The other day, I professed to be supremely uninterested and thoroughly unmoved by the Olympics festivities. God, I’m full of shit.
Rupert and I have been watching the primetime stuff all week. I admit it. We’ve watched synchronized diving, swimming races, and gymnastics like a couple of superfans, and the truth is, it really is entertaining. It seems like NBC has managed to cut out a lot of the bullshit, and they just go bam-bam-bam from one event to the other. Even the commercial breaks seem shorter and less painful.
Last night we watched a group of 7-year-old Chinese girls beat the crap out of the American gymnasts. And please. Don’t try to tell me those Chinese chicks are 16 and older. Bela Karolyi is not crazy – actually I think he might be for other reasons – but he’s right about this. Even the and and are getting on it, and there’s pretty convincing proof that there are some serious shenanigans going on with that shit.
Now don’t get me wrong. They won fair and square as far as performances go, I mean those toddlers really know how to tumble. But I am 100% convinced that at least a few of them are no more 16 years old than Sunny is. There are reasons for the age limits; the younger you are, the more fearless and flexible you are. Also about 30 pounds lighter and thus capable of monkey-like feats of gravity defiance. Not cool, China! Not cool at all.
So, that Michael Phelps is some kind of stud, huh? How much do you think he’ll make on endorsements in the next few years? One trillion dollars? Wheaties, Speedo, sperm banks, what-have-you.
I don’t know why, but I totally dig the synchronized diving. Rupert says he thinks they started this event four years ago but I didn’t watch then so it’s new to me and I like it. The girls were fun, but tonight, it’s the men. Oh yeah baby.
My Olympics recap sucks and I know this.
And finally, for those of you with strong stomachs and a PENCHANT FOR ABJECT HORROR, have you seen yet? Things happen to a weightlifter’s elbow that should never. ever. never. happen. Seriously, content warning. I know how squeamish some of you are.
If you can watch that for the first time and not cry out in sympathetic pain or screech “AGHGHGH!!!!” or possibly even pass out, then you, Sir, have unfeeling balls of steel.
Omigod. My toes curled under and snapped. Visceral soul shudder …. brrrr.
I’m reposting George, because his Olympic antics make me lol still, and are really the only reason I have watched at all.
Oh, those cute little chinese things. Gotta be all of 12. Now most of know the Chinese would never cheat, especially on their own turf. Came close to pissing myself when the guys elbow dislocates.
Huh? When I thought that there was no “sport” dumber than synchronized swimming, synchronized diving comes along. I wonder what’s next.
I used to hang out with some hardcore skateboarders so…eh, I’ve seen worse. Not many, but definitely worse than a dislocated elbow.
Also I play lots of violent video games.
14 Karat, doing the job I begged Rachel to do but she won’t. I couldn’t even post on the Bush/volleyball ass because I was so knocked over by our volleyball girls and their sportsmanship and general awesomeness and our president’s gentlemanliness.
OTHER THAN THAT, I, unlike some people, remain unmoved by Olympic whatzits and haven’t watched a single thing on TV. Neener.
(Edit: I am of course only teasing Rachel and couldn’t give a darn less if she ever posts anything I ask for, bless her little helmet-heart.)
I so didn’t want to see that. I so didn’t. I had heard about it, but I didn’t want to see it.
But do ya think I could have left well enough alone?
Oh no.
Just.Had.To.Press.Play. Didn’t I ?
Just had to fucking well press play.
I want to vomit.
I think I am going to have a cup of tea and go and hide in a dark cereal packet (which is what I think those Chinese gymnasts look like they have come out of.)
That wasn’t so bad. Of course, I am a old fart and have seen a lot of gore over the years.
laughykate, will you ever learn, woman! : ) LOL!!!
Sadly, no 14k. It doesn’t appear so. Stupid is as stupid does.
Currently issuing an APB on my appetite.
Sigh.
Anwyn stole my line: I remain unmoved. I have not and will not watch any Olympic coverage. I did watch the elbow-cracking goodness video, though.
purple-nurple Jesus, 14k, that was awesome. Tapificate. simply awesome.
I saw the elbow video linked at another blog with a similar warning. I haven’t watched it. I have a pretty good imagination, so I think I’ll just leave well enough alone.
Crap, maya, then you must have missed this one, too. I especially love that it looks like the first lady is reaching for it …
Inhale, anddddd hold it! LOL!
*SCREEEECH!!!*
Yikes, that looked even worse than when I busted my anterior cruciate ligament and the top and bottom sections of my leg briefly went in totally opposite directions (in a sideways kind of way).
I liked the official cover-uppers, though. I mean, we can’t let people see anything about the Olympics that might possibly distress them, can we?
Such as a little girl singer who’s cute but has slightly crooked teeth, for instance. I’m English. We know all about the horrors of bad teeth, mostly because we all have them. Well played, China.
Scientific proof that the Chinese are either lying or smacking the shit out of their athletes, in the face.
Note, the women play beach volleyball in skimpy bikini’s. Men play with long shirts and long surfing pants. So, yeah, I suspect synchronized diving with 2 guys in speedos would be preferred.
I’m done with Olympic weightlifting. You have hurt me for life, Rachal. I think I have hemorrhoids. Hell yeah I screamed out. So did my wife, the RN; but then she moved in closer for the replays suggesting, “well it didn’t look like his bone penetrated, so that’s good”.
I wonder what’s next.
Synchronized Curling in the Winter Olympics?
OMG, so my 16 yr old daughter came in, and I said let me scar you for life. Wife says, “no she wants to be a nurse, so show it to her”. Daughter watches and her absolutely stoic response, “Mom’s right, his bone isn’t sticking out.”
That’s thing about the Chinese, bless their wee cotton socks, rules and laws appear to be something they have a form of diplomatic immunity against.
I was on an overnight train there earlier in the year, No Smoking signs plastered all over the place. I reckon over half of the people on my carriage would have smoked during that journey.
So my pick for the next Olympic sport is ‘Ignoring No Smoking Signs’….and the gold medal goes to…..China !
(Shuffles off to eat dinner.) *Clank*… *Clank*… *Clank*
I’m only 33, yet some of those male swimmers and divers make me feel like a dirty dirty old lady. Remember in the 100 freestyle relay how Michael Phelps pulled his speedo down so it sat low on his hips while he cheered for the other guys? So do I…often.
Baahhhaaahaha! Well played, Don.
Not only do I not have balls of steel, but I definitely felt an upwards contraction..
Sheesh, poor guy. ‘World of hurt’ sounds about right.
I’m with Sam and Don T. But I’m really old, so I’ve had more time to see worse (and was unmoved by that, too).
clank*clank*clank – now, that’s good!
Oh. My. God. Elbows simply were not meant to do that. That was worse than looking down at my leg after I slipped on black ice and seeing my kneecap in a decidedly wrong position. (Wound up having to have surgery to fix two tendons.)
As for the gymnasts…I think we’ve established beyond a reasonable doubt that the ChiComs want this to be a terrific Olympics for them and will stop at absolutely nothing to make it happen. What’s a little thing like “the rules”?
You’re right he’s not crazy for that reason. I do get the feeling though that he’s just pissed that Americans aren’t able to do the same thing. I think even one of the articles I read had him talking about how the age restriction should be removed because “if they’re good enough to be in the olympics then their age shouldn’t matter.” So I think his and his wife’s indignity over them using children is because most people wouldn’t get worked up if they admitted wanting to do the same thing.
I don’t know what everyone’s upset about. I’ve always thought that female gymnasts were considered over the hill by age 16.
Remember Olga Korbut and Nadia Comenici? Nothing new.
It shouldn’t be called “women’s gymnastics”. There is no such thing, at least on the Olympic level. It should be called “girl’s gymnastics”, or “children’s gymnastics”.
No upset, per se, but annoyed.
Breaking the rules at the Olympics — outrageous!
Oh, and rickl, you’re right. Soon enough, it won’t be minimum age limit, but a maximum age limit. As in birth — 16, go to it! 16 years, 1 day, you’re a minimum wage worker at Tumbletown. Bah!
Those Chinese guys were quick to build that wall. Not that I’m complaining but it’s almost like they were expecting something like this to happen. I hope it doesn’t happen often.
Ee-yew! Shades of Joe Theismann!
No! It can’t be! Say it ain’t so!
That little Chinese girl looks like what I figure my GF did at about age 10.
And that video—ugh! Maybe this might serve as a warning that there are some things the human body just isn’t built for, full-stop.
Heavyweight lifter Bob Bednarski of the U.S. racked up his elbow in a similar way in 1968. A few months later he set a new world record in the same lift. This was in York, Pennsylvania. I was there to see it.
Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.
Check, please.
Anything “synchronized” is not a sport.
Ditto for “rhythmic” gymnastics.
Very true, except that a well-turned double play in baseball can be almost ballet-like.
Re: Weightlifter SNAP! I like how the Chinese guys run out there with the “Unpleasantness Shields” to save us from witnessing the aftermath. It would have been nicer if they would have been cute women with big fans.
jeez 14k, how many posts back am I supposed to be keeping up to date with? Thanks for the replay of the Bush pics. I’m going to see what else I’ve missed right now!
Yeah, that hurt. But, did you notice all the girls come out to shield the view of him?
I mean really, they had pre-done placard thingys to stand together with and block the view.
It’s not like I wanted to see what they were doing to help him, but you can’t help but notice the Chinese were prepared to be in total control of what’s seen.
If that doesn’t show how much of control freaks they are nothing will.
Wasn’t it his shoulder dislocating?
Only watched it once, that’s enough. I dislocated my shoulder years ago, in the kitchen. It hurtz.
You think they are 7-year-olds? That means you think they are human. I’m not even giving them that.
Is it just me, or is anyone else laughing at the British announcers futilely protesting against the instant-replay?
Hey I just subjected the numbers guys in our office to that clip (he is now in the foetal position gently rocking on the floor)when I noticed that you’re watching a clip from our trusty old TVNZ, it’s the logo in the top corner. Oh shucks, you guys are watching our pictures there.
Becs just watched, shuddered, and said “ooohh, the steroids didn’t help, did they?” Okay, she also said she feels bad for that guy, but what can I say? She’s my issue.
Oh and Rachel, better to be a dirty [snap] flip-flopper than a gaggle of flip-flop shufflers.
Shhhh-shhhh-shhhh-shhh. Shhhh-shhhhh-shhhh-shhhhh.
[tee hee, dogette]
Women’s beach volleyball. Hot bodies with tiny bikinis and cute hard nipples sticking out laying in sand in very interesting positions. All in HD.
Life is worth living!!!!
My interest in the Olympics is about the same as Big Bad Johnny’s.
That clip reminded me of the time I…no, it still hurts to think about it. And thirty years later the scar is still obvious.
That little overflex at the beginning…ow!
I’ve dislocated mine. Once each. Thankfully I didn’t get to watch it happen. Again and again.
Definitely the Olympics version of Joe Theisman.
Damn… from giggle to OUCH! in less than 15 mins.
Whew…
LOL @ Jill
Those flat stomachs are major eye candy, IMO.
I shamefully admit to being annoyed with the cameraman who adjusted his shot of Michael Phelps and Garret Weber-Gale celebrating their win of the 4x100m freestyle relay so that the bottom edge of the shot was innocently at Phelps’s waist – totally preventing me from seeing if he really had pushed his suit THAT low. And I say cameraMAN deliberately – I feel quite sure that it was a man holding the camera, and he didn’t want to see that much of Phelps, so he selfishly decided the rest of us didn’t need to. :P
>.> But I happened across a still image of the same scene that answered my question. Although, I had to examine it for awhile to truly determine just how far down Phelps pushed that swimsuit…
As for beach volleyball player, when I saw how little the women’s beach volleyball players were wearing, I had high hopes for the men’s beach volleyball players, but I was sorely disappointed! They were wearing way more clothing than was necessary. Sigh.
Well, I’m old and a combat vet, so while that vid didn’t look like a pleasant experience, it did put me in the mood for wing night.
Is this the picture of Michael Phelps of which you speak? If so, we’re all dirty old ladies. I can but hope for a calendar next year.
Amelia and Oda Mae, I was thinking of this particular moment:
Yeah, Phelps pushed down that Speedo like post-race PG-13 swimwear was another Olympic event. Too bad we couldn’t get 360 degree coverage. Rowr!
In gymnastics it’s simple. Skip the age limit because it’s unverifiable. Impose a minimum weight limit. Aside from making sure a girl is grown enough, regardless of age, to compete, it helps with that whole anorexia thing even with the actual 16 year olds.
In related news, a Chinese fetus has taken the bronze in the 400 meter relay.
The use of human shields after an injury is not uncommon. It is mainly to give the injured participant some privacy from rubberneckers. I sure as heck would want someone giving me some privacy if that happened to me. It is common practice.
The blue eye shadow makes the kid look a LOT older.
My wife was watching some female weight lifters last weekend and noted, “I bet those women won’t have any trouble giving birth. One good push and the baby will be out.”
Better have someone with a catcher’s mitt read to catch it, though.
Personally, I like watching people who’ve dedicated their lives to being the best at something. For example, I don’t care for golf but marvel at Tiger Woods. Most of these athletes will never get a big contract and 90+% of them have no shot at earning a medal.
Hah! except that most highly trained female athletes prolly are not capable of getting pregnant. They have messed up their bodies by having so little body fat that they don’t have periods. (wazzit called? amenoria or something?)
Good lord, Jill, his suit is just barely hangin’ on for dear life! There must be some obstruction it’s hung up on.
Hmm. Don’t feel bad. My wife is 50 and she has the same attitude. She also likes watching men’s gymnastics — the rings in particular — because she admits to a serious arm fetish.
Anyway, she made a pretty good point last night when she said the American women’s gymnastics silver would probably transmute into gold at some point.
Alchemy, baby!
Tolbert —
Anything “synchronized” is not a sport.
Ditto for “rhythmic” gymnastics.
So, you think you’d be capable of ?
Don’t they have one of those
“You must be this tall to be in the Olympics”
signs?
I thought I was watching my 7 yr. old granddaughters friends
Why oh why oh why did I go in search of that video (that was removed from the site you linked to)? Why did I watch it repeatedly? Gah!
If I watch that video, I will never be able to go to the gym again. Not and actually do anything useful, anyway.
14K again generates some 24k! Freakin’ awesome with the teeth. (Oh, and I’ve been referring people to the tappification one continuously.) If those girls are 16, I’m a Chinese Olympian.
Seems like a huge advantage of a birthday adjustment would be the lack of injury–the girls who’ve competed long enough to reach the ripe old age of 16 are all taping this, bandaging that, and hobbling around on something else. Wee little China girl is just fresh as a flexy little daisy. But y’know, I didn’t think that Earthquake Boy looked 9, either, so what do I know.
Of course, this is all in a country where they glue the face of evil right on the buildings. So.
“Tolbert –
Anything “synchronized” is not a sport.
Ditto for “rhythmic” gymnastics.
So, you think you’d be capable of this?”
I’m also incapable of a pirouette but that doesn’t make ballet a sport. Athletic and impressive, yes, but not a sport. My rules: if you have to wear makeup and smile while competing, there is something seriously wrong.
It’s not a matter of what we are or are not capable of.
I’m not capable of breakdancing. Does that make breakdancing a “sport”?
Rythmic gymastics are what gymnasts do when they are not chosen for the regular squad because they lack athletic prowess.
Its the equivalent of the Miss Congeniality award, everyone claps while the others stand around whispering – “bless her little heart”
The age thing? Just an innocent misunderstanding. The Chinese thought they said SIX, not SIXTEEN.
LOL at Jill. I am 36, and feel the same way. My sister swears up and down she is marrying Michael Phelps. :)
I work for a Budweiser distributer, and Bud is sponsoring the Olympics. So, we have backcards that have Olympic athletes on them. I asked if we had any with Michael Phelps on it, preferably shirtless, and was told no. :( The guys I work w/ just roll their eyes at me,lol.
When those girls walked out, my first reaction was “Ahh, isn’t it sweet that the local middle school came out to support the gymnasts?” Anyway, a couple of commenters at Hot Air came up with a couple of more appropriate names for the grade school gymastics team:
Tu Yung
Noh Peh Ryud
And yeah, those little girls were beasts on the apparati. Tiny, elfin, grossly underaged beasts, but beasts nonetheless.
I think the classic lines for me were:
“Asked whether the federation had changed their ages to make them eligible, Zhang said: “We are a sports department. How would we have the ability to do that?”
AND
“The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has said repeatedly that a passport is the “accepted proof of a gymnast’s eligibility,” and that He and China’s other gymnasts have presented ones that show they are age eligible. The IOC also checked the girls’ passports and deemed them valid.:
I trust the Chinese and the FIG/IOC almost as much as I trust the United Nations and the Oil for Food program. My 9 and 10 year old daughters look older than these girls do!!
Fellow M. Phelpsians,
I love a little man-fur myself, so prefer this shot over the sleeker, shaven Olympics photos. Oh, and I’m 38 and definitely a dirty old woman. Yeah baby!
Sigh.
I have heard that in China a newborn baby is considered to be 1, then a year later it would turn 2. That might account for some of the age disparity!
If that chinese gymanst is 16, then I’ve got a bridge to sell the IOC!
Idiots. But then again, didn’t we expect this crap, it’s CHINA!!!!
Eeeeehhhrrrrr… {5 minute delay} I’ve thought of about 100 responses, but the only one I dare post here is “Speedo Limbo: How Low Can It Go???” I even created a Demotivator, but I can’t figure out how to post it. I guess I’ll just keep it on my computer where my husband won’t find it. :p
Jill,
Host it on Image Shack (upload the file from your computer and click “host it”).
Then, copy and past the “thumbnail for websites” (the coding in the top box) coding here.
Easy peasy!
My fellow ladies, Phelps knows EXACTLY how low that suit is.
Oh, yeah.
Yes, Jill, that’s the pic I’m talking about!
XD
Ahhhh… obstructions…
Oda Mae, nothing to complain about in that pic, but I gotta admit I think 14k may have, once again, found the winner. I’d say more on the subject but the toddler has decided the world will end if I don’t feed him in the next 30 seconds.
All I can say is Thank You Jill.
And LOL Redheaded Infidel.
~From a 40-year-old dirty old lady who will now be incapabale of getting any work done today.
Totally true. But there is one exception. She kind of looks like a child, though. She is certainly the exception and not the rule. Just thought it was noteworthy.
And I am so digging Michael Phelps my husband has to watch women’s volleyball to try to make me jealous. It’s not working.
Rachel, I’m so glad you’re a dirty no-good flip-flopper! I totally dig the Olympics and feel the need for you to dig them, too. That earlier post about you not liking them made me a little sad. Just a little. I know, issues, issues. I’m getting a helmet.
I’m also incapable of a pirouette but that doesn’t make ballet a sport. Athletic and impressive, yes, but not a sport. My rules: if you have to wear makeup and smile while competing, there is something seriously wrong.
My wife is formerly a college gymnast. When I really want to piss her off I insist that anything where the outcome is determined by a judge and not a scoreboard is not a sport. Doesn’t mean it’s not athletic, just not a sport.
Loco, you have hit on it exactly! Of course, this means that arguably basketball is no longer a sport, but that would be some serious digression from the topic.
sport — “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.”
Apparently, bowling, hunting, fishing, etc should be in the Olympics, as they are sports.
Tolbert —
Rythmic gymastics are what gymnasts do when they are not chosen for the regular squad because they lack athletic prowess.
Bull. So, according to some, most gymnastics would not be sports, as they are not decided by scoreboards. That would include fencing, as there are judges, baseball as there are umpires, etc.
mightysamurai —
I’m not capable of breakdancing. Does that make breakdancing a “sport”?
No. The fact that it’s highly athletic and there are competitions does, however.
I wasn’t planning on watching much either, but every night… :)
Yes, they do seem to have cut lots of the crap. In fact, Costas even said just before midnight that all the ad breaks for the rest of the broadcast wouldn’t be more than a minute long. Dang!
I’d watch it.
Erm, am I missing something? Where did Tolbert say anything about “scoreboards”?
So anything highly athletic and competitive is a sport?
War is highly athletic and competitive. Maybe we should make that a sport.
Ladies, Phelps is legal, so don’t sweat your dirty little minds about it.
Well, except maybe if you have children older than him…
The disjointed elbow got me thinking of a girl I used to babysit who could jump rope with her arms and lick her own instep, (Careful, it’s a little gross — no blood, just unnatural human movement).
so back to the children of the Chinese team. I want someone (14k) to dig up a face shot of Nadia Comaneci and put it next to any of the girls on the Chinese team. I can’t find any Olympic pictures of her face. Hell, even a direct comparison of the current US team with the Chinese would do. I just want to see their faces right next to each other.
PS, why would you want to lick your own instep?
Heh. Interestingly, Kim du Toit just of “Little Nadia” today. Unfortunately, it won’t tell anything about her comparison to this year’s crop of Chinese gymnasts, though.
Oligonicella,
Hunting is already in the Olympics vis a vie Archery, Biathlon, Pentathlon and the rifle sports.
Is fishing a sport? No. Despite its popularity it is a recreational pastime, as is bowling.
In order to be a sport, regardless of what the dictionary definition is, there has to be a certain ‘je nais se qua’, a combination of skills and physical prowess that leaves your with a sense that the ordinary has been transcended.
Both rythmic gymnastics and tiddlywinks fail on that point.
WayneB: her boobs sure are bigger now than back then!
Nice definition!
maya — just to be fair I looked for the most similar pose possible, and this was the best one I coudl find.
OMG! 14K – in that first pic, the second one from the right in the Chinese lineup looks like my 12-yr-old SON!
Agreed, WayneB — I thought that was a very masculine looking child, as well. Your son must be very handsome indeed. Is he agile, and absent? : )
What really struck me the most is how much make-up was slatherd on the Chinese girls to make them look whorishly older, while the American ladies look like, well, normal athletes who’ve been sweating.
The Chinese Children’s team could become spokestikes for whatever holocaust proof make-up they are wearing. Except I am sure it contains lead.
Thank you so much 14k! That is exactly what I wanted! (didn’t even think of wiki, I was just on Google images.)
Tolbert —
In order to be a sport, regardless of what the dictionary definition is, there has to be a certain ‘je nais se qua’, a combination of skills and physical prowess that leaves your with a sense that the ordinary has been transcended.
Nope. The professional etymologists win. You have expressed your opinion as to what you consider a sport, agreed.
Both rythmic gymnastics and tiddlywinks fail on that point.
If that’s your opinion and you equate the two, you didn’t watch the link.
mightysamurai —
Erm, am I missing something? Where did Tolbert say anything about “scoreboards”?
More than one respondent (Locomotive Breath).
So anything highly athletic and competitive is a sport?
War is highly athletic and competitive. Maybe we should make that a sport.
You purposely conflate two definitions of ‘competition’.
I regret to say that, yes I did and that’s two minutes of my life that I will never get back.
“professional etymologists” *snort* You mean the chronically underemployed that sideline as authors of the EU constitution.
The assessment stands, whether or not you agree.
You are a minority of one.
Haven’t bothered to watch the olympics. Won’t take the time to do so until there are more shooting sports added.
Nope, just got done fixing tea for him, and he’s never been one for sports of any kind.
He is cute, though (so I hear from the ladies), and I’m expecting to have to lock him up soon so he doesn’t wind up a father before he gets a driver’s license… heh.
I, too am blessed with a 12-year-old boy. When i tell him he’s handsome, he says “I know.” When I tell him chicks dig him, he says “don’t worry mom, I don’t play hard to get, I play hard to want!”
Love him so much.
Sez you. I say the linguists win.
Fine. Whatever. Believe what you want.
But “rhythmic gymnastics” still isn’t a sport.
maya — check out this of the two teams — it shows the discrepancy best.
I measured Becs last night (she’s 11) and she is 4’81/2″. The short man is 4’91/4″ and he is 12.
For the record, I’m 5’4″ (when I lie) and Mr. M. is 5’51/2″ so she is by no means a monster. In fact, a quick google search puts her right at the high end of average height for an 11-year-old.
For the record, it is pretty impressive that the “big girl” in this bunch is 5′ 3″ and 119 lbs. Wow.
Thanks, 14k, for the graph. It is very informative, except that Asians are just so small compared to Caucasians anyway, not even considering stunted growth from training.
From looking at the Thais (females), I’d say that the 5′ 95lbs is maybe about average, but there are definitely many that are up into the mid 5′ range and taller.
But I still don’t doubt that the ChiComs are lying, well, Commies. I think the best evidence so far is the missing tooth.
And to call the 5’3″ one the “big girl” is hilarious. and sad.
Yeah, martial arts! Like Boxing, Judo, and Taekwondo! And other military-type competition, like Fencing, Archery, Shooting, . . . oh, wait!
Sorry, mighty, couldn’t resist — but if you’re going to draw analogies, use sturdier ones!!
Personally, I’m no fan of the inclusion of prancing and dancing disciplines in the sporting arena. My kid competes in Irish dance — highly athletic, but definitely not a sport! And not all ‘sports’ are athletic. I trial sheepdogs. Sport? Yes. Olympic? No WAY!
As for which sports to include in the Olympics, that’s been debated since the ancient games! Tolbert’s definition, however, with the ‘je ne sais qua’, resonates. Hasn’t the whole notion of an ‘Olympian’ always suggested ability beyond the capacity of ordinary mortals?
As far as those 16 year-olds, it is interesting to note that even official Chinese reporting on a couple of them indicates that they have managed to age very rapidly in the last year!