One man does not conquer Olympics

The Olympics is primarily a team event, however every once in a while there comes along an amazing individual story. Michael Phelps has perhaps the best individual story of this year's event. He has the opportunity to win 8 gold medals at the games in China, and so far it doesn't look like anyone can stop him.
He is seeking to go one better than Mark Spitz's record of seven golds in the Munich games way back in 1972. Michael Phelps has already joined Spitz in a different record, having earned 9 gold medals in his Olympic career overall and likely to surpass this with 5 events still to go. In fact by the time you read this he may already have 10 gold medals in his possession over all his Olympic appearances.
More people seem to be interested in the other record though, can Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals in just one Olympic games? It would be a truly remarkable effort if he does, one that will surely go down in history. Phelps celebrated his latest win in the 200m freestyle with another world record time, in fact all 3 gold medals so far have been in world record time. Mark Spitz set his record of 7 gold medals with 7 world record times as well, and Phelps may indeed be able to do the same.
Many people including Mark Spitz himself have been amazed at the courage of Phelps to go into this games with such a burden on his shoulders, even racing in events where he did not have the best times and did not dominate at the last Olympic games. The 200m freestyle was such an event, with Phelps only coming third at the last Olympic games, and now setting a new world record in that event.
I think everyone, whether they are an American or not, really wants him to crack this 8 Olympic gold record and set the sporting world on fire. The Olympics may be a team event but it is a truly special experience to see one person at the peak of their career who is so dominant and performing so well.
Greg is a sport lover and Olympic geek, he has a blog with a live real time Olympic tally for the 2008 games, check it out here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Morgan

Are The Olympics Great Sport?

Some people have suggested that the Olympics are unfair and would be made more fair if we would add age, height, and weight classes to each sport. This would include more people who would otherwise not be able to play and would produce more winners.
They have suggested that some of the games favor taller athletes, for instance, so we should include a class for the shorter athletes, and so on and so forth.
I've never thought about this before, but maybe they're on to something. Let's explore this a bit, shall we?
I'm built like a football lineman, but I've always thought I'd make a good jockey - you know, the guys that ride the horses. It's not fair, though, that the other jockeys are so light. I think I should be given a Clydesdale because of my extra weight and they should be given mini-horses. That would be fair.
Let's not stop there, though.
Let's lower the basketball hoop for short people. Short guys on the volleyball court should be given stilts. Heavy guys like me could play half-court basketball. Tall people have to wear weight belts so they can't jump as high.
Heck, let's not pick our Olympic athletes based on their ability at all. We could create a lottery system so everyone would have a chance to make the team.
We wouldn't keep score and everyone would get a participation medal.
Instead of holding up score cards with "9", "9.5", or "10", we could hold up cards that say, "Nice Try", "You Did Great!", or "We're Really Proud Of You!"
Give me a break!!
The Olympics represent world-class competition. It's not about giving everyone an equal chance to participate. These are world-class athletes who have trained for years and years.
The Olympic spots belong to those who are most qualified - those who have dedicated their life to being the best at what they do and there should be no special provisions for height, weight, or age differences, except in sports like boxing and wrestling.
The Olympics aren't fair? Well, I have news for you. Life is not fair. Adding divisions for height, weight, and age classes for Olympics sports is completely ridiculous.
I have no delusions that I could compete in the Olympics, but if I did, I would sure pick a sport that favored my physical characteristics, my interests, and my natural abilities.
As a big guy, maybe I'd try out Sumo wrestling, weight lifting, or wrestling. I sure wouldn't go for figure skating, gymnastics, or sprinting. Nor should there ever be a heavy weight figure skating division just because I want to compete.
If I'm good enough to compete with the others who are already competing, then that's one thing. Inventing a new weight class just so I can be included and not get my feelings hurt is quite another.
The Olympics are all about world-class sports and not about including more people, regardless of their talent and abilities - and that's the way it should stay. If you want to be included in the Olympics, then I'm sorry, you'll have to get up off the couch and dedicate long hours to perfecting your sport just like the other Olympians.
What happened to common sense?
Just one guy's opinion - worth what you paid for it!
Chris M. Smith owns http://www.OlympicSportsSouvenirs.com He specializes in Olympic sports memorabilia, collectibles, and souvenirs from past and upcoming Olympic Games. He also features the latest in Olympic news, videos, articles, and other Olympics information. Visit his site: http://www.OlympicSportsSouvenirs.com
Copyright 2008 Chris M. Smith
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_M_Smith

Have the Beijing Olympics surpassed the expectations

We have witnessed some of the greatest swimming performances by many countries in the early stages of the 2008 Olympics. How can so many athletes perform at that level at the time they are scheduled to swim their most prestigious event? In order to do that, each individual must be able to operate at their highest level both mentally and physically. Just think about your own life and try to remember when you operated at a level higher than you ever have before, when the pressure was at its highest. Can't remember? Most people have ups and downs every day. There are a few days when they feel great, full of energy. However, there are many more days when the batteries are running low. Stress, physical demands, life's situations, health struggles like inflammation and arthritis. You name it. But it seems like these Olympic athletes can move past their daily demands to perform when it counts most. How do you think they are able to do it? Think about this! Remember the phrase "Garbage in Garbage out". This applies across the board to all. These athletes though are able to avoid "Garbage in Garbage out" and replace it with "Best in Best out". They have coaches who work with them mentally and physically. Let's take the physical side of things and think about what would happen to you if;
1. You could reduce or eliminate inflammation in your body. 2. You could modulate bacterial infections in the body. 3. Stimulate Red Blood Cell growth. 4. Lower Blood Pressure. 5. Support allergy symptoms. 6. Slow down and even reverse aging. 7. Improve immume system response. 8. Slow Anxiety. 9. Boost energy and body health. 10.Reduce headaches and migraines. 11.Ingest the highest amount of antioxidants from any food in the world.
If you could do all or most of this you would have Total Maximum Control over your life. Therefore you would be able to operate at your highest level most of the time. What would your life be like if you could operate at your highest level physicall and mentally?
Current and former(Greatest American Sprinter) Olympic athletes have access to a natural food supplement that lets them operate at their maximum potential most every day. You can too.
Find out what they know and what they are doing. Go here and get you all the info you need. www.yourmaxhealth.com
Matt Ney is married with 3 teenage girls. He has found a natural liquid food supplement that really started him on his way to mental clarity and physical health. Additionally he was able to take this supplement and start home-based businesses to provided himself as well as his girls with their own opportunity to generate monthly cash flow. More info on how easy it is to do this; http://www.yourmaxhealth.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_J_Ney