Games of the XXIX Olympiad

[vbhoutex]

Next question I have is why do they have to be 16? There are other athletes in the swimming or diving portions that have been clearly been identified as being 14 and 15. I would expect this rule to be for all sports.

[lurkey]

Next question I have is why do they have to be 16? There are other athletes in the swimming or diving portions that have been clearly been identified as being 14 and 15. I would expect this rule to be for all sports.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_contro ... gymnastics

In response to the changing demands of the sport, at the 58th Congress of the FIG, held in July 1980 just before the Moscow Olympics, the age limit was raised from 14 to 15. Under this rule, which went into effect in 1981, gymnasts were required to turn at least 15 years of age in the calendar year to compete in senior-level events.[1] This age limit remained in place until 1997, when it was raised one more year, from 15 to 16.[7][8]

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/199 ... nb_gym.htm

The age of female gymnasts has been an issue in the sport for 25 years. Jackie Fie, who helped found the American women's gymnastics program in the 1960s and is president of FIG's women's technical committee, recalls that the age threshold was 14 in the 1970s and changed to 15 in the 1980s. The present limit, she says, has been discussed since 1988 and was actually approved by FIG in 1994. Fie, who lives in Jefferson, Iowa, says the change was prompted by many concerns, including the musculoskeletal development of young competitors, lengthening gymnastic careers, preventing burnout, and countering negative publicity that the sport has received.

[RL3AO]

Track and field starts today including the mens 100m heats.

[Brent]

Forgot to post this, really interested to see how the ratings are once swimming is over. Phelps is fueling some of the extra viewers based on last night clearly:

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008

Michael Phelps only swam one semifinal during Wednesday's prime-time portion of the Olympics, and NBC's ratings took a bit of a hit as a result.

NBC still dominated the night, however, drawing a 16.5 rating/27 share. CBS led the rest of the field with a 3.9/6. ABC, 2.7/5, edged FOX, 2.4/4, for third. The CW managed only a 0.7/1.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, NBC's 9.1 rating was more than double the combined total of the other four networks. CBS' 1.4 was good for second, followed by ABC, 1.3; FOX, 1.0; and The CW, 0.4.

NBC's Summer Olympics coverage kicked off with a 14.1/25 at 8 p.m. "Greatest American Dog" earned a 3.3/6 for CBS, topping a "Bones" rerun, 3.1/5, on FOX. "Wife Swap," 2.3/4, came in fourth for ABC. The CW aired an "America's Next Top Model" repeat.

The Olympics improved to 17.0/27 at 9 p.m. A "Criminal Minds" rerun, 4.3/7, kept CBS in second. ABC moved into third with "Supernanny," 2.7/4, while "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" drew a 1.8/3 for FOX. "Girlicious" couldn't muster even a million viewers on The CW.

At 10 p.m., swimming finals and the men's gymnastics all-around scored an 18.5/30 for NBC. "CSI: NY" posted a 4.1/7 for CBS, and "Primetime: Crime" came in at 3.1/5 for ABC.

[Ivanhater]

One hell of an opening set with May and Walsh against the Bulgarians!

[Ivanhater]

What an upset! Go soni! Another Gold for USA!

[Brent]

WOOHOO! Go Soni!

[Brent]

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!! Phelps gets his SIXTH gold medal of the games.

Lochte gets bronze.

Earlier we got a gold and silver in another swimming event.

[Ivanhater]

Americans win the all around womens gymnastics gold!!!!!!!!! Nastia Liukin first since mary lou!!!

[Brent]

USA! USA! USA!

GOLD AND SILVER!!!!!!!!!

[Ivanhater]

USA! USA! USA!

GOLD AND SILVER!!!!!!!!!

Never has happened! These Olympics are amazing!

[HurricaneBill]

I was at Burger King when the 100m event was being aired. They have a TV there and the Olympics were on. What an amazing race!

Australian swimmer Leisel Jones's reaction, according to ABC (Australia):

After the race a smiling Jones shrugged off the defeat.

"I just gave it absolutely everything .. I don't care, I'm all done," she told Channel Seven.

"I've had the best time and I think that's the most important part. I'm just so happy in my life that I couldn't care less.

"No commiserations. It's the Olympic Games, it's what it's all about. It was a great experience, she was the better swimmer on the day, she really did a great job, and I couldnt be more happy."

If that isn't good sportsmanship, I don't know what is.

[HurricaneBill]

If anybody has ever wondered who has won the most Olympic medals, it is Soviet Union (Ukraine) gymnast Larissa Latynina.



She competed at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, the 1960 Olympics in Rome, and the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

She won a total of 18 medals. (9 gold; 5 silver; 4 bronze)

[RL3AO]

Phelps should medal these final two events giving him 16 total medals. He should be able to easily get three in London.

[HurricaneBill]

I wonder how wyq614 is doing at the Olympics? I think he said he was a volunteer helping the athletes from Argentina. I hope he's having fun there.

[vbhoutex]

I wonder how wyq614 is doing at the Olympics? I think he said he was a volunteer helping the athletes from Argentina. I hope he's having fun there.

I've been wondering about him too. I was hoping he would have time to get online and post an update, but since they tightened up the access so hard just before the games I imagine he can't. Hopefully he'll have some stories to telll after the games.

[Brent]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My heart stopped.

He got it! SEVEN GOLDS! Tied Spitz's record.



By 0.01 second!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vbhoutex]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My heart stopped.

He got it! SEVEN GOLDS! Tied Spitz's record.



By 0.01 second!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just call him THRILLER!!!!!

[HurricaneBill]

Just call him THRILLER!!!!!

Great. Now I'm picturing zombies dancing behind him.

[RL3AO]

Men's 100m semifinal spoilers (big one)
Highlight to reveal
Tyson Gay finishes 5th in semis and does not qualify for finals.