Athens closing

[Katana]

I'd say watching anyone lift anywhere near what Rezzazedeh lifted is impressive. To even get into the same catagory as him you've gotta be able to clean and jerk weight in excess of 500 pounds. Just plain insanity.

[exarchi]

Ronnie Coleman squats in excess of 800 lbs for 5+ times. That Iranian guy has absolutely nothing on him.

[Colovion]

Ronnie Coleman squats in excess of 800 lbs for 5+ times. That Iranian guy has absolutely nothing on him.

THe Iranian lifted that 581 pounds from the ground, to his shoulders, and then over his head - squats are simple compared to that kind of thing. Yes I know 581 lbs on a bar isn't 800 lbs on a machine.

and if Coleman is so strong why isn't he in the Olympics?

[Katana]

So what? I can squat 200 lbs for 10 reps. Squats work different muscles than Olympic lifiting does.

Ronnie Coleman is not in the Olympics because he would inevitably be thrown out for steroid use.

[XiaoLi]

I have started to love the Olympics ever since Sydney 2000 because:

1- I lived in Sydney then, so it was exciting to have Marathon runners go pass your window, and live across the road from Olympic venues (Darling Harbor)

2- The Dream with Roy and H.G.: their commentaries on Greco Roman wrestling and gymnastics (spinning date, battered sav, hello boys, and FLAT BAG!!!) They were great in Athens as well. So many plates smashed.

Aussies will know what I am talking about

3- I began to realize there are few things the world could do together: it was either the Olympics or another war or something.

Athens was great. I am quite glad China and Aus both had their best games ever YAY! Highlights for me will have to be Australian diving and cycling and men's hockey gold medals, as well as the 2 first ever Chinese athletics gold medals. Also the women's volleyball tournament was awesome. The final was great, especially when China came back from 2 sets down to beat Russia for the gold. BTW the Russian coach was so much fun to watch.

I am seriously considering going to Beijing 2008. Check out the crazy "Bird Nest" main stadium design finally chosen:

[cutepuppy]

... Too bad about the drugs ...

I only have one complaint and that's that it looked like (especially in track and field) that some atheletes dogged it when it looked like they'd win. Their goals seemed too focused on medals and not enough on breaking records. I didn't hear too many atheletes say things like "my goal was to break the world record and stretch the known physical limitations of humanity." The wins and loses are all largely irrelevant to me. I look for spirit and for people who are out to set the bar higher for the human race.

Well, well, complaining about not focussing on breaking records and at the same time about drug abuse.
You seem to forget that many of the records in track and field are very likely set by athletes which used a lot of drugs. Examples of this are all the old 'communist' records (marita koch, chinese women on 1500 and 10000, 4*100 and 4*400 m,...). The WR holder on 100m (tim montgory) is suspected for drug abuse, WR holder 3000m steeple chase (brahim boulami) was tested positive when he broke the WR for a 3rd time, there are severe suspicions on the WR of 'Flojo' (100 and 200 m, women),...

My highlights for the Olympics: hicham el Gerrouj on the 1500 and 5000 m double (first time since 1924 someone does this), the last lap of Bekele in the 10000m race (a lap in 53.03!!! and a new OR), that chinese on the 110 m hurdles.

[Desiderata]

My highlights were watching Matt Pinsett, Ed Coode, Steve Williams and James Cracknell win the quad rowing - awesome display. There may be those who say that rowing isnt a sport; well try rowing 2 k in under 7 minutes, going at 44 strokes a minute for the first 300 metres, down to a mere 37 for another 1.5 k then up to 46 strokes for 500 metres!! Simply incredible athletes and they deserve it after the year they've had.

The other highlights were El Gour-sorry cant spel his name winning - wonderful. The mens 15,000 metres - damn that last lap was fast and Kelly Holmes winning her two golds