Ok party people, it's my favorite time of every 4 years - the Summer Olympics are here! They start tonight, and I suddenly decided this afternoon that I need a 'watch' list again - so I've picked a few people out of the many athletes I am so pumped about. There are so many other amazing athletes I didn't get to mention, mainly because I don't have time to write about the 554 US athletes individually, and also because I don't have time to research the other international athletes before the Opening Ceremonies in 20 minutes...
So those many other impressive athletes will have to come to our attention as we enjoy the next 14 days of inspiration, perspiration, deep heartbreak, and infectious jubilation. But for now, here are a few of my fave US Olympic Athletes to Watch:
Kerry Walsh Jennings and April Ross - beach volleyball
I've always loved Kerry Walsh, and her former partner Misty May, they've been so exciting to watch for so many years. The unstoppable duo took gold last Olympics, beating April Ross and her partner, in May's final competitive game before retiring. Walsh Jennings and Ross are now competing together in this Olympics, and I'm looking forward to seeing if the chemistry these former opponents have together will strengthen their individual talents to create a new unstoppable duo.
Ibtihaj Muhammad - Fencing
Ibtihaj Muhammad will be the first US athlete to compete wearing a hijab. This is rather impressive to me for a number of reasons: 1. I sweat profusely, so the idea of wearing more layers during athletic competition sounds extra difficult, plus it could be cumbersome - and she's wearing one while being in the top of her sport. 2. I love to see that athleticism is indifferent of religion or race or gender - she's amazing at what she does, and she also is fully committed to her faith. It's so great when someone can be obvious in their beliefs. She gets to be such a positive influence and example during these Games, and I can't wait to see the great focus they will give her for her unique position in this Games. Also, fencing is just really cool to watch, so watching the elite is always amazing.
The Women's gymnastics team - all of them!
But particularly Simone Biles, because we've never seen her in the Olympics before. Biles has had amazing success in the World Championships and other national and international competitions. But the Olympic Games is a different beast. Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman have proven that they can handle the Olympic spotlight; Simone is darling, and will be so fun to watch - it will be so enjoyable to watch her succeed and show the world she can handle all their expectations and hopes on her 4'8 high shoulders. And if we don't win the team competition, then it's because all 5 of the girls broke their legs (please don't do that!) - and we've seen before that the US team can even overcome those types of setbacks (hello Keri Strug!)
Ashton Eaton - Track & Field
Eaton is my favorite human being I've never met of all time. I've always said this, and now I realize most everyone else in the sports world says this, too, but decathletes are basically the best athletes in the world - their all-around ability in sprints, distance, strength, and flexibility shows in all the variety of events they have to compete in, and to be a good decathlete is so impressive. To be a great decathlete? Amazing. And Ashton Eaton has not only won the decathlon for the last 4 years of world competition, but he consistently wins or places in each of the events! He's not just coasting to a victory by being great at some events and decent at others; he's basically a boss everywhere. And because of his record-setting gold medal last Olympics, he will be highly visible during this one. Can't wait to watch him in action again, he's such a freaking stud.
Vashti Cunningham - Track & Field
Vashti is the daughter of US Football star Randall Cunningham, and he has been on the sidelines of all her track & field meets as she has become a young star in high jump. Despite being just 18 years old, she is a favorite to make the podium. She's just so fun to watch - she's so limber and tall, and she flows over that high jump pole like butta. I have a soft spot for the high jump, and I can't wait to see her and her dad get some of the Olympic spotlight as she makes a name for the US on this international platform.
Sydney McLaughlin - Track & Field
Sydney McLaughlin is 16 years old, and the youngest track star to compete on the team since 1972! She's running in the women's 400m hurdles, a race I watch more closely than others might, as it makes my heart race just thinking about it - having run the 300m hurdles in high school, I know the strenuous nature of a long hurdle race; adding another 100m to it would have literally killed me. So I consider athletes who run this race to be some of the strongest in the world. Hyperbole? Perhaps, but this is my 'watch' list, so I can say what I want. The race is half mental, to keep your focus and your strength through the whole thing, so to be a 16 year old qualifying and contending is super impressive. She may not win the whole thing, but she will be fun to watch anyway.
US Men's 4x100 team - Track & Field
The US men's 100 meter dash field is like an abundance of riches - but in the individual 100m, Usain Bolt is still the man they're all chasing. But depth becomes an advantage in the relay, and 4 amazingly fast sprinters stand a chance to overwhelm Bolt and his compatriots. The sprint relays are always the most exciting races to watch anyway, but Jamaica took the gold in London, and the US hasn't won since 2000. They didn't place in the 2015 world championships, but looked great in the recent Penn relays, so if they can have clean handoffs, they could be a surprise.
Michael Phelps - Swimming
I mean, he's always so fun to watch, with such talent and body to be exciting anytime he's in the water. But I'm adding him to this list particularly because I'm watching an interview he did with Bob Costas right now and he's discussing being just out-touched in the 200m butterfly by Le Clos of South Africa in London, and how he's looking forward to racing him again. Apparently Le Clos won that race in the 2015 World Championships and said that Phelps had discussed how he should've beaten Le Clos, but he hasn't beaten him in 4 years, so he can stay quiet now - and I suddenly needed Phelps to beat him this time! Also, Phelps wasn't allowed to participate in the 2015 WC, but in his next race, he swam the fastest 200m fly of the year...so, take that, Le Clos!
Honorable Mentions:
Allyson Felix - Track & Field (always, because I love her); Kerron Clement - Track & Field (because the 400 m hurdles is HARD and he's just so cute);
Special Shout-Out: THE REFUGEE TEAM
In the best spirit of the Games, the Refugee team will compete under the Olympic flag. A team with no country, they are participating for themselves, for their families, and for the world. They will prove to everyone that an Olympian is about heart and desire, not about boundaries and governments. The Olympics is a competition, sometimes the most fierce of competitions, but it's also so much about inclusion and equality. The seasoned veterans compete against the fresh newbies; the men and the women are equally competitive and impressive; and the big countries cannot overlook the small countries, or even the country-less, because one person can make such a difference here at the Games.
At the Olympics, it's not always the competition winners who are the most fun to watch. The inspirational and the motivational are often the biggest winners of them all!
SO LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
