaline can push you through things you never imagined you could make it through. Plus the desire to put in the best performance possible, no matter what your chosen sport is. Being on autopilot can make you forget how sick one can be and still make it through.

I remember when I was competing with the synchronized team one year I had to compete with a terrible inner ear infection. Thank goodness I had people on each side of me who could keep me standing because I doubt if I would have made it otherwise. A take it for the team attitude can get you through anything.

By the way I hope one year synchronized skating will be a part of the Olympic experience so I can say I was part of the pioneering teams. I guess I can at least be happy that our pictures grace the Figure Skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs as part of the legacy of skating. We pushed the envelope many times.

The Russian ice dance team made me reflect again on how costumes can push the limits of the sport. They did it in a not so tasteful way but any extra publicity definitely puts you on the mind of the viewing public and judges. Our team did it with top hats and splitting the team in half where half wore black tuxedo coats and the others white dress (I unfortunate got to wear the tuxedo) we ended up winning that year and were the talk of the competition, not unlike the Russians.

I look forward to the finals in ice dancing and the start of the women's skating events in the next week. Another week of pushing the limits and I will have a front row seat.

A Little Sunshine in this Long, Long Winter

I speak for many when I say "I am sick of winter!". It is probably the worst I have experienced in my lifetime. The color white has become a constant reminder. Some have actually said to me, "but you loved figure skating so winter should be your favorite time of the year". But those must realize you can step in and out of a rink and experience the outdoor season. Skating is a way of life, like any sport. My body totally got used to being in the little dresses, or almost naked as some used to remind me, but it was completely different. I compared it to football players who play in the snow, you are working mostly on adrenaline and it's something that is a part of your life, like putting on your shoes. Only those who are passionate about something in their life can truly know a little how it feels.

Although I have been a little under the weather the last few days I have still managed to click on the television and watch skating. It brings back those truly magnificent times in my life where I felt like nothing was unattainable.

Figure skating constantly changes but the one thing that is the most enjoyable is to watch the "older" more seasoned skaters come back and try just one more time to capture a moment in their hands they have worked all their lives for.. To put it in perspective their are 10 figure skaters out of the millions and millions who skate who worked up the ranks this year to be able to be an Olympian. You dedicate your whole life, 24-7 to the sport, you live and breath it, it takes tremendous focus and determination. Believe me not everyone has the talent. Personally I was always happy to just do the best I could. I was always my own worse critic (and still am). It's a very harsh world.

I remember long ago our local newspaper wrote an article on my parents about their love of the sport and my dad being quoted he wanted to be "buried with his boots on". That quote made me think about the young man who tragically died on the luge course. It was quoted on the internet this morning that he had told his dad he would either win or die trying. My first thought was be careful what you wish for, but it also made me felt although we never have a chose on how we leave this world, he died doing what he loved.

So with that in this long, long winter from east to west, the Olympics is bringing a little sunshine and fond memories to my life.

The Biggest Contest of the Year

It has been a few years since I have taken the time to sit down and watch a football game. Truthfully, probably the last one was our son Matthew's last high school football game 5 years ago. Bittersweet as it was, admittedly I was glad it was over. But as a mother I needed to support his desire to play.. Our family truly has never been a sport watching family. I don't lose my husband on the weekends to any of the major sports like other women do (thank God) but occasionally a Super Bowl has been enticing enough to watch.

I have been invited by a friend to her Super Bowl party. She has many reasons to cheer this year. After Hurricane Katrina she was one of many families that had to relocate somewhere else. Her husband had a chance for a transfer here so Missouri became her new home.. Needless to say she is on "cloud-nine" that the New Orleans Saints have a great chance to win the Super Bowl this year.

Usually I root for the underdog and heaven knows New Orleans has had it's share of struggles the last several years. It would be wonderful if they win.

New Orleans is a great town. I had the chance many years ago to attend a conference their. I remember the wonderful food, sights and people. Although Katrina took alot of that away, step by step and little by little I am sure they will one day be the New Orleans I remember best.

Who Dat!!! Saints....