I had to — they rhyme! And, of course, both Americans won gold. Dawn Harper (left) staged a huuuuuge upset over fashionably bespectacled U.S. teammate LoLo Jones in the 100-meter hurdles — a win seemingly most shocking to Dawn herself. Mentor Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s words of encouragement to Dawn (via email) rang especially true: "It’s anyone’s race on that day." But, aggggghhhh, that footage of Jones (possible long-lost sister of Rashida?) taking a private moment against the stadium wall, with only her crushed dreams and a herd of camera crews to keep her company, damn near broke my heart. I almost wanted to give her Stud distinction just for holding it together for a post-race interview ("I could feel the gold around my neck!")
Meanwhile, gymnast/dynamite stick Shawn Johnson (right; nicknamed "Minnie Mouse" by the Chinese) finally earned a gold of her own — in the individual balance beam final — to add to her three silvers from Beijing. I’m not sure what made me cry harder — watching Shawn’s parents’ weepy embrace in the stands, or the ever-composed Shawn herself during the national anthem. I seriously don’t understand how these impossible creatures don’t totally lose it as a song plays JUST FOR THEM in front of the WORLD. Why am I crying and they’re not?! The question only makes me cry even harder, every time. This, friends, is why I am Not Olympic Material.
Honorable mentions abound: Canadian springboard diver (and way hotter version of Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick) Alexandre Despatie picked up a silver last night, which I realized in between obligatory DVR pauses to count the ripples on 4 percent body fat-boaster Troy Dumais‘ 20-pack. Great Britain track star Christine Ohuruogu astounded fans of U.S. armwarmer queen Sanya Richards by pulling ahead in the straightaway portion of the women’s 400-meter final to win gold. 34-year-old Russian cutie Dmitry Sautin endured countless commentator references to his ancientness to (probably) wrap up his own diving career, while the amazing He Chong continued the China-Only streak of gold medals in diving. And I know a lot of you tire of all the volleyball coverage, but as a former ‘baller I must geek out for a moment: Indoor setter Linsday Berg absolutely ruled games 4 and 5 of the U.S.’ match against Italy, jump-serving aces all over the place and finally utilizing her middle blockers (holla!) to score the U.S. a spot in the quarterfinals — they’ll next face the scary-awesome power attackers from Cuba. And, um, let’s talk about chicks, man (chicks, man)… Italian outside hitter Francesca Piccinini: Are. You. Kidding me? (I will be her in another life!)
Oh, and granted it was only the semis, but U.S. runner Wallace Spearmon gets a special shout-out for jokingly wagging his tongue at showboaty Jamaican runner Usain Bolt during their heat. (SPOILER ALERT: This just happened in today’s final.)
Nominate your own Olympic Stud of the Day* — or second ours — below. (Then 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.)
Comments (1-30) of 100 Add your comment
Alex Despatie is hot. That is all.
Annie, I hear ya on the crying. Got teary just reading that paragraph…
Must agree regarding Alex Despatie
Tres-chad.
I also cried while watching Shawn’s parents weep in the stands – so Annie, you’re definitely not alone. And I’m glad I’m not alone in assuming that LoLo Jones and Rashida Jones are related.
Dawn’s reaction was hilarious. She could not believe it at all. And Shawn. My favorite 2008 Olympian. Finally, she got her gold. My friends and I were waiting for her to cry but she didn’t haha. When she found out she’s won gold, she just kept smiling and waving at the crowd and at the camera. During the medal & flag ceremony, we were all like “Okay she’s biting her lip, here it comes, she’s gonna cry…” But she kept her composure haha. I heart Shawn Johnson, partly because of her skills, but mostly because of her personality. She is America’s sweetheart.
Shawn’s parents reaction had me the closest to tears that I have been in months! Such a great moment!
Shawn is amazing! As is nastia! I think the best thing about those two is their friendship!
Alexandre Despatie is dreamy. Another Canadian cutie, Jason Burnett, won the silver medal in trampoline (and also finished between two Chinese athletes).
I say this as a gay man – but Lolo Jones has got to be one of the most insanely beautiful women I’ve ever seen! Sorry she came up short – but congratulations to Dawn Harper – and to another Canadian medallist, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, who came out of nowhere in her first major event final to win a bronze! Go Canada!
Whoa, NSFW tag on those Piccinini links would have been nice! Now everyone thinks I’m a perv.
Lolo Jones, Amanda Beard, Shawn Johnson – that’s a yummy hat-trick right there.
Thanks for the Alex Despatie nod: I agree he’s studly (but sooooooo young!), but also want to throw in one last shout out to triathlete Simon Whitfield, for an astounding Olympic effort! Oh, and I’ll also put forward a pre-emptive vote for some upcoming OSOTD: kayaker Adam van Koeverden… his finals are coming up soon.
congrats to jonathan horton (who i know was already a OSOD)for winning silver in horizontal high bar. that was a great performance! i also enjoyed seeing his parent’s proud reaction.
I’ll second a pre-emptive vote for some upcoming OSOTD: kayaker Adam van Koeverden…he’s a stunner, and intelligent and well-spoken to boot. Go AvK!
Alex Despatie is just yummy. I’m tempted to say that he wins the hottest guy in the Olympics gold medal.
Poor Lolo Jones. That was just heartbreaking.
I couldn’t be an Olympian, either, because I would be bawling my eyes out. Oh, and there’s the complete lack of athletic ability, but mostly, it’s the crying thing.
I have to say that watching Shawn Johnson’s mom crying in the stands made me teary, along with the fact that she finally got her gold medal. I was concerned that Nastia would edge her out of the number one spot; not that I dislike Nastia, but she already had her gold and it was Shawn’s turn.
Dawn Harper’s win was a true Olympic moment. I love it when the underdog achieves the glory. On another note, Dawn Harper should garner toothpaste endorsements. Her smile is dazzling and her teeth are beautiful…
I love shawn johnson she is so cute and i love her smile! Im so glad she finally got her GOLD that lil nugget deserved it. You go gurl. . .come back to london in 2012 please! I wanna see how she matures. . .
I was shouting at my TV last night as it showed Lolo crying by herself. I’m sure my neighbors were alarmed byt the late night “LEAVE HER ALONE!!!) coming from my apartment.
About crying omg i have cried alot seriously no matter waht country when i see the exciment of winning or the distraught of losing in there face its the best REALITY tv anyone can ask for. The best composure moment has to go to Nastia when she ties in the uneven bars and rec silver b/c the tie breaking rules. I was crying at home i was so mad and she was just there and was able to hold it all in…hats off to a strong beautiful women.
About crying omg i have cried alot seriously no matter waht country when i see the exciment of winning or the distraught of losing in there face its the best REALITY tv anyone can ask for. The best composure moment has to go to Nastia when she ties in the uneven bars and rec silver b/c the tie breaking rules. I was crying at home i was so mad and she was just there and was able to hold it all in…hats off to a strong beautiful women.
About crying omg i have cried alot seriously no matter waht country when i see the exciment of winning or the distraught of losing in there face its the best REALITY tv anyone can ask for. The best composure moment has to go to Nastia when she ties in the uneven bars and rec silver b/c the tie breaking rules. I was crying at home i was so mad and she was just there and was able to hold it all in…hats off to a strong beautiful women.
Shawn Johnson rocked! And Jonathan Horton is just so adorable, he gets my second place vote. He so deserved a medal last for that high bar routine.
Ditto both noms! Dawn was so joyful and the silver & bronze in that race were freaking ecstatic:
http://community.livejournal.com/olympicgames08/128089.html#cutid1
Shawn was biting her cheek SO HARD not to cry. If she had seen her parents like we did it would’ve been waterworks for sure!
And there is no doubt that Lolo is beautiful. Stunning.
Hottest of the day: He Chong, Jeremy Wariner, Lolo Jones, and Alex Despatie. Yum.
Both Lolo and Shawn (the girls with great composure) are from Des Moines. Classy girls and city.
My vote goes to John Horton for his high bar routine. He added .5 difficulty to his routine in just 3 days and nailed it! Who debuts a new routine at the Olympics? In a sport where routines are repeated and perfected, John Horton basically flew by the seat of his pants.
I was so happy for Shawn. Finally got that gold medal! She seems like the nicest girl in interviews and she’s too cute…you just want to squeeze her little cheeks LOL
I’m with you Annie! I cry whenever I hear “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Olympics. I would so lose it if I won the gold and had to stand in front of the universe and they were playing that song for me!
OMG Misty May and Kerri Walsh totally need to be the studs today!!!!
Okay, if I base my nomination solely on attractiveness, Despatie is the stud of the day, not to mention the entire Olympics. He’s also a good diver (yes, I did notice that). Oh, and on my sister’s behalf I will nominate Jonathan Horton.