Day two of the London Olympics is in the books. Sure many of our watching our Female Gymnasts on Qualification day on the TV (paying special attention to Michigan Native Jordyn Wieber of course), but for the most part the day has come to an end. We still have yet to see the men’s relay team on TV, but for those of us who have been following the games full time over the past few days know what the score is.
The Medal Count looks to be pretty good so far. Team USA has won 11 total medals, and they are broken down like this: 3 Gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze. Through two days of competition they sit second in the overall medal count. Of course we would like to see that Gold Medal count come up a bit, and it will certainly happen as we finish out the swimming meet, the gymnastics competition, and some of the team sports move towards their conclusions.
Personally this is my seventh summer Olympics I’ve watched as a fan, and the second straight I have covered as a sports writer. I don’t really remember the 1984 Lo Angeles games much, but I know I watched them with my Mother. The Seoul Games of 1988 are the first ones I remember watching marathon style like I have the past two. In that time I have seen TeamUSAdominate some sports, and now others. It was good to see Team USA Diving win their first medal in 12 years today, but I am a little concerned about the state ofUStrack and field. There has not been a lot of press about those individuals that will compete in the premier event of week two of theLondongames. We all know the names of the past; Florence Griffith-Joyner, and Jackie Joyner-Kersey, Michael Johnson, and Carl Lewis.USAtrack and field seems to need some work. Of course they did win 7 track and field gold medals at the last Olympics but it seems the stars of that sport are not the household names they once were. Hopefully that changes as these games unfold.
That is part of the problem with the Olympics. For the most part we only care about these sports every four years. Even in a world where we could likely find all of them via online streaming something about the framing of the Olympics games makes us care more. I have watched sports over the last two days that I never would have guessed I would enjoy so much or care so much about. Chief among them is Water Polo. I watched two water polo matches today, and found that sport to be very enjoyable. Of courseAnn Arbor,MInative Betsey Armstrong is the goalie for theUSAwomen Water polo team so I have extra incentive to watch. What a great sport, the rules are quite confusing but what can you do about a sport we watch every four years.
As Day two ends, and we rest up for Day Three let us give a big shout out toCanton,MInative Allison Schmitt. A member of TeamUSAswimming she has already netted a Silver and a Bronze medal. Way to go young lady, and fellow Michigander.