U.S. Olympic Team - Beijing 2008

Clean Air Part of Legacy of 2008 Beijing Olympics

2011-03-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal blog noted today that China spent $10 billion to reduce air pollution in Beijing prior to the 2008 Olympics. Air quality was improved by 30%, but by summer 2009 60% of the improvement had been lost. (see: WSJ - China air quality)

Despite the slide back toward pollution, there is no question that the build-up for the 2008 Olympics dramatically increased air quality. I suspect some degree of the improvement will last for years to come, significantly improving the quality of life for millions of people.

Complete results of 2008 Beijing Olympics

2011-03-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

As we approach the 2012 London Olympics, you might be interested in reviewing the results of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Here is a link to the complete Beijing Olympics Results.

The U.S. won 110 total medals, followed closely by China with 100 (but China had far more gold medals -- 51 to the United States' 36). Here's hoping that Team USA will do even better in the 2012 Olympics.

Flashback: Beijing Welcomes You (2008 Olympics song)

2011-03-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

It has been two and a half years since the conclusion of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Here's a YouTube video that will bring it right back to you, though. The song "Beijing Welcomes You" was released prior to the Olympics, as part of the pre-Beijing buzz. The video is subtitled and features Jackie Chan. Enjoy!

Olympian Micah Boyd Chooses Elementary School Over Oprah Winfrey Show

2008-09-10T15:13:00.001-07:00

Although the 2008 Beijing Olympics are over, members of Team USA are now participing in another event that requires endurances and stamina -- the post-Olympics speaking tour.

Recently, the U.S. Olympic Rowing team appeared on Oprah absent one member -- bronze medalist Micah Boyd. Reportedly, Boyd missed the event so he could speak at an elementary school. Clearly, he's not in it for the fame.

New DVD Unveiled -- Michael Phelps: Greatest Olympic Champion

2008-08-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

I had a great time watching Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal in Beijing last Saturday. So far, he has been the highlight of the Olympics -- too bad his events are over. But wait...

NBC has unveiled a new dvd, entitled "Michael Phelps: Greatest Olympic Champion... The Inside Story," that includes Phelps' record-setting races as well as back story (interviews, etc.). I have not viewed the dvd myself (it's brand new), but it sells for $19.95 at NBCdvd.com.

You can also get a dvd of the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony, and another containing highlights from the Olympics. I assume the highlight dvd has not been completed yet (still plenty of Olympics to go!), so it might take a couple weeks to receive that one.

Women's Marathon Results for Team USA

2008-08-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

American Russell Blake finished 27th place in the Women's Olympic Marathon today, while Magdalena Lewy Boulet finished 78th.

As mentioned earlier, Deena Kastor dropped out of the race with an injury.

Deena Kastor Drops Out of Women's Olympic Marathon

2008-08-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

I am watching live coverage of the Women's Olympic Marathon in Beijing, and Deena Kastor has dropped out.

Details will be forthcoming, I'm sure, but twenty minutes into the race she seems to have experienced some kind of foot injury. She walked off the road hobbling on one foot and gesturing to the other.

This is terrible news for the U.S., because Deena Kastor (a three-time Olympian) was a real contender for a medal in the marathon. Magdalena Lewy Boulet and Blake Russell are still in the race, and at the moment (about 50 minutes in), Lewy Boulet is in the front pack.

LIVE: Men's Olympic Basketball: U.S. v. Greece

2008-08-14T06:26:00.000-07:00

In the 4th quarter, the U.S. Men's Basketball Team leads Greece 80-57. With less than 7 minutes remaining, the U.S. seems certain to win.

Although the score might make this sound like a blow out, Greece has put up a good fight. Compared to other U.S games, the Greek team has stayed pretty close to Team USA.

Greece is, in fact, the only team that has beaten the U.S. basketball team since 2006. If they intended to stretch that into a two-game winning streak, though, they will be disappointed.

Can Jeremy Wariner Win Gold in the 400 Meters Again? -- Track and Field Events Start Friday

2008-08-14T01:53:00.001-07:00

Olympic Track and Field events begin this Friday, and American Jeremy Wariner will attempt to win his second Olympic gold medal in the 400-meters. The final in that event will be on Saturday.

Wariner will be easy to spot -- he's the one with the diamond earrings and sunglasses (even at night). He will also, most likely, be the one in first place.

NBC Let's You Catch Up On Olympic Events

2008-08-13T21:28:00.001-07:00

With so many Olympic events being broadcast on NBC TV and on-line (at NBCOlympics.com), it's hard to keep up with everything. If you miss an event, you can always go to NBCOlympics.com and watch it after the fact.

Just go to the "Online Listings" section and select the time that the event aired. Then click to watch a replay of the event.

If you missed Michael Phelps win in the 200 M, be sure to watch it. Of course, by the time you do, there will probably be several other Phelps wins to catch up on...

U.S. Water Polo -- Men trail Serbia, Women tie Italy

2008-08-13T20:47:00.001-07:00

At the moment, I am watching the U.S. versus Serbia in Men's Water Polo. Serbia leads 4-1 in the 4th period.

This is a grudge match, because earlier in 2008 (in the FINA World League Super Final), Serbia beat the U.S. 7-3 to win the gold medal.

Team USA would like to redeem itself against Serbia. Unfortunately, at this point it looks like Serbia has an insurmountable lead.

Earlier today, the U.S. Women's Water Polo Team tied with Italy.

Underdogs Rise to the Occasion -- U.S. Men's Gymnastics

2008-08-13T20:29:00.001-07:00

Despite the loss of both Hamm brothers (the only members of the U.S. Men's Gymnastics Team with Olympic experience), the young members of Team USA have risen to the occasion.

Jonathan Horton, in particular, has turned in several impressive performances. Raj Bhavsar, who moved from alternate to contender, has also performed very well.

At this moment, the men's gymnastics are being aired live on NBC, so hopefully more medals are on the way.

Javier Molina Hampered by Hole in Lung

2008-08-12T09:55:00.001-07:00

The U.S. Boxing Team has received more bad news -- this time relating to Javier Molina.

Last week, Gary Russell collapsed from dehydration and was unable to make his weigh-in. Then on Monday, Javier Molina lost to Bulgarian light-welterweight Boris Georgiev. Coach Don Campbell revealed the reason:

They discovered, day before yesterday, that he's got a hole in his lung.

It's been a tough few days for the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, but the remaining nine players can still pull out a victory.

Serena Williams States the Obvious About Olympic Tennis

2008-08-12T06:24:00.001-07:00

When you think of Olympic sports, tennis is probably not the first sport that comes to mind. But tennis is a part of the Olympics, and the world's best tennis players are in Beijing right now.

How important are the Olympics to tennis players? Serena Williams answered that question earlier this week:

For tennis players, our main goal is the Grand Slams... The gymnasts, for example, their main thing is the Olympics, and they get one, maybe two shots at it.

Well said, Serena. But even though the Olympics are not the pinnacle of American tennis players' lives, Serena will definitely represent us well in Beijing.

Deron Williams Raves About Victory Over China in Olympic Men's Basketball

2008-08-11T23:52:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday, the U.S. Men's Basketball Team beat China 101 to 70, and the Utah Jazz's Deron Williams felt great about it:

Great experience, man... It was just beyond imaginable. Words can't express how I felt playing out there. It was just a great way to kick off the Olympics for me, for my teammates to get a win the way they did.

Odds are good that more great experience's await Deron Williams and the rest of the 2008 Dream Team.

Amazed by Michael Phelps (and Jason Lezak)

2008-08-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

I just watched Michael Phelps win another gold medal -- his third in the Beijing Olympics (in the 200-meter free event).

Honestly, I had my doubts about Phelps before the Olympics began. He made it clear that he was shooting to win eight gold medals, and a lot of people believed he could do it. To me, though, it seemed like a recipe for disaster.

If you go into the Olympics with an expectation that you will everything, then you're facing a no-win scenario: Either (1) you DO win everything, in which case everyone says, "Well, of course..." or (2) you DON'T win everything, and everyone says, "How disappointing."

Michael Phelps has not been disappointing, though. Nor has he simply won his events. He is winning by large margins and setting world records, with no sign of stopping.

Granted, he should really send a thank-you note to Jason Lezak, who pulled out a miraculous win in the 4x100 freestyle relay. But Michael Phelps is a legitimate, dominating force in the 2008 Olympics.

If he wins eight gold medals -- which I expect he will -- he truly will go down in history.

Did NBC Alter the Olympic Opening Ceremonies?

2008-08-10T08:15:00.001-07:00

According to Slashdot, NBC altered the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics for their televised premier.

I watched the opening ceremonies on NBC, and I remember Team entering the stadium relatively late in the program. According to Slashdot, though, the American team actually entered the stadium much earlier in the event. You can, allegedly, see the U.S. team inside the stadium standing in the background in some of the earlier shots of the broadcast.

Why would NBC change the order of the athletes' entrance? To keep Americans glued to their screens, of course. In past Olympics, as teams have entered in alphabetical order by name, NBC could be fairly certain that American viewers would stay tuned until the end of the broadcast -- because Team USA usually entered near the last.

This year, though, with teams entering in a random order (by English alphabetizing standards, anyway), Team USA appeared earlier in the line-up. Many viewers turn the ceremony off after their team enters, and -- if Slashdot is correct -- NBC did not want that to happen too soon.

U.S. Volleyball Team Wins Despite Todd Bachman Stabbing Death

2008-08-10T05:57:00.000-07:00

In Day 2 of the Olympics, women's volleyball won their match against Japan. This despite the recent tragedy that has affected the team.

U.S. Volleybal Coach Hugh McCutcheon's father-in-law was stabbed to death while visiting China for the Olympic games. Facts ar estill developing about this senseless crime. Understandably, it has affected the mood of Team USA.

After winning their match, the women's volleyball team huddled for a moment of silence, and did not visibly celebrate as they would normally do.

Early Swimming Medals for Team USA

2008-08-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

Dana Torres, swimming at age 41, has won a silver medal in the women's 400-meter freestyle relay.

Michael Phelps won his first gold medal of the Beijing Olympics in the 400-meter individual medley, setting a world record of 4 minutes 3.84 seconds.

Mariel Zagunis -- First U.S. Gold Medal in the Beijing Olympics

2008-08-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

The U.S. reportedly led the medal count on day one of the Olympics. Mariel Zagunis won gold in fencing, while Sada Jacobson won the silver, and Becca Ward won the bronze.

Team USA is off on the right foot -- let's hope the trend continues.

Keep Track of Favorite Olympic Events with Google

2008-08-09T07:51:00.001-07:00

Wondering how to stay on top of developments in your favorite Olympic
events?

Google has the answer. You can identify specific events to track at:

www.google.com/landing/summergames2008/index.html

The site provides event schedules, medal counts, and news. Enjoy!

Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony: Fireworks, a Massive LED Screen, and Sarah Brightman?

2008-08-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

Like millions of other Americans, I am currently watching the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The parade of athletes is going on, and the Americans should be on in about 30 minutes.

The ceremonies have really lived up to the hype. The massive LED screen that was rolled out across the stadium floor really was amazing. The fireworks were excellent -- and I enjoyed the "footprint" effect as fireworks walked across Beijing toward the stadium.

The biggest surprise for me was Sarah Brightman. Apparently, she's popular in China. At any rate, she did a nice job.

Now, let's see how they light the torch...

U.S. Boxer Gary Russell Collapses -- Will Not Compete in Beijing Olympics

2008-08-08T13:13:00.001-07:00

One of the U.S. Boxing Team's prime medal contenders, Gary Russell, has been forced to drop out of the Olympics for health reasons.

Last night, Russell was reportedly discovered unconscious in his dormitory room by roommate Luis Yanez. Russell had allowed himself to become dehydrated in preparation for his Friday-morning weigh-in, where his target weight was 119 pounds.

In the hot, China sun, Russell evidently over-did it. After collapsing, Russell was rehydrated. With the extra fluid weight, there was no longer any chance of meeting his weight requirement. Now, tragically, he will miss the Olympics.

Gary Russell, still shaken by the incident, stated:

I was willing to put my life on the line to make this happen. I was going to win this tournament. I was going to make sure that everyone back home knew that I had given my best and I gave it my whole effort. I look back at it and know I gave it 110 percent. I've been through [cutting weight] so many times I know the process. This time my body wouldn't do it. I just stood up and then I was looking at the ceiling.

Morgan Hamm Withdraws from U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team

2008-08-08T08:03:00.001-07:00

If it was hard to see Paul Hamm withdraw from the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team due to a hand injury, it is even harder to see his brother, Morgan Hamm, withdraw due to an ankle injury.

The U.S. Gymnastics Team now has no members with Olympic experience. Team USA did not expect to be the underdog in gymnastics, but now it did.

While the news is disappointing, let's hope our young, energetic gymnasts rise to the occasion.

Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony Dazzles Spectators

2008-08-08T05:27:00.001-07:00

The Telegraph reports that the "Beijing Olympics have begun, with a spectacular opening ceremony display taking place in the Bird's Nest, China's national stadium."

You can see some beautiful pictures of the fireworks, dancers, and stadium at xinhuanet.com. Check your local NBC listings to find out when you can watch the entire ceremony in your region of the United States (it will be 8 PM in most areas).

Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony is Beginning Now

2008-08-08T05:01:00.001-07:00

Right now, the Olympic Opening Ceremony is beginning in Beijing. Most of us in the U.S. will not see it until is broadcast on NBC this evening.

But, whether we've seen it yet or not, the Olympics have officially begun!

Brian Olson Voted U.S. Olympic Judo Team Captain

2008-08-07T18:51:00.001-07:00

Contrary to what the media would have you believe, there are members of the U.S. Olympic Judo Team with last names other than Lopez. Take, for example, Brian Olson, who was just voted Team Captain.

Team Captain Olson was quoted as saying:

"Coming off a three-year layoff and this being a younger team with a lot of first-time Olympians, I've very honored that everybody had come to a group consensus that I should be the captain."

Chinese Olympians Play for U.S. Table Tennis Team

2008-08-06T19:45:00.001-07:00

China dominates the sport of table tennis, so it is no surprise that all four members of the American Table Tennis Team are originally from China.

The U.S. Table Tennis Team roster is:

1. Gao Jun
2. Chen Wang
3. Crystal Huang, and
4. David Zhuang

U.S. coach Teodor Gheorghe said, "Everybody was very glad when China won the [Olympic bid]. We hope that all this will really promote table tennis all over the world."

Olympic Time Difference between Beijing and U.S.

2008-08-06T06:49:00.001-07:00

If you plan to watch Olympic events "live" via internet, you might be wondering, "What is the time difference between Beijing and the U.S.?" Here is the answer by time zone:

* Pacific Time Zone: Beijing is 15 hours later (i.e., 8 AM in Los Angeles = 11 PM in Beijing)

* Mountain Time Zone: Beijing is 14 hours later (i.e., 8 AM in Salt Lake City = 10 PM in Beijing)

* Central Time Zone: Beijing is 13 hours later (i.e., 8 AM in Chicago = 9 PM in Beijing)

* Eastern Time Zone: Beijing is 12 hours later (i.e., 8 AM in Boston = 8 PM in Beijing)

The Opening Ceremony will start at 8 PM on August 8, 2008 in Beijing. It will be broadcast in the U.S. about twelve hours later (depend on which time zone you are in).

INTERVIEW: Cyclist David Zabriskie Says Olympics Helped Him Cope with May Defeat

2008-08-05T09:17:00.001-07:00

In May 2008, cyclist Dave Zabriskie suffered an unfortunate loss when he crashed in the Giro d'Italia. Not only did he drop out of the race as a result, but he also injured a vertebrae.

How did he deal with the accident? In a recent interview posted at Bikeradar.com, he answers:

I just looked forward to the next most important thing to me and that is the Olympics.

In Beijing, Zabriskie will be riding for Team USA. Let's hope he is fully recovered and back in record-setting form.

Rookie Wrestlers Represents the U.S. in Beijing Olympics

2008-08-04T12:47:00.001-07:00

"Rookie" might be too strong a word for the members of our U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team (they have extensive national and international experience), but only 2 of the 16 wrestlers have competed in the Olympics previously.

On the one hand, this inexperience might give them a disadvantage in the Olympic competition. Maybe.

But on the other hand, to the extent experience matters, these wrestlers will all have a chance to use their Olympic experience four years from now. Our inexperienced team in 2008 might be the precursor to a dominant, experienced team in 2012.

BYU Athletes to Compete at Beijing Olympics

2008-08-03T18:22:00.001-07:00

According to Brigham Young University Magazine, four BYU students/alumni will compete on Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics:

1. Jillian M. Camarena in Women's Shotput

2. Joshua E. McAdams, Men's 300 M Steeplechase

3. Richard M. Lambourne in Men's Indoor Volleyball

4. Ryan P. Miller, Men's Indoor Volleyball

Additionally, two BYU alums will compete for foreign teams:

1. Joel Silva, Men's Indoor Volleyball for Venezuela

2. Niklas B. Arrhenius in Men's Discus for Sweden

I plan to post rosters for other colleges/universities as the information becomes available. Stay tuned...

Raj Bhavsar's Olympic Gymnastics Dream Comes True

2008-08-03T16:16:00.001-07:00

When Paul Hamm withdrew from the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team due to injury, Raj Bhavsar, an alternate, became a team member.

Bhavsar reportedly received a phone call from the U.S. Gymnastics ASsociation last Wednesday, informing him that he would be competing in Beijing. Bhavsar commented that:

"I trust that he (Hamm) made the right call for the team, and I'm going to go with that and fill those shoes."

Jessica Hardy Withdraws -- Tara Kirk Will Not Replace Her

2008-08-01T20:40:00.001-07:00

Tara Kirk's worst fears have been realised, as Jessica Hardy is forced to withdraw from the Olympic swimming team.

Hardy tested positive for a banned substance four weeks ago, and participated in arbitration this past week. The American Arbitration Association decided on a 2-year suspension for Jessica Hardy, and Hardy has decided not to appeal.

For Tara Kirk, who barely missed making the U.S. Olympic Swim Team, Hardy's withdrawal is particularly painful. Because Kirk's name was not included on the official team roster, she cannot step into Hardy's slot -- instead, Hardy's vacancy will be filled by a current member of Team USA.

USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus explained:

As a result of Jessica Hardy's withdrawal from the U.S. Olympic Team, USA Swimming will follow the published U.S. Olympic Team selection procedures, which were approved by the USOC, and posted in their final format on February 22, 2008. According to the pre-approved procedures, swimmers from the existing roster will be placed in the open events. Rebecca Soni will swim the 100m breaststroke and Kara Lynn Joyce will swim the 50m freestyle

This is a very disappointing outcome for fans of USA Swimming, and particularly for Tara Kirk. Let's hope that the remaining members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team will rise to the occasion and make us proud in Beijing.

RESULTS: U.S. Men's Soccer Ties with the Ivory Coast

2008-07-31T21:31:00.001-07:00

For the U.S. Men's Soccer team, the Olympics officially begin in 1 week (on August 7, 2008) with a match against Japan, but the competition has already begun. The ING Cup games leading up to the Olympics are currently being played in Hong Kong.

Team USA tied the Ivory Coast in a scoreless game yesterday. On August 2, the U.S. soccer squad will play Cameroon.

The Beijing Olympics will provide stiff competition for the U.S. Men's Soccer Team. A win against Cameroon this week could provide some positive momentum heading into game 1 against Japan.

Olympian Stacy Sykora Tried to Give Up Volleyball

2008-07-31T09:30:00.001-07:00

After a disappointing 5th-place finish in the 2004 Olympics, volleyball player Stacy Sykora vowed to give up volleyball. She took a job as a paralegal and tried to forget her favorite sport.

But giving up her life's passion was harder than she expected: "My entire life has been volleyball... To have it not there, I had to fill the void with other things. I tried. I had some wonderful experiences; it just wasn’t volleyball."

Three years later, she returned to her sport, but was considered a long-shot for the U.S. Volleyball Team. In July, she surprised everyone by making the team, and now she is on her way to Beijing.

Let's hope she returns with a medal -- and not the sort of disatisfaction that drove her from volleyball in 2004.

Jessica Hardy Appeal This Week

2008-07-31T00:22:00.001-07:00

Jessica Hardy's negative-drug-test appeal is supposed to be heard this week by a mediator in Los Angeles. The week is drawing to a close, and still no news of the appeal.

Hardy's drug results led to the Tara Kirk controversy, and if the appeal is not resolved in Hardy's favor, the swimming team will face further embarrassment. Instead of Kirk, the rightful heir of Jessica Hardy's spot on the team, another member of the Olympic Swimming Team will take Hardy's place.

Cycling News Interviews Olympic Cyclist Adam Craig

2008-07-30T20:12:00.001-07:00

U.S. cyclist Adam Craig is headed to the Olympics a second time, after competing in Athens four years ago. "I'm... four years older and four years faster, and I know what I need to do now."

The Cycling News has just posted an interview with Craig, in which he talks extensively about his recent competitions and prospects for the Beijing Olympics.

Among other things, Adam Craig lists his toughest competitors for the gold:

1. Julien Absalon (France)
2. Christoph Sauser (Switzerland)
3. Florian Vogel (Switzerland)
4. Nino Schurter (Switzerland)
5. Jose Antonio Hermida (Spain)

Stephen Strasburg is the Only College Player on U.S. Olympic Baseball Game

2008-07-30T15:30:00.001-07:00

At age 20, Stephen Strasburg is the lone college player on the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team. In Beijing, he will play alongside 23 professional baseball players. It might be a little intimidating.

But Stephen Strasburg has plenty of experience in international baseball competition. He is fresh from a successful tour with the U.S. National Baseball Team, where he racked up some impressive pitching stats.

On August 6, he will travel to Beijing along with the rest of the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team.

What does the Loss of Paul Hamm mean for U.S. Olympic Gymnastics?

2008-07-30T12:59:00.001-07:00

Last Monday, I reported on Paul Hamm's unfortunate withdrawal from the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team due to injury. An NBC.com piece, entitled Tough task without Hamm probes the effect of Hamm's absence on Team USA.

NBC's Tim Daggett summarized the loss of Hamm this way:

It puts the U.S. men squarely in the underdog position..., but it could be something that they rally around and they could come into the Games very strong.

Let's hope for a rally. It's hard to see the team-leading Hamm miss his shot at gold due to injury, but he is only one member of a strong team.

Long Jumper Trevell Quinley says U.S. Olympic Trials are Harder than the Olympics

2008-07-30T09:51:00.001-07:00

Trevell Quinley stated an obvious but unspoken truth recently, when he reportedly stated: "Our Olympic trials are harder than the Olympic games, by far."

Quinley is a member of the U.S. Track & Field Team, in the long jump event. He competed in the brutal Eugene, Oregon trials last month. After that, he does not seem to worried about the Olympic event itself.

Are the U.S. trials really more difficult than the Olympics? Here are a few reasons why they might be:

1. The U.S. is consistently one of the top-medal winners at the at Olympic Games, and no one expects Beijing to be any different. It stands to reason that the competition among U.S. athletes preceding the games is therefore at least as difficult as the Olympics.

2. Athletes have more at stake in the trials. The difference between an athlete who makes it onto the Olympic team and one who does not might only be a hundredth of a second, but the effect is huge. Once you make the Olympic team, you will have a taste of celebrity, whether you win medals or not.

3. Teams compete in the Olympics. In the realm of team sports (soccer, baseball, volleyball, etc.), the trials are certainly more competitive. In the trials, individuals are on their own as they compete for slots on the team. But in the actual Olympics athletes have the comfort of being part of a team

Even if the U.S. trials are more difficult than the actual Olympics, there is one huge difference between the two: Americans watch the Olympics. How many of you tuned in to any of the trials on television? How many will watch the Olympics? There you go.

Heidi White & Northern Spy Withdraw -- Karen O'Connor and Mandiba will Compete in Beijing

2008-07-30T03:56:00.001-07:00

Heidi White has reportedly withdrawn from the Olympic equestrian team. Her horse, Northern Spy, apparently has medical problems of some type. Very little information is available at the moment.

Karen O'Connor will take White's place, and will be riding Mandiba. Although she almost missed her shot at the 2008 Olympics, this will actually be O'Connor's fourth Olympics. In 1996, she won the silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics along with her husband, David.

2008 Olympics - NBC Schedule of Events and Competitions

2008-07-29T20:55:00.001-07:00

The 2008 Beijing Olympics kick off in nine days, so I'm sure you're wondering when your favorite event or competition will take place.

You can view a calendar of the days on which various sports will have their competitions at NBCOlympics.com. You will note that the soccer events actually begin two days prior to the Opening Ceremony (i.e., on August 6, 2008).

While you're at the site, visit the TV & Online Listings to see when events will be broadcast in your area. In fact, why not check out the whole NBC Olympics Website? It's an excellent website, and one that we will all be consulting frequently over the next few weeks.

I was impressed to see that they already have a biography of Raj Bhavsar on the Men's Gymnastics page. Bhavsar was an alternate until Paul Hamm withdrew earlier this week. Did you know Bhavsar was an alternate in the 2004 games, too? I'm glad he's finally getting his shot at the gold.

Lewy Boulet "Warms Up" for the Olympic Marathon Event

2008-07-29T02:30:00.001-07:00

How do Olympic marathon runners like Lewy Boulet prepare physically for their event? You cannot "practice" running the marathon every day. Even Olympic-level athletes could not tolerate that level of strain.

Marathon training is all about pacing. Lewy Boulet found the perfect warm-up for her Beijing marathon this past Sunday in California. The "Wharf to Wharf" is a 6-mile race. It is competitive, but not at the level of a marathon. And, with the Olympics a couple weeks away, it was "perfect timing" for Boulet.

Boulet ended up finishing second among the women, with a time of 31:03 (a tie for 25th overall). Not bad, considering the 6-mile isn't even her event.

Tension on the Diving Team? Laura Wilkinson says No

2008-07-28T19:57:00.001-07:00

After the stress of cutthroat Olympic trials competitions, no one would expect Team USA to be one, big, happy family -- especially not the Diving Team. Laura Wilkinson and Jessica Livingston reportedly sought in arbitration to remove Mary Beth Dunnichay and Haley Ishimatsu as the 10-meter synchro diving team.

Now, Laura Wilkinson (unlike Livingston) is heading to Beijing to compete in diving, alongside Mary Beth Dunnichay and Haley Ishimatsu. Will the messy trials dispute ruin the mood for Team USA?

No, says Wilkinson. "We were friends before and I'm sure we'll be friends through it."

Ishimatsu echoes that sentiment.

Once the divers are in actual competition, representing the U.S. against other countries, they are bound to feel united in a common cause. But the Olympics are not just about national competition -- events like diving are profoundly individualistic. Personal rivalries inevitably arise, even on the same team.

Allison Schmitt is a Contender in the 200-Meter-Freestyle

2008-07-28T16:30:00.001-07:00

Folks in Canton, Michigan - just outside of Detroit - are proud of their hometown Olympian, Allison Schmitt. At age 17, Schmitt finished second in the Olympic swimming trials for her event (the 200-meter freestyle). Now she is on her way to the Beijing Olympics.

Allison Schmitt's former coach, Ed Weber, says Schmitt's teammates are "very proud to have someone from... Canton to represent them in Beijing for the Olympics."

Can Schmitt win a medal in Beijing? Coach Weber believes she can. We will all know in a couple weeks.

Olympic Gymnas Paul Hamm Will Not Compete -- Raj Bhavsar Will

2008-07-28T15:56:00.001-07:00

Gymnast Paul Hamm has voluntarily removed himself from the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team, less than two weeks before the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing.

Hamm announced today that he must resign due to physical injury. In May he broke a bone in his right hand. Earlier this month he had seemingly recovered well enough to be permitted to compete in the Olympics. In the past two weeks, though, it has become clear that the hand injury will stop him from defending his Olympic title.

Despite this bad news, there is a ray of light: Raj Bhavsar, an alternate on the Gymanstics Team, will now compete. Instead of watching his teammates from the sidelines, he will have his own shot at the gold.

Schwarzenegger Cheers on Our U.S. Olympic Athletes

2008-07-28T10:34:00.001-07:00

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (aka Mr. Universe) took time out of his busy schedule to greet U.S. Olympic athletes last Friday.

The migration of 600 U.S. Oympic athletes, plus coaches and staff, has begun. Many athletes are already in Bejing preparing for early competitions. Most will travel through California on their way to Beijing.

Schwarzenegger met some of the athletes at San Jose State, as they stopped for their Olympic Shopping Spree. I'm sure it was a good photo opportunity for the Governor -- but, hey, what athlete doesn't want to meet the Terminator?

Kate Markgraf and Other U.S. Olympians Relax at Beijing Normal

2008-07-28T04:24:00.001-07:00

The L.A. Times reports that Kate Markgraf and Heather O'Reilly, along with the rest of the U.S. Olympic Women's Soccer Team, were able to relax at Beijing Normal University before traveling to the site of their first Olympic game (August 9 against Norway).

USOC has arranged for Beijing Normal to be a haven for U.S. athletes during the Beijing Olympics. It won't all be relaxation, though -- the campus is outfitted to provide training facilities for most of the Olympic sports.

USOC hopes American athletes will enjoy extra practice time because of their exclusive access to Beijing Normal's campus and facilities. The U.S. Men's Basketball Team, among others, will practice there.

Team USA's Pollution-Fighting Masks

2008-07-27T21:40:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago, I published an interview excerpt in which U.S. Track & Field Coach Jeanette Bolden dismissed claims that Beijing's pollution would hamper Olympic athletes from America.

Stephen Fox, Managing Editor of the Santa Fe Sun New posted a comment in response, citing a Transworld News piece, calling for Olympic events to be moved to new locations with less pollution. His concern is that U.S. Olympic athletes will be killed or seriously injured by the pollution.

I don't know whether it is in response to Mr. Fox's efforts or not, but last week the media began reporting that Team USA is providing Olympic athletes with pollution-fighting air filtration masks to wear in Bejing. Initially, critics claimed the sight of U.S. athletes in masks would embarrass China.

Reportedly, though, only about 2% of the U.S. athletes are interested in wearing them. I very much doubt we will see athletes wearing them in the Opening Ceremonies. But you never know.

Will USA Basketball's Dream Team Dominate Olympic Coverage?

2008-07-27T14:15:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend, the U.S. Olympic Basketball team has received a lot of buzz, thanks to their 120-65 victory over Canada last Friday. The extreme domination displayed in that game bodes well for America's chances at the Beijing Olympics. But how will it affect the way Americans watch the Olympics?

The L.A. Times hailed the conquering heroes, calling the Olympic Basketball team "a source of national pride," and quoting an Air Force officer calling the players "our superheroes."

Will the Men's Basketball team dominate Olympic coverage in the United States?

Reasons why it might --

1. For once the U.S. Dream Team is the underground. Having finished third in the 2004 Olympics, they are out to prove something, as are their fans.

2. The U.S. Men's Basketball team is certain to win. Everyone likes to cheer for the winning team, and we can pretty well guarantee that America will get the gold in basketball.

3. Americans understand basketball. Steeple-chasing, not so much.

Reasons why it might not --

1. The Olmpic Basketball team's dominance this year will make their games uninteresting.

2. Niche sports have become popular, with BMX becoming an Olympic sport for the first time this year.

3. NBC is offering a crazy of coverage this year -- including all events, most of which will be accessible on-line. There are plenty of viewing opportunities to catch Olympics fans' eyes, other than basketball.

So, in summary, we will have to wait and see. For the first time this year, the Olympics will be truly accessible to all American viewers. We are going to find out what people really want to watch.

Becky Holder and Courageous Comet -- Equestrian Olympians

2008-07-27T08:39:00.001-07:00

In the past, the equestrian events have not received nearly the attention of other Olympic games (such as track & field and swimming), but they are among the most difficult and dangerous events -- as Olympian Becky Holder is well aware.

Holder, at age 39, will ride her horse, Courageous Comet, in Beijing. Holder hails from Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

The Australian, British, and French teams are favored to win medals in the Equestrian Eventing competition -- but I'm hoping Holder and Courageous Comet pull off a surprise victory for Team USA.

More Team USA Olympic Statistics

2008-07-26T23:49:00.001-07:00

Here are some more interesting statistics about the U.S. Olympic Team:

Q: Which U.S. Olympian is the oldest women to ever appear in the Olympics?

A: U.S. Army Staff Sargeant Libby Callahan, in the shooting squad at age 56.

Q: Which member of Team USA is the first woman to qualify for three different Olympic sports?

A: Sheila Taormina, in the pentathlon event (having competed in triathlon and swimming previously).

And here's an easy one: Three siblings are appearing on Team USA for the first time since 1904 -- who are they?

A: The Lopez taekwondo athletes (Mark, Diana, and Steven).

Much, much more trivia is on the way...

Kevin Tan is U.S. Gymnastics Team Captian

2008-07-26T19:05:00.001-07:00

Kevin Tan of Penn State has been named captain of the U.S. Gymnastics Team. The captain is selected by a vote of the team members.

Reflecting on the election, Tan stated:

"It is definitely an honor to be voted captain... I feel, though, we have a lot of great leaders on the team and we have really gelled well together. I am excited to get to Beijing and to get started."

Clearly, Kevin Tan impressed his teammates. Let's hope the Beijing gymnastics judges are equally impressed!

Kobe Bryant Wants to Redeem Himself by Winning Olympic Gold

2008-07-26T11:24:00.001-07:00

Despite losing in the NBA Finals this year, Kobe Bryant is looking to regain his pride by winning gold in the Beijing Olympics:

"I think winning a gold medal is more important because you're playing for your country... You're not playing for a region or a state or a brand. You are playing for the United States of America."

Kobe is clearly glad to be representing his country. He's probably also glad that he won't be facing the Celtics in Beijing.

Ted Knapp, Manager of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team

2008-07-26T06:44:00.001-07:00

The U.S. Olympic Swimming team is composed of more than just athletes. There are coaches, physicians, and a whole host of talented staffers we never hear about.

Stanford's associate swim coach, Ted Knapp, is a prime example of the talent that backs up Team USA. He will be traveling to the Olympic Games as a team member for the first time, as team manager.

"Whatever the coaches, athletes and administrators need me to do, anything from getting batteries for clocks that don't work to being a movie or restaurant critic... I'm a jack-of-all-trades."

There's no telling what the Swimming Team will require of Knapp -- if the predictions are true, they might have trouble carrying all their medals.

Whatever the case, Knapp is sure to have the time of his life. I can only imagine the excitement of walking into the Olympic opening ceremonies and staring up at the throngs of fans. For most people - even the athletes - it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Olympic Blog Heats Up

2008-07-26T05:04:00.001-07:00

You might have noticed some changes here at the Olympic blog recently.

With less than two weeks to go before the Beijing Opening Ceremonies, I'm scrambling to get you all the Olympic blogging coverage I can.

That means more posts, more often. I can't wait for the Olympics to begin. Stay tuned!

Aly Wagner Fights Her Way to Olympic Soccer

2008-07-25T21:45:00.001-07:00

While my prior post addressed the pain of an Olympic soccer player losing his shot at glory due to physical injury, I now turn to the more upbeat story of Aly Wagner, who has overcome physical obstacles so that she can play on the Olympic soccer team.

Ms. Wagner was out of commission for most of 2007 due to a "double sports hernia" and the resulting surgery. She recovered just in time to qualify for Team USA last month. Now she is feeling good, and ready for the Beijing Olympics, which are only a few weeks away.

Aly Wagner struggled with the pain of her injuries and uncertainty as to whether she would make it to Beijing. "It was the most mentally challenging thing I've been through," she said.

But now she is ready to go, and says, "I feel confident what I can bring."

Tara Kirk Controversy in U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Disaster

2008-07-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

It was bad enough that Tara Kirk missed her spot on the Olympic Swimming Team by 0.01 of a second, and worse still that one of the women who beat her -- Jessica Hardy -- might lose her berth due to a positive drug test (which she is appealing), but now the New York Times has dropped a bombshell:

According to Kirk, USA Swimming found out Hardy had failed a drug test last Monday. That is a crucial fact, because Monday was the deadline to submit team rosters for the 2008 Olympics.

If USA Swimming knew Hardy had failed a drug test, why didn't they submit Kirk's name as an alternate, in case Hardy lost her drug test appeal?

This will all be a moot issue if Hardy wins her appeal. But what if she doesn't? Then Kirk will be denied her Olympic dream because of a careless oversight. That would be very disappointing.

Nathan Sturgis' loss is Dax McCarty's gain in the Beijing Olympics

2008-07-25T18:37:00.001-07:00

Just a week ago, proud Olympic Soccer Team member Nathan Sturgis told the Salt Lake Tribune:

"It's a big honor [to play for Team USA in the Olympics]. I'm still trying to not get too far ahead of myself, because right now I'm still trying to stay healthy and play."

Unfortunately, we learned yesterday that Surgis was not able to stay healthy enough for the Olympics. Because of a hamstring injury, he has been forced to step down from the Olympic Soccer Team. That's bad news for fans of Real Salt Lake --

-- but good new (kind of) for fans of FC Dallas. Dax McCarty (previously an alternate for the Olympic Team) will take Sturgis' place at the Beijing Olympics. Meanwhile, Michael Harrington of KC will move onto the alternate list.

It's heartbreaking to see an athlete miss out on their shot at the Olympics. Fortunately, though, the U.S. has a long list of talented reserves to choose from.

How Many Athletes are on the U.S. Olympic Team? Check out the Numbers...

2008-07-25T08:11:00.001-07:00

How many athletes are on the U.S. Olympic Team that will compete in Beijing? This is one of many questions answered in a recent L.A. Times piece about Olympic statistics.

The answer, of course, is 596.

How many men are on the U.S. Olympic Team? 310.

How many women are on the U.S. Olympic Team? 286.

There are several other interesting statistics -- For example, the youngest American athlete in Beijing will be 15-year-old Mary Beth Dunnichay of the 10-meter synchro team.

Also, there will be 3 five-time Olympians on the team, as well as 12 four-time Olympians.

This is just the beginning of the avalanche of Olympic statistics we will see in the next three weeks. Stay tuned...

U.S. Olympic Baseball Team Roster

2008-07-23T21:02:00.000-07:00

Here is the official roster for the U.S. Baseball Team that will compete in the Beijing Olympics, courtesy of USAbaseball.com:

#, Name, Position, B/T, Ht, Wt, Hometown

40 Anderson, Brett P L/L 6-4 215 Midland, TX
34 Arrieta, Jake P R/R 6-4 225 Farmington, MO
18 Barden, Brian IF R/R 5-11 185 Templeton, CA
17 Brown, Matthew IF R/R 6-0 200 Bellevue, WA
30 Cahill, Trevor P R/R 6-3 195 Oceanside, CA
47 Cummings, Jeremy P R/R 6-2 215 Charleston, WV
2 Donald, Jason IF R/R 6-1 190 Fresno, CA
45 Duensing, Brian P L/L 5-11 210 Marysville, KS
24 Fowler, Dexter OF S/R 6-4 175 Atlanta, GA
7 Gall, John OF R/R 6-0 195 Stanford, CA
10 Hessman, Mike IF R/R 6-5 215 Fountain Valley, CA
39 Jepsen, Kevin P R/R 6-3 215 Anaheim, CA
15 Knight, Brandon P L/R 6-0 195 Oxnard, CA
21 Koplove, Mike P R/R 6-0 160 Philadelphia, PA
44 LaPorta, Matt OF R/R 6-2 210 Port Charlotte, FL
6 Marson, Lou C R/R 6-1 200 Scottsdale, AZ
49 Neal, Blaine P L/R 6-5 240 Marlton, NJ
3 Nix, Jayson 2B R/R 5-11 185 Dallas, TX
14 Schierholtz, Nate OF L/R 6-2 215 Reno, NV
37 Stevens, Jeff P R/R 6-2 205 Berkeley, CA
29 Strasburg, Stephen P R/R 6-5 215 San Diego, CA
19 Teagarden, Taylor C R/R 6-1 200 Dallas, TX
26 Tiffee, Terry IF S/R 6-3 215 North Little Rock, AR
35 Weathers, Casey P R/R 6-1 200 Elk Grove, CA

Luis Yanez Poll Results -- Box Without Him

2008-07-22T20:24:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday, I announced that Luis Yanez is back on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, despite having violated team rules and having been temporarily removed from the team.

As I noted, Yanez will probably make the U.S. proud in Beijing, but it is disappointing that he has not complied with the Boxing Team's rules.

Over the past six days, I conducted a poll on this site, asking whether Yanez should be back on the team or not. The results are in, and they are as follows:

Poll Results

Approximately two-thirds of respondents said Yanez should not be allowed to compete in the Olympics because he violated team rules. The other one-third said he should be allowed despite the violation.

This is not a scientific survey, of course, and the sample size is not large enough to predict what the nation as a whole thinks. Clearly, though, we U.S. Olympic fans want our stars to play by the rules.

Yanez will fight in Beijing along our other U.S. boxers, and I hope he brings home the gold. But hats off to the rest of the team who -- whether they win medals or not -- have towed the line for Team USA.

U.S. Olympic Pentathlon Team Roster

2008-07-21T20:42:00.001-07:00

It's official -- the final U.S. Pentathlon team roster for the 2008 Beijing Olympics is here:

Women:
Margaux Isaksen (Fayetteville, Ark./Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Sheila Taormina (Livonia, Mich.)

Men:
Eli Bremer (Monument, Colo./Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force)
Sam Sacksen (Somerset, Pa./Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Head Coach:
Janusz Peciak (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Riding Coach:
Michael Cintas (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)

Team Leader:
Scott Novack (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Read the full press release here.

Olympic Shopping Spree

2008-07-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

Olympic competition involves a lot of hard work and dedication that the spectators never see. But it also involves some cushy luxuries like this past weekend's free shopping spree.

As SFGate.com reports in a piece called "Swimming for Swag," U.S. Olympic athletes lined up for free stuff at San Jose State on Saturday. Each athlete received about $3000 of free gear from the USOC, Nike, and other sponsors.

Because of her corporate sponsorship (Speedo), swimmer Amanda Beard can't wear the Nike merchandise, but noted that, "A lot of it will go to family members."

Eventually, all of the Olympians will get their free gifts -- except for the equestrians, who probably don't need any Nike gear, anyway.

U.S. Olympic Soccer Team Roster Announced

2008-07-17T20:12:00.001-07:00

Here is the 2008 U.S. Olympic Soccer Team roster, as reported by Goal.com:

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS: Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Michael Orozco (San Luis, Mexico), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS: Freddy Adu (SL Benfica, POR), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen, NED), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County, ENG), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio, ITA)

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF, SWE), Brian McBride (out of contract), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

Luis Yanez Back on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team

2008-07-16T19:59:00.001-07:00

Last week, we learned that Luis Yanez -- one of the U.S. Boxing Team's Captains -- had been kicked off the team for skipping training.

But today we learned that Yanez is back on the team, after publicly apologizing for his absence from training:

"I sincerely apologize to head coach (Dan) Campbell, to my teammates, and to USA Boxing for not only breaking the rules of the Athlete Code of Conduct, but also for my lack of candor regarding the circumstances of my absence from the Resident Program."

For the sake of winning gold medals, it's great that Yanez is going to Beijing. But, of course, winning isn't everything.

Should Yanez be barred from competing in Beijing? Vote in the survey located on the right of this page -->>

Then bookmark this page so you can check back for the results next week.

Who is the Richest Olympic Athlete?

2008-07-16T13:12:00.001-07:00

Check out this list of the highest-paid Olympic athletes - several of whom are Americans.

Kobe Bryant leads the pack with his $136.4 million Lakers contract, but the list is not composed entirely of NBA players. There are also some tennis and socccer players.

I know what you're thinking -- the Olympics are for amateur authletes. But that's no longer the case, really.

In recent years, the Olympics have shifted from a battle of the best amateurs to a battle of the best, period. Should the Olympics be an amateur competition?

The argument in favor of amateurism is that athletes should play for love of the game -- not for money. That's why, the theory goes, the NCAA tournament is more fun to watch than the NBA Finals.

But how many modern sports fans really believe that pure love of the sport is more important than fielding the best athletes available? When it's a competition of national pride versus national pride, the best athletes should be allowed to compete.

What if Dream Team Loses?

2008-07-15T11:17:00.001-07:00

Today I had a startling thought -- what if the Dream Team loses at the Beijing Olympics?

I try to stay positive about all of the U.S. teams, and there is no team I am more confident in than our 2008 U.S. Men's Basketball Team. As I wrote last October, I believe the 2008 Dream Team will bring home the gold. And, as Jason Kidd said, the the Olympic basketball team has learned from its failure in 2004.

But what if, for whatever reason, the Dream Team loses? Will that be the end of U.S. dominance in basketball?

I don't think so, for a few reasons:

1. To dominate a sport, you don't have to win every single tournament. This past year, the U.S. Men's Basketball Team won the FIBA Americas championship, and the team is likely to win most tournaments in the future, too.

2. Even though many NBA players are from outside of the United States, the NBA itself is still the preeminent basketball league in the world, and there is no sign that that will change any time soon (even if the 12 members of the Dream Team give a poor showing in this year's Olympics).

3. Basketball is, fundamentally, an American sport. It started in the U.S., and as popular as it is in certain European countries, no one likes basketball as much as the USA.

I think the Dream Team will win. But if the U.S. Men's Basketball Team of 2008 loses, it will not be the end of the world -- or even of American dominance in the sport of basketball.

Read your Daily John McCain Joke or check out these Barack Obama jokes.

U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team -- Results from Trials

2008-07-15T07:18:00.001-07:00

Based on the recent U.S. Olympic Equestrian Trials, the U.S. Equestrian Foundation has released the following roster for Team USA, which is subject to official approval from USOC:

Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner (in alphabetical order):

Phillip Dutton/44/West Grove, PA/Connaught/15/Irish Sport Horse/G/Bruce Duchossois

Becky Holder/39/Mendota Heights, MN/Courageous Comet/12/Thoroughbred/G/Becky and Thomas Holder, Jr.

Gina Miles/34/Creston, CA/McKinlaigh/14/Irish Sport Horse/Gina Miles, Laura Coats and Thomas Schulz

Amy Tryon/38/Duvall, WA/Poggio II/16/Thoroughbred/G/Amy and Greg Tryon and Mark Hart

Heidi White/42/Aiken, SC/Northern Spy/15/English Thoroughbred/G/Heidi White

Replacements in alphabetical order:

Bruce Davidson, Jr./32/ Ocala, FL/BallyNoe Castle RM/8/Irish Thoroughbred/G/Carl and Cassandra Segal

Phillip Dutton/44/WestGrove, PA/Woodburn/13/Thoroughbred/G/Acorn Hill Farm

Bonnie Mosser/45/Unionville, PA/Merloch/11/New Zealand Thoroughbred Cross/G/Bonnie Mosser and Margaret Egan

Karen O'Connor/50/The Plains, VA/Mandiba/9/Irish Thoroughbred/G/Joan Goswell

The equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong.

3600 Hours of the Beijing Olympics on NBC!!!

2008-07-14T13:46:00.001-07:00

That's right -- NBC is going to broadcast 3600 hours of Olympics coverage from Beijing. That's more than all televised Olympic coverage in the history of U.S. television.

As explained on NBC's olympic website, coverage will be spread across multiple TV networks - CNBC, USA, MSNBC, NBC, Oxygen, Telemundo, and Universal HD.

But most importantly -- it will be on the web, free of charge. The website will include 2,200 hours of live coverage, as well as cool features such as the ability to watch a single event from multiple camera angles simultaneously.

In the past, it seemed like viewers had to have premium channels and pay-per-view to really watch the major Olympic events. But that's all over -- now it's free, free, free. And keep in mind that NBC has the exclusive broadcast rights for 2010's Vancouver Winter Olympics, too.

The Olympics will be more accessible to Americans than ever before this year. Thank you, NBC!

Christina Loukas is Ready to Dive for Gold

2008-07-13T13:27:00.001-07:00

Just three weeks ago, Christina Loukas won the 3-meter springboard competition at the U.S. Olympic diving trials. A month from now, she will be in Beijing helping Team USA bring home medals.

The Chicago Tribune quoted Loukas today, discussing her victory in the trials:

"I was overwhelmed... I was so happy and was getting all teary-eyed. I'd been dreaming about that moment. When it finally happened, I was like, 'Wait, did that really just happen?' "

The trip to Beijing will not be Christina Loukas' first. She competed in the FINA Diving World Cup in Beijing this past February. But, of course, no diving competition rises to the level of the Olympics.

Asthma Doesn't Stop Jeanette Bolden, Coach of the U.S. Women's Track & Field Team

2008-07-13T12:23:00.001-07:00

Revolution Health has posted an excellent interview with Jeanette Bolden, coach of the U.S. Women's Track & Field Team that will compete in the Beijing Olympics.

Coach Bolden competed in the 1984 Olympics herself (where she earned a gold medal in the sprint relay), but had to keep an inhaler and other medication nearby because of her asthma.

Although many athletes and fans worry about asthma-like symptoms resulting from Beijing's high levels of air pollution, Jeanette Bolden does not seem too concerned: "I think [tourists who visit Beijing] actually have a lower risk than they would inside the United States. Allergic reactions are a defensive response from the body, and ordinarily that requires that you've had a prior exposure to the allergen."

In her opinion, heat and humidity will be a greater challenge for the athletes. And she ought to know -- she's both an athlete and a doctor.

In the interview, Bolden lists the three requirements that her peers used when they selected her to coach the 2008 Women's Track & Field Team: "eligible candidates must have 1) been an Olympian 2) been a coach for a number of years 3) coached Olympians." Jeanette Bolden meets those requirements, and obviously exceeds them. Out of a large field of former Olympians, she was selected.

Concluding thoughts from Coach Bolden:

"I'm looking forward to a fantastic Olympic games. We have so many wonderful Olympic athletes this year – I just know it's going to be great."

Oldest Member of Team USA -- Olympian John Dane, III

2008-07-12T15:51:00.001-07:00

John Dane III might not enjoy being labeled "the oldest member of the U.S. Olympic Team," but it's a fact. At age 58 (as of July 15, 2008), he will be more than three times the age of the youngest athletes representing the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He and his son-in-law, Austin Sperry, will sail a Star boat in the Olympics. Dane first attempted to make the Olympic sailing team in 1968, when he finished 2nd in the Olympic trials.

Whether he wins, or not in 2008, Dane is certain to profit from the experience. John Dane III is President and CEO of Trinity Yachts, a major international yacht manufacturer.

Kara Lynn Joyce -- Luckiest Swimmer on Team USA

2008-07-11T15:42:00.001-07:00

Imagine how frustrated Kara Lynn Joyce was this past week. After years of training and work, she just barely missed her chance at competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she finished 7th in the 100-meter freestyle event. Oh, well, there's always 2012...

But wait -- After the swimming trials were over, Joyce learned that she would be going to the Olympics, anyway. According to a University of Georgia press release, Dara Torres, who finished ahead of Joyce in the Olympic trials, will not compete in the 100m.

Torres' decision not to compete in that race left an open spot for Kara Lynn Joyce, who will now swim in Beijing. She will, undoubtedly, be the most grateful swimmer there.

This could end up being a great underdog story, if Kara Lynn Joyce rises to the occasion and earns a medal in Beijing. Good luck, Kara Lynn!

For Michelle Carter, the Olympic Shot Put is a Family Tradition

2008-07-10T15:15:00.001-07:00

This week, in the Eugene, Oregon Olympic track and field trials, Michelle Carter earned a spot on Team USA in the shot put event.

After setting a personal record with a throw of 61'10.75", Carter was understandably pleased. But add to that the fact that Michelle Carter's father, Michael, was a member of the U.S. Olympic shot put team in the 1984 L.A. Olympics, where he won a silver medal.

For many athletes, the Olympics are a family event. Good luck to Michelle Carter and our U.S. track and field team!

Josh McAdams - U.S. Olympic Steeplechase Athlete

2008-07-09T15:31:00.001-07:00

Last weekend in Eugene, Oregon, Josh McAdams and dozens of other atheletes competed for spots on the U.S. track and field team. McAdams qualified by finishing third in the 3000-meter steeplechase.

At age 28, McAdams is an experienced athlete. Born in Atlanta, he was a high school cross country and track champion. As a senior at Brigham Young University, he won the NCAA national championship in the steeplechase event.

Unlike most of his teammates, Josh McAdams is also experienced in Asian culture. He served a two-year mission for the LDS church in Bangkok, Thailand. Traveling to China for the 2008 Olympics should not be much of a culture shock for him.

The first and second-place finishers in steeplechase were William Nelson and Anthony Famiglietti.

U.S. Olympic Swim Team Roster

2008-07-08T15:00:00.001-07:00

Reuters reports that eight world records were set in the 8-day U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Olympic hopefuls battled for seats on what looks to be a dominant U.S. swimming team.

Here is the complete roster, courtesy of usaswimming.org:

Men

Nathan Adrian 19 Bremerton, Wash. 4x100m Free Relay

Ricky Berens 20 Charlotte, N.C. 4x200m Free Relay

Ian Crocker 25 Portland, Maine 100m Fly

Mark Gangloff 25 Akron Ohio 100m Breast

Matt Grevers 23 Lake Forest, Ill. 100m Back, 4x100m Free Relay

Brendan Hansen 26 Havertown, Pa. 100m Breast

Larsen Jensen 22 Bakersfield, Calif. 400m / 1500m Free

Cullen Jones 24 Irvington, N.J. 4x100m Free Relay

Klete Keller 26 Phoenix, Ariz. 4x200m Free Relay

Ryan Lochte 23 Daytona Beach, Fla. 200m / 400m IM, 200m Back

Jason Lezak 32 Irvine, Calif. 100m Free, 4x100m Free Relay

Michael Phelps 23 Baltimore, Md. 200m / 400m IM, 200m Free,

100m / 200m Fly, 4x200 Free Relay

Aaron Peirsol 24 Irvine, Calif. 100m / 200m Back

Scott Spann 20 Austin, Texas 200m Breast

Eric Shanteau 24 Lilburn, Ga. 200m Breast

Gil Stovall 22 Memphis, Tenn. 200m Fly

Peter Vanderkaay 24 Rochester, Mich. 200m / 400m / 1500m Free, 4x200m Free Relay

Erik Vendt 27 North Easton, Mass. 4x200m Free Relay

David Walters 20 Yorktown, Va. 4x200m Free Relay

Mark Warkentin 28 Santa Barbara, Calif. 10k Marathon Swim

Garrett Weber-Gale 22 Milwaukee, Wis. 50m / 100m Free, 4x100m Free Relay

Ben Wildman-Tobriner 23 San Francisco, Calif. 50m Free, 4x100m Free Relay

Men's Head Coach

: Eddie Reese

Men's Assistant Coach

: Bob Bowman, Gregg Troy, Frank Busch

Women

Amanda Beard 26 Irvine, Calif. 200m Breast

Elizabeth Beisel 15 Saunderstown, R.I. 200m Back, 400m IM

Caroline Burckle 21 Louisville, Ky. 4x200m Free Relay

Elaine Breeden 19 Lexington, Ky. 100m / 200m Fly

Natalie Coughlin 25 Vallejo, Calif. 100m Back, 200m IM, 100m Free,

4x100m Free Relay

Jessica Hardy 21 Long Beach, Calif. 50m Free, 100m Breast,

4x100m Free Relay

Kathleen Hersey 19 Atlanta, Ga. 200m Fly

Margaret Hoelzer 25 Huntsville, Ala. 100m / 200m Back

Katie Hoff 19 Towson, Md. 200m / 400m IM,

200m / 400m / 800m Free,

4x200m Free Relay

Megan Jendrick 24 Tacoma, Wash. 100m Breast

Christine Magnuson 22 Tinley Park, Ill. 100m Fly

Christine Marshall 21 Newport News, Va. 4x200m Free Relay

Lacey Nymeyer 22 Tucson, Ariz. 100m Free, 4x100m Free Relay

Allison Schmitt 18 Canton, Mich. 200m Free, 4x200m Free Relay

Emily Silver 22 Bainbridge Island, Wash. 4x100m Free Relay

Julia Smit 20 Mt. Sinai, N.Y. 4x100m / 4x200m Free Relay

Rebecca Soni 21 Plainsboro, N.J. 200m Breast

Chloe Sutton 16 Mission Viejo, Calif. 10k Marathon Swim

Dara Torres 41 Los Angeles, Calif. 50m Free, 4x100m Free Relay

Kim Vandenberg 24 Moraga, Calif. 4x200m Free Relay

Kate Ziegler 19 Great Falls, Va. 400m / 800m Free

Women's Head Coach:

Jack Bauerle

Women's Assistant Coach:

Paul Yetter, Teri McKeever, Sean Hutchison

This could easily be the best U.S. swimming team ever. We'll know for sure in six weeks!

U.S. Olympic Diving Team Revealed

2008-07-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Olympic Diving team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics has just been announced. The 12 members are:

David Boudia (Noblesville, Ind.) – 10-meter, synchronized 10-meter
Kelci Bryant (Chatham, Ill./ Carmel, Ind.) – synchronized 3-meter
Chris Colwill (Brandon, Fla./ Athens, Ga.) – 3-meter, synchronized 3-meter
Troy Dumais (Ventura, Calif./ Austin, Texas) – 3-meter
Mary Beth Dunnichay (Elwood, Ind.) – synchronized 10-meter
Thomas Finchum (Indianapolis, Ind.) – 10-meter, synchronized 10-meter
Nancilea Underwood Foster (Conroe, Texas/ University of Iowa) – 3-meter
Haley Ishimatsu (Seal Beach, Calif./ Indianapolis, Ind.) – 10-meter, synchronized 10-meter
Christina Loukas (Riverwoods, Ill./ Bloomington, Ind.) – 3-meter
Ariel Rittenhouse (Santa Cruz, Calif./ Indianapolis, Ind.) – synchronized 3-meter
Jevon Tarantino (Boca Raton, Fla.) – synchronized 3-meter
Laura Wilkinson (Spring, Texas) – 10-meter

The U.S. diving team contains 12 members, the maximum number that could qualify. The last time the U.S. had maxium participation in the Olympic diving events was 1996.

U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team -- The Nike Photo Conspiracy

2008-07-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

In a pregame.com forum, "Derren Brown" made an interesting argument about a recent photo of the U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team.

Read the full entry for the details, but it appears that the team photo was positioned so that Dwight Howard could cover the Nike "swoosh" symbols on his shorts and shoes. That's significant because Howard is reportedly the only member of the team who is not sponsored by Nike.

You may or may not believe the conspiracy theory proposed by Derren Brown (not the real "Derren Brown," surely) -- but it's entertaining reading.

Amanda Beard Will Swim in the Olympics

2008-07-05T15:58:00.000-07:00

Despite competing in three previous Olympics, Amanda Beard was not a favorite to win a birth on the Olympic swimming team. Last Friday, she exceeded everyone's expectations with a big win in the 200-meter breastroke.

The Boston Herald quoted her saying: "Not a lot of people expected me make this team... I knew I could make the team, but it was a long shot."

Now that Amanda Beard has made the team, she has pledged to help team USA bring home "bring home oodles of medals" from the Beijing Olympics.

U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team Revealed!

2008-06-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

At long last, here it is -- the roster of the U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team that will compete in Beijing in 2008. Coach Mike Krzyzewski's team is (in alphabetical order):

1. Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
2. Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz)
3. Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors)
4. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
5. Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
6. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
7. Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks)
8. Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)
9. Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons)
10. Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks)
11. Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat)
12. Deron Williams (Utah Jazz)

Source: USAbasketball.com

This team seems destined for the gold. After finishing third in 2004, Team USA is poised to rocket back into first place. They should put on a great show!

Dremiel Byers Joines the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team

2008-06-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a winning performance in the U.S. Olympic Wrestling trials this past Sunday in Las Vegas, Dremiel "Bam" Byers is headed to Beijing.

After qualifying for the team, Byers said:

I had to go outside and yell. My neighbors probably thought I was losing my mind, but I just had to scream. I couldn't help it.

Byers is reportedly a long-time competitor and friend of well-known U.S. Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner. Finally, Byers will get his chance to represent the U.S. in the Olympics.

Who will be on the 2008 Dream Team?

2008-06-16T21:00:00.001-07:00

The U.S. Men's basketball team's final roster is still a mystery, but not for long.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the final roster will be released by the end of June. Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets will reportedly be on the team.

Team USA needs to redeem itself from a disappointing bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. More news to follow soon...

Women's Olympic Marathon Qualifier on April 20, 2008

2008-04-16T11:15:00.001-07:00

With only six days to go until the next Women's Olympic Marathon qualifier, 162 runners have reportedly registered for the event.

The entire race, which will determine the Women's Team for the 2008 Olympics, will be available in streaming video from NBC. The race starts at 8:00 AM EST on April 20, 2008, the day before the Boston Marathon.

Tragedy struck a few months ago in the men's qualifier (November 3, 2007), when Olympic favorite Ryan Shay died of a heart attack during the race.

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Chicago

2008-04-15T11:03:00.001-07:00

American athletes are reportedly gathered in Chicago today for the ongoing U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit.

In the face of recent calls for an Olympic boycott and worldwide protests against the Beijing Olympics, the media will undoubtedly have many pointed questions for the U.S. Olympic Committee and the athletes themselves.

The event is located in Chicago, the U.S. city currently seeking to host the 2016 Olympics.

U.S. Women's Soccer Qualifies for Olympics

2008-04-14T11:07:00.001-07:00

It's official - the U.S. women's soccer team is going to Beijing. On April 9, team U.S.A. clenched an Olympic berth with a victory over Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The women then went on to win the tournament.

Swimmer Alicia Aemisegger Dreams of Olympic Glory

2008-03-07T18:20:00.001-08:00

20-year-old Princeton Sophomore Alicia Aemisegger wants to swim for the U.S. Olympic Team in the 400-meter individual medly.

As NJ.com reports, Aemisegger looks to her Princeton teammates for support:

They're all my best friends and they've supported me through this whole goal that I've had," said Ae misegger, a 20-year-old sophomore. "Since I'm not there all the time, they could easily kind of push me to the side and think that I don't want to train with them. But they're so understanding and so supportive of what I want to do that they just encourage me the entire time.

The trials will be held in Omaha, Nebraska, June 29-July 6, 2008.

Swimmer Bennett Clark of Missouri Competes for a Spot on the U.S. Olympic Team

2008-03-06T19:05:00.001-08:00

The Columbia Missourian reported last week on swimmer Bennett Clark, who skipped his senior year to focus on his pursuit of Olympic glory.

Instead of attending classes this year, Clark has been training in Charlotte, North Carolina with the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club. Clark competes in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle and expects stiff competition in the Olympic trials this summer.

Regardless of the outcome, he is happy with his decision to train fulltime:

I’ve learned things and accomplished things that I couldn’t have done in a college season. Even if I don’t make the Olympic team, I know that I will have at least given myself the best chance to do so.

For Some Athletes, Qualifying for the Olympic Trials is Enough

2008-03-05T18:45:00.001-08:00

Most athletes we discuss on this blog have one thing on their mind: competing for the U.S. Olympic Team in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

It was refreshing to read about U.S. marathon runner Erin Block this past week. Ms. Block will compete in the Olympic marathon trials this April (see calendar of trials). As reported by the Mid-Iowa News, Ms. Block has a very realistic appraisal of her chances of achieving the top-three finish needed to make the team:

You have to finish top three, and that is just so far out of my ability range that it's not something I'm thinking about,... My dream was to qualify. When I get out there, I just want to really appreciate the experience. I feel very grateful that I was able to (qualify).

That is one of the most inspiring sentiments I have encountered while reporting on the U.S. Olympics these past few months. And we have to assume that thousands of others, like Ms. Block, are competing for love of the sport and enjoying just being there.

Military Hotshots Hope to Invade Beijing in the 2008 Olympics

2008-03-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

Military.com reports that Sgt. 1st Class Jason A. Parker and Sgt. 1st Class Daryl L. Szarenski are preparing for the U.S. Olympic airgun trials, to be held February 29-March 3, 2008.

It is no surprise that military marksmen are among the best shooters in the country. Let's hope they're the best in the world.

Chinese Will Watch 2008 U.S. Olympics On-Line

2008-03-03T18:48:00.001-08:00

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that China Central Television will team up with MySpace China and Tudou.com to broadcast 2008 Olympic events as streaming video on-line.

Unfortunately, these broadcasts will only be viewable in China. Hopefully, American broadcasters will find a way to make the same sort of service available.

Jay Shi Gunning for the U.S. Olympic Team

2008-03-02T18:21:00.001-08:00

The Arizona Republic reports that Jay Shi of Phoenix is participating in the U.S. Olympic air pistol trials. The trials run through tomorrow (March 3, 2008), and competition is tight. The U.S. only has 1 slot available.

Because of damage to his right eye, Shi shoots righthanded but aims with his left eye -- an unusual approach. But he recognizes that: "This is a mental sport much more than physical."

U.S. Success in Diving World Cup Leads to Olympic Opportunities

2008-02-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

USAToday/AP reports that the U.S. Women's Diving team has secured Olympic berths in the 10-meter synchronized diving event.

This success comes as U.S. Olympic hopefuls Haley Ishimatsu and Mary Beth Dunnichay finish eighth in the event at the Good Luck Beijing/FINA Diving World Cup.

17-year-old Kathleen Hersey Aims for the Olympic Swim Team

2008-02-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

Kathleen Hersey won gold at last year's USA Swimming National Championships, and she is a favorite to make the 2008Olympic Swimming Team.

Oh, and did I mention that she's just 17 years old? Read more about her at ajc.com.

Commenting on what the Olympics mean to her, Hersey explains:

"We play the national anthem after school every day, and on occasions I get goose bumps thinking about [the Olympics] because you are representing your country and not just your school or your club team. I can't even describe what it would be if I made that team."

Golden Uses Gymnastics Instead of Adderall

2008-01-03T17:21:00.000-08:00

Olympic hopeful Sean Golden was a hyperactive child. Instead of giving him the drug Adderall, however, his parents enrolled him in a gymnastics class.

Now, at age 24, Golden is gunning for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in 2008, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Gymnastics trials will be in his home town of Philadelphia.

He plans to go all out in the trials:

"Some people hold back a little bit. It only happens every four years, and some people feel like they cannot deal with the failure. They just want to hold back so they have an excuse. I want to put it all out on the line. That's what I did when I made the world team, and that's what I'll do at the trials."

Anti-Doping Ban Knocks Sprinter Justin Gatlin Out of the 2008 Olympics

2008-01-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin was facing a lifetime suspension after failing a drug test in 2006. The ban has reportedly been reduced to four years and will expire May 24, 2010.

That penalty is long enough to keep Gatlin out of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. And, in the relatively short career of a world-class athlete, four years is a long time.

In the wake of the Mitchell report and Operation Raw Deal, American athletic news is full of steroid stories. Runner LaTasha Jenkins was recently cleared of drug charges, but it is unfortunately inevitable that more Olympic athletes will be suspended between now and the Olympics.

A Year of Wins for Raynell Williams

2008-01-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

Amid all the top-10 lists and year-in-review programs, the Cleveland Plain Dealer noticed that Raynell Williams had a pretty good year in 2007.

At age 18, featherweight Williams won a national championship and qualified for the 2008 Olympic Boxing team. He also made a trip to China for some cultural training with his teammates.

Reflecting on the experience, Williams says: "This has been hard for me... I had never been away for more than a couple of weeks before. But I've got to know the [10 other Olympic boxers]. They are like family..."

For a bio of Williams, click here.

Rachael Wahl Qualifies for Swimming Trials

2008-01-01T11:44:00.001-08:00

The Santa Maria Times has a nice write-up about swimmer Rachael Wahl, a 2008 Olympic hopeful. On December 2, 2007, Wahl qualified for the U.S. swimming trials, which will be held in Omaha next summer (June 29 - July 6, 2008).

Wahl, age 20, swims the butterfly and individual medley. Santa Maria Swim Club coach Mike Ashmore commented on Wahl's strengths as a swimmer:

“Really, it is her work ethic that has gotten her where she is. She comes here day in and day out and does the job. She is pretty strong and athletic, but there are a lot of pretty strong and athletic people who go nowhere.”