🏃‍♂️Paris Olympics: Day 7 - Recap

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In my pursuit to watch at least every Olymlic sport one time in these Paris Games, I am reminded of 1992 Barcelona. In those Games, I truly became a huge fan of the Olympics. In that year, I watched everything on the Red, White, and Blue TV package for anyone who remembers that TV deal. With more teams, more knowledge of the body and movement, as a coach, as a former youth, high school, and college athlete (it was non-NCAA ice hockey, which is still competitive), as performance professional, and as a dad, the Olympics hit in a different manner. Sports watched:

Team Handball - Sweden 🇸🇪 kicked butt over Croatia 🇭🇷 . Germany 🇩🇪 vs Spain 🇪🇸, with its high-scoring marks was entertaining. Remember: please do not leave these Olympics without knowing or without watching Team Handball.

Boxing - Packs a great punch. I agree with short bouts in the Olympics. Boxing can tend to have the best sportsmanship - Let's bash each others' heads in. Then, let us congratulate and lift our arms in the air as a unit!

Fencing - Did anyone see the Egyptian 🇪🇬 fencer who won while seven months pregnant? Not yet. Also: please do not leave these Paris Olympics without knowing or watching fencing.

Badminton - Denmark 🇩🇰  vs Chinese Taipei (no flag emoji)...exhilarating, fun, competitive. Badminton is the new backyard sport you have not played. But, like my client from yesterday, we both had sets as children. If you grew up in the 1980s, you had a set.

Track & Field - I missed the 4x400m Mixed Relay, the one everyone is upset about because Quincy Wilson did not run in it. Stay calm. They set a world record. You have   appreciate the skills of deathless, having the ability to do everything track & field. Athing Mu did not make the Paris Olympics, but the women's 800m race competition still has its merits. Women's disc

BMX Racing - Talk about an event I'd see if I attended the Olympics as a spectator. I have always liked BMX racing. One of the, if not, the most exciting and adrenaline pumping sport/event in the Olympics. Constant cheering. France 🇫🇷 locked in. 

Trampoline - Ever been to Sky Zone or any other indoor trampoline park? Yea, Trampoline in the Olympics is different. Talk about springy plyometrics.

Five Rings,

Derek

#Paris2024 | #Olympics |

🤸🏿‍♀️ Paris Olympics: Day 6 - Recap

Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day

Racewalking - Turn your treadmill to 9mph and walk. That's what the commentator said. These athletes push it out to racewalk 6:27 mile paces. My goodness! Not a boring sport to watch. Just learn from it, and the next time you walk on a pool deck (no running)...you should be OK.

3v3 Basketball - We've been exposed. The rest of the world is here. The USA 🇺🇸 is 0-4. They can make a comeback, but we have to adjust. 3v3 basketball does not wholly play out like regular playground 3v3 basketball (slower pace) that these players are probably used to. The Olympic version has more movement, is paced faster...it only stops for free throws.

Golf - Watch the green acres and sleep if you can. Skilled club stingers. It's. Just. The. Greenery.

Sailing - Wind is important. So, play or sail was suspended for a bit. I wish I had participated in sailing camp when I was younger. Had the chance - it did not interest me. Now, it does. Bet the day out on the water would be nice.

Gymnastics - Simone Biles is fantastic! Simone Gold, Simozoned, Simone Zone. No matter the name you have for Simone Biles, she delivered for the U.S. Shout-out to Sunisa ("Sunni") Lee for her bronze medal - la médaille de bronze - after face planting on the uneven bars. 

Gold - Biles, after overcoming criticism for dropping out in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Silver - Rebecca Andrade of Brazil 🇧🇷, after overcoming three ACL tears. Bronze - Lee, after overcoming two bouts of kidney disease. Fantastic perseverance, ladies!

Field Hockey - My daughter plays field hockey, so I am a field hockey dad as well. The Olympic level provides a lot of entertainment. Great Britain 🇬🇧 kicked our 🇺🇸 butts today, 5-2. But, the action and movements are worth seeing. Have you ever seen a game in-person?

Surfing - My goodness! So much waiting for the next wave. Watched Silva vs Hinckel both from Brazil 🇧🇷. Thirteen minutes passed by with a total of three waves surfed. You must have patience; otherwise, you will tire out. Surfers are different athletes. 

Five Rings,

Derek

#Paris2024 | #Olympics |

🚴‍♂️Paris Olympics: Day 5 - Recap

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The work environment, at times, provides difficulty in watching every Olympic sport in its entirety. But, the effort can be applauded:

Swimming - Katie Ledecky is simply the best at what she does in the pool. Twenty of the top times in the women's 1500m freestyle. Fantastic for the Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (Bethesda, MD) alum.

Soccer - it was on but did not see much.

Water Polo - I actually love how Flavor Flav has sponsored this team. They bounced back from a tough loss to Spain 🇪🇸 to destroy their competition today.

Gymnastics - Didn't see much, but it was on. Hopefully, my list of daily viewed sports can inspire you to watch and learn.

Judo - Is very cool. But, I don't get it. See, in the men's bronze medal match, 90kg, I believe, the athlete from France 🇫🇷 was flipped by the athlete from Brazil 🇧🇷.  However, the Brazilian did not receive any points. Can anyone explain why? The Frenchman went on to win la médaille de bronze.

Shooting - Familiarize yourself with the rules of shooting events at the Olympics: Rules and Regs. It's been around since the modern Olympic Games began in 1896. So, like handball, do not leave these Olympics asking yourself, "What is shooting?" After watching men's pistol finals and shotgun trap finals on replay, each competitor respects one another. Something the world needs in shooting: respect. Check it out because rifle and clay - shot that earlier this summer, and it was fun - will arrive today and through the weekend.

Five Rings,

Derek

#Paris2024 | #Olympics |

⛹🏿 Paris Olympics: Day #4 - Recap

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Gymnastics is in its swing! 

3v3 basketball started! 

I need to pay attention to 3v3 more closely in these Olympics. I know, it's playground basketball when you think about it. But, players get exposed because only six of them play at one time. The USA 🇺🇸 women got exposed in game 1 versus Germany 🇩🇪. The squad was up 5-0 and lost 17-13. Once the game ended, the ladies did not look happy at all. Hey, it's gonna take some grit to get the gold in these Paris Olympics for the reigning Olympic champions. 

Get them back in game 2, ladies!

Archery - A small sport that is worth the watch. Watch out for South Korea 🇰🇷 , Japan 🇯🇵 and China 🇨🇳.  Or, was that in pistol?

Gymnastics -  through it all Simone Biles and the rest of the U.S. crew won gold in the Team finals. Fantastic delivery! Biles is a cheat code - she's bad out there on the floor 🔥🔥🔥. Love seeing her compete.

Rugby - So...with the USA 🇺🇸 women winning the bronze medal in Rugby Sevens, the U.S. now has never medaled in five sports (Team Handball, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline, Table Tennis, and Badminton). Everyone forgot about rugby. So, there were actually six sports, prior to the Paris Olympics in which we had never medaled. Not anymore! The women's team won in dramatic fashion versus Australia 🇦🇺.  Fantastic and historic victory!

Team Handball - Please do not leave these Paris Olympics without knowing what Handball is as a sport. It has been around since 1936. No more questions of, "What is this?" Go watch it. You will like it. Rough, athletic, strategic. Watch it!

Beach Volleyball - The rallies are the best. It's not as fast as team volleyball. But, it works. 

Keep watching!

Five Rings,

Derek

#Paris2024 | #Olympics |

🤽🏽‍♂️ Paris Olympics: Day #3 - Recap

Day 2 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day

I am fortunate to work in a profession that allows me to have the Olympics on while I serve my clients. It fits. My attention is focused towards them most importantly. But, prior to every session, I ask each client what, Olympic sport would you like to watch? See, these two weeks play like an active holiday. The Olympics should be on in every establishment, whether they are shown on a TV, tablet, iPad, or other. Well, we got in the following:

Archery - I like looking at this small sport. You have to appreciate the ability to hit the bullseye or get close to it over and over again.

Gymnastics - The USA 🇺🇸 men persevered and won la médaille de bronze! They stuck landings like insects in the summertime.

Tennis - I do not remember who was playing, but tennis inspires some solid exercises that I will post on Instagram.

Team Handball - Even though TH has been played in the Olympics since 1936 (Berlin - it was called Field Handball), individuals still do not know about it. The Olympics off a glimpse into this dynamic sport. Don't say that you do not know what team handball is. Try it out.

Basketball - I'll watch basketball during the high school, NBA, NCAA, and WNBA seasons. But, for the sake of watching every sport at least once, basketball will be watched. Now, 3v3 basketball...that's new fun to watch!

Swimming - Hey, Australia 🇦🇺 get your wins in now before we get the next best generational swimmer. We've had Spitz, Phelps, Ledecky...win now, Aussies! Alright, Kayla McKeon of 🇦🇺 is pretty good.

Field Hockey - Just watch it. It's not ice hockey, but the athletes are skilled. Field hockey is closer to bandy than it is to ice hockey. 

Mountain Biking - I hope your area has mountain biking trails. The battle between the French 🇫🇷 and the athlete from Great Britain 🇬🇧 was one for the ages. Exhilarating! Britain won gold, but the pursuit had everyone on their feet!

Five Rings,

Derek

#Paris2024 | #Olympics |

🏊🏿‍♀️Paris Olympics: Day #2 - Recap

Day #1 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day

Look, fencing is legit! Have you watched it yet? Have you seen the facility that is hosting fencing competitions? Fantastic! The energy is unmatched. Even the referee is exciting to hear. If you have not paid attention to fencing in the past, the game is quick, strategic, technical. The footwork, in all its marvel, resembles dance moves. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these athletes can break dance.

Other sports watched on day #2:

Skateboarding - You have to be young and very flexible.

Surfing - Though the athletes wait to catch a wave, the environment is fantastic.

Shooting (pistol) - The most steadiness hands. The intricate eye glasses get me.

Mountain Biking - It's exciting and physical when a pursuit between riders gets down to the end!

Water Polo - I've had someone show me the correct way to move your water polo tread legs. It's different.

Tennis - Great reactive sport, right?

Judo - Exhausting getting up and down all match.

Sailing - When the wind is present, the race...sails. 

Archery - More steady hands and arms.

Five Rings,

Derek

#Paris2024 | #Olympics |

🤺 Paris Olympics - Day #1 🤺

Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 

The 33rd Olympiad has arrived!

I thought day #1, well, the first day after the opening ceremonies hit it off the ground. It would be nice if I could attend the games in-person, but watching everything on PeacockTV has not disappointed. On Saturday, July 27, 2024, I watched multiple sports and some sports like fencing and table tennis provided four games at one time - spot screen on the app. 

Perfect.

Surfing, swimming, canoeing, water polo, badminton, and Equestrian rounded out day #1. Whoo! I know some individuals say that they love the Olympics, but I truly love the Olympics. Let's face it...I took a history of the Olympics and Sport class in college. To this day, I still keep in touch with the professor. Prior to taking the class, I already knew most, if not all, of the previous locations that each Olympiad took place. I took this course in 2002 or 2003. So, everything leading up to Salt Lake City 2002.

What attracted me to the O-Games? The 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Watching athletes like Carl Lewis, Florence Griffith Joyner, and others. The competition and different smaller sports like team handball, fencing, table tennis, archery, and everything else. Barcelona in 1992 had me glued to three channels (Red, White, and Blue package) that my mom bought because she thought it was important for me to watch the Olympic Games.

She wasn't wrong because I absolutely loved it!

If you have not watched any of the above games from yesterday, here is a brief recap:

Table Tennis - four game split screen, so the energy was high in the arena. Having no commentary worked. Just pure play. Xia Lian Ni of Luxembourg 🇱🇺 (61yy)...she's good.

Fencing - Most exhilarating matches. Split screen in order to watch four games at the same time. Underrated spectator sport. We need more in high schools.

Surfing - Interesting. Tedious and patient sport.  minutes to gain as many points as possible. Every surfer waits patiently to hit the right wave, which they only surf about four or five times. Ideal Tahiti waves steadily arrived.

Water Polo - Jenna Flynn for the USA 🇺🇸 took it to Greece 🇬🇷 yesterday. 

Badminton - My parents used to have a set when I was younger. So, playing that in the backyard exposed me to the sport. I love how the Olympians actually play fast, the appropriate speed.

Canoeing - Change your thoughts about canoeing. The Olympians make it look exhausting and fun.

Swimming - Always a favorite. The rivalry between Australia 🇦🇺 and the USA 🇺🇸 continues.

Rugby 7's - Wish they started later. Rugby begins prior to the opening ceremonies as does soccer. The men have ended, but the women are just getting started. 

Equestrian - I saw Dressage, the haughty-taughty of Equestrian lol. They have excellent control of the horses.

Well, that was day #1. My goal is to see every sport at least once in the next two weeks. The Olympics should energize you, inspire you to try a new sport or continue one you play. It should teach you new countries and languages and show tight competition.

Have at it!

Five Rings,

Derek 

#Paris2024 | #Olympics |