<p>^Still better than some of the world champions in this sport.</p>
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<p>I don’t know much about figure skating. The idea that there’s something that could have been worse than RG is today is pretty scary.</p>
<p>Also, Russia found a way to get around the two per country rule. They give gymnasts Azerbaijani citizenship and have them compete for Azerbaijan.</p>
<p>This was interesting:</p>
<p>[The</a> Uneven Bars Developments (50s-2010s) - YouTube](<a href=“The Uneven Bars Developments (50s-2010s) - YouTube”>The Uneven Bars Developments (50s-2010s) - YouTube)</p>
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<p>Hey, that’s an idea. We can let Texas temporarily secede once every four years, and the gymnasts from WOGA and Texas Dreams can compete for their own country.</p>
<p>TBH, I’d never paid attention to the publication before so wasn’t aware that everything was supposed to be viewed as satire. Now I know.</p>
<p>A story in The Onion needing a disclaimer? Snork.</p>
<p>Loved the Rushida story and the race. Amazing.</p>
<p>Snork all you like. I knew nothing about the publication or what they were known for. Now I do.</p>
<p>This reminds me of when the Onion reported Shawn Johnson being put down by her parents. The entire video referred to her as if she was a race horse. A surprisingly high amount of people thought it was real.</p>
<p>Now that we’re allowed to share youtube links, here’s something that’s worth watching. It’s a group rhythmic gymnastics routine. I can look past all of the BS in the sport and appreciate how amazing this routine is: [Italy</a> 3 hoops 2 balls 2004 - YouTube](<a href=“Italy 3 hoops 2 balls 2004 - YouTube”>Italy 3 hoops 2 balls 2004 - YouTube)</p>
<p>And now it’s time for track and field.</p>
<p>Unfortunately a lot of not very kind things are done under the guise of humor, so don’t feel bad if some of those kinds of satire pieces or jabs rub you wrong, Blueiguana.</p>
<p>Gabby is probably too young to think the piece about her is funny. However, I bet Michael Phelps thinks the piece about him drowning is pretty funny.</p>
<p>Yes, Ss, that IS amazing…but like the circus or the ballet is amazing, not like sprinting or high jumping is amazing.</p>
<p>The Onion is consistently brilliant. Their 9/11 piece America: *** just happened is an all time classic.<br>
Agree with jaylynn, the onion needs no disclaimer if you look at the articles 4 5 seconds you can see that it is humor.</p>
<p>I also recommend the Borowitz(sp?) Report</p>
<p>Agree with you again, missypie. I love the spectacle of performance by amazing athletes in subjective, “entertaining” sports (and my D, a dance team dancer, IS an athlete), but it is difficult to compare the spectacle of those kinds of performances with things like running, jumping, swimming. Neither worse/better, just different. And aren’t we all richer for being able to appreciate the variety ?</p>
<p>SaintSaens,</p>
<p>I agree that RG is all about politics. The only thing, getting around the 2 per country rule this way is rather strange. By competing for Azerbaijan, the gymnast would win a medal for Azerbaijan, not Russia. While I see in this arrangement an advantage for Azerbaijan, I fail to see one for Russia(no medal gains). What would the US gain if Jordyn Wieber all of a sudden gained Canadian citizenship and decided to represent Canada in the all-around?</p>
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<p>I know that the hard core fans may scoff, but I love that every four years we tune in and watch sports we’ve never watched before (or at least not for the last four years), and as one of the NBC commentators noted, after a few minutes we become “experts” at archery or team handball, and after a few more minutes we’re complaining that the diving judges just mis-scored the last dive. I think it’s a whole lot of fun to see all the things about which athletes become passionate.</p>
<p>Our women won the 4x100 relay, BTW - WR.</p>
<p>I watched a few minutes of the women’s hammer throw. I bet that in their street clothes, they look like all the other slightly overweight women at the mall…then they turn out to be crazy strong!</p>
<p>Sorry! My post meant to say “swimmers and gymnasts” not “drinkers and gymnasts”.!</p>
<p>That’s the iPhone for you! Although, who knows, if what they say is true about activities in the Olympic Village it might be “drinkers”!</p>
<p>Got my cable internet fixed today (modem replaced) so I can watch the live stuff on my computer. Fantastic women’s 4 X100 relay world record, and a real deja vu moment in the women’s 1500 final. Checked out Twitter and it was a widely felt sentiment… Mary Decker all over again. :(</p>
<p>I have very little interest in most of the competitions tonight - at least the ones I know are being held tonight - so I may just relax and watch my favorite of all sports, which will never be part of the Olympics - good old American football. I’ll tune in to this thread to see who won what, though. </p>
<p>I hate to say it, but I always kind of thought of rhythmic gymnastics as gymnists who didn’t quite make the serious cut. I know, I’m most likely way off base. But I just can’t take it seriously.</p>
<p>I have to admit when I see the BMX events, I think of the guy in the yellow raincoat on Laugh In who fell over riding the tricycle. Those little bikes just look silly to me.</p>
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<p>Lots of people start one sport or activity, then find they are better suited or are more likely to excel in another. Quite a few of the divers started out as gymnasts. Many of the beach volleyball players (all?) played indoor first. Soccer players become kickers in American football. Speed skaters become cyclists. It’s not really about washing out in one sport - just finding something that suits you better.</p>
<p>I don’t watch either RG or ice dancing. Just not sport, imo. </p>
<p>I’m pretty much Olympic-out. Only thing I’ll watch is the men’s marathon and the closing ceremony. Watched the men play tennis in Toronto today - one of my fav tourney’s to go to.</p>