Athletes and fans alike await the Winter Olympic Games every four years. Fans plan their trip years in advance, in a chance that they could see history in the making. Athletes train their absolute hardest to make that history, and it has been made in the 21st Winter Olympic Games.
Sadly, the games started off on a terrible note. A Georgian luger lost his life in a practice run the day before he was supposed to race. Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21 died Friday at Whistler track, he "Flew backward over the short wall of ice and died when his helmet struck the steel support pole," reported Sports Illustrated. Due to the death of the luger, the men's starting point was moved 600 feet down the track to the women's starting point. This shorten track would reduce the men's speed by almost 30 miles per hour said Sports Illustrated.
Onto a lighter note in history, Apolo Ohno finished third in the 1,500 meter short track race Saturday, securing him a front row seat in Winter Olympic history. He is now the most decorated American athlete to compete in the games. He passed Bonnie Blair, a long-track skating legend, who had six metals. To prepare for his record breaking Olympics he was on a 15 week diet with meals every three hours. In the gym he does 1,000 pound single leg presses and hops stairs for ten minutes. According to his coach, Ohno passed the 900 mile mark on the treadmill two weeks ago.
Bode Miller skied into history this past weekend when he became the first American ski racer to win three Olympic metals. He received a bronze metal, missing gold by only .09 seconds. The metal did not come easy though, the course was slowly deteriorating. According to Sports Illustrated, "Whistler Blackcomb resort is at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The starting point of the men's downhill run is 5,453 feet, 2,421 feet lower than the course at the games in 2006."
With just a few days left of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics the final metals are being awarded, and the history books will close again for another four years. Although, the games had some rough moments, I would call it an overall success. I am sad that they have come and gone so quickly, but it gives me something to look forward to, the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games.
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It is crazy how many historic events happen at the Olympics every year. It seems like this past Summer and the current Winter Olympics there have been alot of records being broken. I wonder if part of the reason is because the media is looking for every little excuse to fine breaking news that will give thier network attention. Either way I am enjoying the Olympics alot this year.
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