Luckily, no one expects "journalistic objectivity" in a blog called "Olympic Stud of the Day," because watching last night’s women’s gymnastics all-around competition, I was about as objective as Bela Karolyi. I was rooting for Shawn Johnson, largely because I think I could talk to her if we were stuck together at an airport. We’d talk about how really, if you need to say you live a normal life, you don’t. (We’d also talk about whether she was on a date, like that radio deejay said. About whether people will actually go visit Des Moines just because she’s from there. About what would have happened to that sculpture of her in butter.) I have no idea how Nastia Liukin (pictured) and I would pass the time…. Maybe chatting about her decision to wear a pink leotard rather than a red, white, or blue one? (I know that shouldn’t bother me, but it kinda did.) All that said, Liukin deserved the gold (and Stud of the Day title) for making her stuck landings on the vault and beam as beautiful as her bars routine.
Other contenders: Belgian beach volleyball players Liesbeth Mouha and Liesbet van Breedam, who almost pulled off an upset against the U.S. golden girls, Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor. (How incredible was that first set?) Mouha and van Breedam had to beg their Olympic committee to even send them to Beijing when they qualified 13th. Then there’s U.S. swimmer Rebecca Soni, who did upset Australia’s Leisel Jones in the 200M breaststroke. That finish was almost as exciting as Jason Lezak’s in the 4X100M freestyle relay. And finally, we’ve got Michael Phelps, who earned his sixth gold at Beijing for the 200M individual medley — then got a rubdown (which I may have rewound) — before taking to the pool again. Milorad Cavic, an American representing his parents’ homeland, Serbia, could be trouble for Phelps in the 100M butterfly. But you know, I’m suddenly twice as excited to watch that final.
Nominate your own Olympic Stud of the Day* — or second ours — below. (And click here to check out our winning Studs from the previous days in Beijing.)
* Not just a man or woman who turns us on. (Necessarily.)
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i second that. and i also got bothered by the pink leotard. i was also rooting for shawn johnson bec she looks so cute and adorable and doesn’t have the size that most gymnasts yet she nails her routines. but nastia was breathtakingly amazing, especially in the beam and the floor. when she started smiling after she finished w/ the floor, and couldn’t hold back tears when the announcer said gold medalist & olympic champion next to her name, i cried a little bit myself.
Thank you EW for covering the Olympics!
What an incredible win for the U.S. Nastia Liukin was amazing, and so was Shawn Johnson. I was nervous throughout since it seemed like the judges were being extra hard on the Americans and easy on everyone else. And I was more bothered by that Chinese gymnast’s blue eyeshadow than I was by Nastia’s leotard.
I was rooting for Nastia last night. She has come back from injury to be even better than she was before and she did it with grace and beauty. The pink leotard is no big deal its just one of many that was made for the members of the US team and pink is her favorite color! You can’t argue with her stuck landings and how exquisite she looked while on floor or the fact that she has the hardest bar routine in the world. Nastia just killed it! I’m also going to nominate Ryan Lochte for Oylmpic stud, aside from the fact that he is a total hottie, he won a gold medal in the 200m backstroke and then a mere 27 minutes later he took bronze in the 200IM. People said it was the hardest double of games but he did it and up against the best swimmers in the world no less. Now there’s someone I could chat up in an airport!
Agree wholeheartedly with choosing Nastia. And I liked the pink leotard, she looked great in the color – much better than she looks in the red one.. A close second for OSOD would be Rebecca Soni.
Nastia is the obvious choice for OSD. However, I don’t understand why the pink leotard should bother anybody. Johnathan Horton wore grey in the mens all-around.
Good one on calling out Liesbeth Mouha and Liesbet van Breedam. I obviously wanted Walsh and May to win, but the Belgians put up a great first set. Props to Misty and Kerri for pulling it together at the end.
Yeah I stayed up way too late watching the gymnastics and it was so worth it. I thought the pink leotard was cute on her, it really made her stand out. I second Ryan Lochte- so hottt
Nastia was a shoo in but I too was disturbed at her choice of leotard. And as a mother,it broke my heart to see her trying to call her mom to no availe.
I’m going to echo the calls for Ryan Lochte. There is probably no one at the olympic games who better fulfills the term stud and then yesterday he went on to win his first individual gold only to have to swim against Michael Phelps 29 minutes later (and he still had a good race!). It was also his last swim I believe, meaning there is no other chance to give him the stud title which is a true shame because Lochte is a total hottie!
Yes, she was the stud of yesterday. But Lochte comes as a second, he is gorgeous!
And for the leotard debate, I liked it.
One word: LOCHTE!
Nastia! She is gorgeous and her routines were so pretty (and stuck like glue). Plus, her barely holding it together once she found out she won was very moving. On the podium she would try and sing along but you could tell that anything other than deep breathing was going to turn her into a sobbing mess.
As for the leo, I was thrown a bit at first as well, but the color looks very good on her so it grew on me!
The difference between the team competition and the all-around is that the gymnasts are representing themselves, not their country. So they should be able to wear whatever color makes them happy!
I disagree…Olympians are ALWAYS representing their country. However, I have no problem with them wearing different colors, but I can see why some think it’s off.
I agree totally with the Nastia Liukin nomination. The pink leotard didn’t bother me but the makeup on some of the gymnasts seemed a little much. Also Rebecca Soni for pulling off the upset and yes, yes, yes Ryan Lochte! Too bad that was his last event.
the pink leotard was an official US Olympic leotard. They wore it during the qualifying round. She looked great it in. I wouldn’t expect her and shawn to wear the same leotard to the individial all-around. the gymnasts are trying to differentiate themselves. the pink played into her elegance, long lines, and artistry and the red played into shawn’s power and compactness.
I think, technically, in both cases they’re representing their country. But one is as a team and one is as an individual. Michael Phelps is swimming for the US, even though he’s swimming in an individual event. But, eh..whatev.
I was rooting for Nastia, in part, because I feel like the media treat her like the ugly step-child compared to Shawn Johnson. Shawn is cute, litle and perky like Mary Lou and Carly. Nastia is long, lean and has a unique look. At any rate, both girls did a great job. WTG.
she was amazing, worth while staying up late to watch her . i think the leotard was beautiful and she look great, she definitively stand-out ( she even match the scrunchy).
the blue eye shadow on the Chinese toddlers was way to much, very ugly.
Shawn was very cute and i m sure she’ll win the gold in London.
I think Nastia is an amazing gymnast but I’m so tired of looking at her sour-puss face. It’s like she has a permanent scowl etched in. I would have preferred Shawn Johnson be the OSD based on that.
When we turned on the volleyball last night, the Belgians were in the middle of the first set, kicking some US a**. Although of course I was happy to see the US ladies win, I was genuinely impressed with the Belgians (and they’re huge, too!) and happy to see the US team tested a little.
Agree with picking Nastia, and agree with everyone else mentioning Ryan Lochte! He was so cute on the Today Show this morning and his whole family was there. I fell asleep after the parallel bars last night so I’m psyched NBC’s re-broadcasting the women’s all-around tonight!
Both Natsia and Shawn did very well last night. Since Natsia won, she deserves to be the STOD. I did not mind the pink leotard, although the blue eye shadow and baby barettes made me feel like I time warped into the 80’s.
Aw, Marie, I thought Nastia looked almost incandescently happy once her victory was assured. Her smile was so beautiful! And I could tell she was nearly overwhelmed by fulfilling her dreams. She’s a gorgeous champion — I love her.
Some people were born w/ a sour puss face and couldn’t help it. I say that because my lips, when not smiling, go downwards so people think when I’m not smiling I’m pissed off about something (also has something to do w/ my eyebrows). And Nastia has those strong Russian features so at first I thought geez what a snob and I warmed up to Shawn Johnson more. But when all her routines were done, Nastia started smiling to the crowd and I thought aww okay so she must be one of those people who look like they’re always frowning. I bet because she was also trying to concentrate, she couldn’t smile until she was done w/ all 4 routines.
I didn’t read that as sour-puss face, but concentration. Athletes have to do whatever they can to be 100 percent mentally strong. You’ll note that Phelps never looks like Mr. Joy Joy Happy man before he gets into the pool either. That said, I do wish all the members of team USA would stick to flag/team colors.
Did anyone else catch this? When the young lady from China got ready to do her routine (I don’t remember her name, sorry), I could have sworn I saw NBC flash her name and age 15 below it.
Maybe I was hallucinating because I was tired, I don’t know. But, if not, am I missing something. Wasn’t everyone making a big deal about the girls not being 16? Did I miss something?
Horton wore gray but it still had the red white and blue flag on it…..
They just have to turn 16 in the Olympic year.