Olympic Gold

Yang Wei has proved himself to be one of the top gymnast in the world and the Chinese Gymnastics both men and women have shown they can dominate.  The Men's Team especially it was an important victory since during the Athen's Olympics they were expected to medal, but instead they imploded and did not win anything.  One thing though you can see is that the pressure to win is so great.......top athletes often in events they are world champions in, have made mistakes or just fallen off......remaining calm in such a competition is so essential......Yang Wei you might say he was stoic often looking around the competition seemingly without any emotion..........he was incredibly focused on only one thing and that was winning.  To be a winner not only do you need to be unshakeable but also consistent........The US Men's Team has shown though a little heart can go along way......basically fielding a team where two thirds of it's members were alternates.....some who did not even qualify for the Games.....their bronze team medal was a team effort........too often, something not seen in wushu in USA......where emphasis is often on individual accomplishments and not team...........but so far this has been an awesome Olympic Games.......with lots of great competition.......Michael Phelps chase for 8 gold medals.......he already has 5.........he is already the winningest Olympic Medal winner.......one thing I really liked about him is his demeanor.......calm, gracious, and completly modest.........often his team winning was more important than his own winning. 

Yang Wei on the rings was rock solid, his routine relying on sheer power.

The pommel horse was the achilles of many of the athletes, who either fell off or sat down on it. 

Yang Wei proudly shows his all around Gold Medal......now just individual events are left.

Michael Phelps has now won more Olympic Gold than any other athlete in history, and has shattered World Records in every event he has competed in so far.

Still more to come....tomorrow will be the women's chance to win the all around title.  Hopefully Nastia Liuekin and  Shawn Johnson on the US Team do well.......but those girls from China will certainly have some say who will win the title.  Kind of typical US news reporting when they stated they thought China's girls were under age.......and that they didn't have a say in their lives..............In China it is considered a honor to be selected.........that process is not simple.......the coaches look for kids who have potential..........if selected the Country pays for everything...............the training is gruelling........and only the best remain.  Even Jet Li when he was young wanted to go home because the training was too hard.......Coach Wu was a tough taskmaster..........but eventually Jet persevered and became a top Wushu athlete.  At the Shichahai Sports Instritute.....where the Beijing Team is housed..........they often select as many as 1000 kids to try out only one or two will be selected to be trained to be a wushu athletes...........the parents see it often as an opportunity for their children to have a good life and to represent their country.........and by the way the kids see their parents every weekend....either they go home or the parents come on campus and spend the weekend with them.  Yes, it is different in China, you don't have to look for a sponsor or look for a good coach.........they come to you...........and the system works.........so take that Bob Costas!!  And in terms of age...........they may or may not be of the correct age....but you must admit they are great athletes!  And finally do any of you really care how many medals each country wins?  Or is that just something the journalist created to make thing interesting?

OK,cya folks, I'm off to see some Olympic Basketball.....just started!