Friday, February 12, 2010

My Weekend Crush

My love for Olympic athletes is well documented. The passion, dedication and sheer sweat it takes to make it to the highest level of athletic achievement is beyond awe inspiring. The Olympics are the only time I eagerly tune in to watch skiing, bobsledding, heck, even curling has its moments. Of course, for years I obsessed over figure skating. Back in 1992 when Kristi Yamaguchi doubled her triple salchow in her free skate, I nearly ate the throw pillow I was holding – I was that nervous for her. But this crush isn’t about the competition, oddly enough. It’s not about nail biting, or team rooting or podium standing. It’s about the one time in the Olympics when everyone is a winner, simply by being there.

The opening ceremonies have always been one of my favorite spectacles. If you weren’t blown away (and possibly a little frightened) by the near-mechanical precision displayed in the Beijing Games, then we weren’t watching the same program. But besides being a way for each country to show off, the ceremony is a celebration of hard work. Each athlete walks in having fulfilled a life’s dream. Each is an equal, each the best. No one is first, second or third. No one is a loser. Instead they’re all just together, honoring mutual dedication, excellence and achievement. I swear, each time the athletes start to walk in, I get a little choked up. Yes, I cry at the Olympics – every. single. time.

So bring on the light show, Vancouver, and show us what you’ve got, Canada. For one night, as the Olympic flame springs to life and the blazing cauldron watches over the city, everyone is a champion. Congratulations, Olympians. Happy weekend, all.

p.s. Just in case you think I’ve gone soft, I am currently accepting hottie Winter Olympic athlete suggestions for future use. I’ll near all the help I can get because it’s a lot harder to gauge under all those winter togs. So help a sister out, ladies. Sing us out, Sarah.

19 comments:

*** GayGirl2000 *** said...

For me, it's ALL about Katarina Witt... The woman chose to do her much anticipated return to the Olympics in 1994 (the year, where everything was about Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan) and portray Robin Hood. It was actually a pretty big deal that the woman with nicknames like "The beautiful face of communism" and "Sex on Ice" went in drag. Though of course it was probably hotter that way. :oP
Plus, she did Playboy - which I had my dad buy for me. What?! I was only like 15 years old... I could ask daddy, but wouldn't go buy it myself. LOL, need I say that the one thing I have never identified as is "straight". ;o)

puck said...

Gretchen Bleiler. GRETCHEN BLEILER. She pulls snowboarding halfpipe moves that would terrify most dudes, and she is melt-your-computer-screen hot.

Norma Desmond said...

I'm with you on Kristi. I have never cared so much about sports as I did when she was skating.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm a few suggestions:

Madeleine Dupont, part of the Danish curling team, she must be included with a calender photo like this: http://multimedia.ekstrabladet.dk/eb/archive/00509/No_name_509651m.jpg (copyright: Fire on Ice)

Or Therese Johaug, Norwegian cross country skier http://d3.img.v4.skyrock.net/d33/therese-johaug/pics/2764194354_1.jpg (from http://therese-johaug.skyrock.com/) or http://gfx.dagbladet.no/pub/artikkel/5/55/553/553969/JOHAUGXmX4119_1226650123_1226650138.jpg (from Dagbladet).

Happy Olympics to everyone!

sarahdee86 said...

I've never been a huge fan of the Olympics, but I appreciate your description of the opening ceremony! I also was in love with Kristi Yamaguchi when I was growing up! Best ice skater ever, in my mind.

Anonymous said...

oooohhh i ALWAYS cry at the olympics;) my girlfriend laughs at me, but i cant help it! they always play those sappy songs like the new one by sarah mclaughlin.

ok soooo, by babe pics. lets obviously start with lindsey vonn, throw in a little bit of norwegian kari traa, and then we'll finish it up with british skier chemmy alcott. there are so many hotties this year. i am just glad to be working from home so i can watch all week!

Amber Bollman said...

It's unclear yet whether she's gonna get to ski, but Lindsey Vonn is gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget Mellisa Hollingsworth, Canadian Skeleton team, and this year's World Cup champ. Yum yum!

Anonymous said...

Jenn Heil (Canadian mogul skier) and Kristina Groves (Canadian long track speed skater) and Tessa Virtue (Canadian ice dancer)

I'm Canadian, can you tell :)

Anonymous said...

Nice timing on the post. I can't wait for the games to begin!

I posted some pics of some of the U.S. women's snowboarding team over on my blog this morning. I have to agree with puck, in all caps. GRETCHEN BLIELER.

Sičilè said...

check out our former Olympic Champion Freestyle skier Kari Traa

Amanda said...

Omg, post about all of the snowboarder lesbians. My favorite sport.

Amanda

Anonymous said...

Take a look at this woman:

Canadian flag bearer Clara Hughes - who can forget her writing JOY on her hand before winning gold in the 5000 m speed skating event in 2006. She later donated 10,000 - her savings to Right to Play inspiring the country to donate as well. And she's a summer medalist in cycling.
http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2010/01/29/spo-hughes-flagbearer.html

Shannon said...

Everyone wins except the female ski jumpers who are excluded, right?

Anonymous said...

Lindsey Vonn is gorgeous and her smile ...

R said...

The highlight of the opening ceremonies for me (and I suspect, many) was k.d. lang singing Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah." Breathtakingly beautiful.

Unknown said...

Gotta love k.d. lang . . . love her barefoot rendition of Hallelujah. She makes me mellllt.

Clara Hughes (Canadian speed skater) looked so joyful. Love her.

Jenn Heil (Canadian moguls) is fiery and adorable. Hope she wins gold today!!!

Anonymous said...

http://www.olympics.com.au/athlete/cecilia-mcintosh

Cecilia Mcintosh from Australia. She just made it into the games last week.

Sabsl Photography said...

jeah... loved K.D. Lang... but now i'm searching everywhere the Video from her... but I can't find it :( ... bc just wake up the last minute of her performance :(( ... well it was already ~6a.m. on my place and i've watched the whole night ^^ ... so please, if anyone of you know a working link... please let me know :)) ...

greetings from the tiny with snow covered Austria :/