At approximately 9:30 p.m. ET Friday night, I caught Olympic fever. I was just finishing a glass of frozen sangria (highly recommended) when my friend Ron looked up at the television screen opposite our table and said, "I don’t get this sport." It was synchronized swimming.
I should have asked why this Mexican restaurant was showing synchronized swimming, and more importantly, if it will be doing so during the Summer Olympics (which begin August 8). But my mind was too busy wondering when they started tossing women out of the water. Awesome.
Who else has Olympic fever, and for what sport? If that little Shawn Johnson doesn’t have you looking forward to women’s gymnastics, you have no heart.
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I love gymnastics. That’s my fave, but I’m going to try to expand my horizons this year.
Synchronized swimming is AWESOME (it always blows my mind that they’re not touching bottom) but I will forever be reminded of that SNL skit with Martin Short and . . . was it Christopher Guest? The two man SS team, oh that was funny.
swimming – two words – Mr. Phelps. Yummy.
Kathleen – You’re not mad, you’re just pointing!
“Hey you, I know you! I know you!”
I was gonna embed that SNL video, but I couldn’t find it. (Post the link, if you have better luck!)
I did find a transcript:
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/84/84aswimmers.phtml
Gymnastics,swimming, diving–pretty much anything featuring fellas in Spandex.
I, too, love me some fellas in spandex (especially the amazing Michael Phelps). However, I’m most looking forward to the women’s 1500m (track and field) because someone I know from high school just qualified for it!
Of course I’m looking forward to men’s swimming. Not only so I can ogle Michael Phelps but also because I just love hearing them say the name Pieter Van den Hoogenband. That just brings a smile to my face every time and I don’t know why. I remember during the 2004 summer Olympics, whenever there was a lull at work, my coworkers and I would randomly say Pieter Van den Hoogenband to break the silence.
Oh right, there are other sports too. I love that they’ve made the trampoline an actual Olympic event so I’ll try to catch that one. That’s usually where all the retired divers go who still really want to compete in something.
Then their’s all the track & field stuff. I mostly watch for the track events.
swimming (phelps & dara torres, she’s my hero!!!), gymnastic, track & field. i’m into all things olympics! my bff is coming over on the 8th. i’m making dinner & we’re watching the opening ceremonies!! I CAN’T WAIT!!!
I’m just looking forward to being able to shout “UNBELIEVABLE! HE STICKS THE LANDING!” every time my husband trips over the dog. Oh Olympics, how I heart you.
i’ve been watching as many qualifiers as possible (swimming, track & field, diving, gymnastics) and i’m soooo looking forward to the games! i’m actually bummed i missed the synchronized swimming, lol. i think i may not be just suffering from olympic fever – i might be delirious!
My daughter is a synchronized swimmer and I can assure you it is much harder that simply swimming laps. Imagine swimming the lap of a pool underwater, while lifting another person over head and holding your breath at the same time. Don’t forget you must do it all with a smile and your toes pointed! Get the point!?! Go US Olympic Synchro Team!!!
Martin Short is all I could think about while watching this video. Somebody please find it and embed it PLEASE!
If it’s in the pool, I’m there. I can’t wait for swimming and diving and synchronized swimming to start. I also love rowing (so hypnotic) and equestrian. I hope Mary Carillo’s covering the dancing horsies again this time, by the way. She cracks me up.
Oh, and rhythmic gymnastics! Basically, anything that gets ridiculed for not being a real sport, I’m a big fan.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/mens-synchronized-swimming/1980340333
As a former synchronized swimmer, I can say, “Yes, I HAVE seen the SNL skit; yes, I DO find it hilarious; yes, you CAN listen to the music via underwater speakers (why they ALWAYS mention this fact at least once a routine I’ll never know but it’s annoying as h**l); and yes, I will SO be watching synchro this Olympics! Go Team USA!
Verity, you just made my day. I’ve been trying to remember the awesome name of this one European swimmer from ‘04 since the trials started, and “Van den Hoogenband” is totally it.
I want to see the 41 year old MILF-Y swimmer win some more medals. She’s hot.
Also, I can’t wait to see boxing and am crossing my fingers to see how far Puerto Rico’s basketball team will do.
Dara Torres has me excited for swimming. I’ve also got Olympic fever for gymnastics and track and field. I really enjoy watching Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix.
I’ve had Olympic fever for several months now, sometime around March Madness I realized that the Olympics were coming up, much to the annoyance of my roommate, and later my parents. I always have bad Olympic fever for track and field, but I also have it for softball (can the U.S. win sweep the golds in all the Olympics that allowed softball in them?) For me, if it’s fast, or any sort of competition, I’ll be watching.
I am stoked about the Olympics. My hubby and I watched the track and field qualifying rounds for hours. But I’m a sucker for sports – I’ll watch any and every event I can. Go USA!
I always enjoy gymnastics and track, but mainly I can’t wait for Tennis. I’m still coming down from Wimbledon and I want to see who triumphs this time, on hard court.
It was Dara Torres that made me check the calendar and see how close we are to the opening ceremony. Now I have to check out synchronized swimming, too.
I love that Harry Shearer/Martin Short video. I am looking forward to the Olympics, even though I don’t watch sports very much. My favorite in the summer games is gymnastics, but synchronized swimming comes in not far behind.
I was able to go to the Olympic Swim Trials and watch Phelps and Torres swim…it was amazing! The event itself was very impressive. Watchiing people live their lifelong dream is quite an honor. And I am extremely saddened by the Olympic Committee’s decision to eliminate softball from the 2012 games. Go Finch, Ostermann and Team USA!
oh i got the fever. the prescription? more sychronized diving. seriously the greatest sport EVER. stumbled upon it last olympics and have been positively giddy in anticipation of its return.
If you enjoy the swimming, you should check out the water polo.
Synchro is AWESOME! This was Spain performing in Rio last October (2007) and at the very end you can see the USA team about to come out. How do I know? My daughter is on the USA Olympic Synchronized Swim team!!!! We leave for China in 4 weeks…GO USA!
here’s the link although the music is different…
http://www.videosift.com/video/Christopher-GuestHarry-Shearer-Mens-Olympic-Synchronized-Swimming-clip-1
can’t wait for synchronized swimming! so proud, one of the girls i coach years ago is going this year. they were showing a movie about the last olympic team at age groups but i didn’t get a chance to see it. anybody know what it was called and if i can get a copy for our club?