This blog post is probably overdue since what I am about to
vent about happened last night U.S. time and even earlier London time, but I
did not have time to write it at midnight last night.
For those of us that have been avoiding Twitter with tweets
regarding the Olympics and any kind of Olympic news online at all costs so that
we can experience the races, scores and relays without knowing the winner this
blog post is for you! For those that check the Olympic news before actually
watching the event, well, this post in the online world is about a day and a
half overdue.
One of my favorite sports to watch during the Olympic games
is definitely women’s gymnastics. It may be because of their amazing power,
strength and agility that they make appear so graceful or because whenever I think
of the greatest Olympic moments the majority that come to mind are gymnastics.
(Of course I’m being biased, but there are a lot of them!)
It also may be because we always crush every other country
in this sport and this year is no different. The United States has by far the
greatest gymnastics talent in the world, but unfortunately due to a rule
configured in 2003 by the Federation Internacional de Gymastique only two
athletes from each country are allowed to advance to the all-around. This rule
makes no sense to me, but it has been in place for years even before the
current U.S. women’s Olympic team were competing. However, this year, like many
years before, the top 24 gymnasts in the world will not be competing because
they were beaten out by their own teammates.
If you were actually watching the U.S. women’s gymnastic
team last night, and not just following the updates on Twitter, it was
absolutely heartbreaking to watch. As the arena erupted in cheers for Aly
Raisman, fellow U.S. teammate, Jordyn Wieber broke down into sobs covering her
face as a role model, best friend, roommate and fellow teammate crushed her
Olympic dream. Reining world champion and Olympic favorite, Jordyn Wieber lost
her opportunity at the women’s all-around final, one of the showcase events at
the Olympics. Instead, she will compete in the team finals on Tuesday.
Jordyn Wieber is arguably THE best gymnast in the world and
I think last night she was judged with extremely harsh standards. Of course, I
will not argue that I know gymnastics better than an Olympic judge, but I will
argue that I think too many points were deducted. Yes, Weiber had slip ups last
night but not so drastic that should have cost her the all-around. She killed
the vault, wobbled slightly on the beam, did decent on the uneven bars, (keep
in mind that IS her worst event so although decent is definitely not a word to
be used for the Olympics, I think it can be used in this case) and barely
stepped out of bounds on her floor exercise. These are ALL of the mistakes that
cost her that all-around spot, but I think far too many points were deducted
for such minor mistakes.
I think it is a huge disappointment not only for Weiber, but
also the U.S. and the world to not have the opportunity to watch such an amazing
athlete and gymnast compete in the all-around.
Of course, don’t’ get me wrong; I am extremely excited to
watch Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman compete. I am just disappointed that I will
not be able to watch all three amazing gymnasts in the all-around.
Although I may vent because I won’t get to watch my favorite
U.S. gymnast compete for the all-around title, I do not mean to be
disrespectful in any way to the Olympics or the opposing Olympic gymnasts. Some
people may be wondering the reason for the rule and I think Baron Pierre de
Coubertin’s Olympic creed sums it up perfectly. It reads as follows:
“The most important thing in the
Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing
in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have
conquered but to have fought well.”
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