Sunday we finally headed to the Olympic villiage in search of Gold. After the driver decided to take us on a circle of Beijing before we got him headed to the right place. Dropped off in front of the birds nest we anxiosly made our way inside.
Security was tight and it was early so we walked around taking it all in. Much to our pleasure guess what we found at the snack booths? Beer! Deciding now that Laura and I going for gold our selves in the 4X10 Beer Meadly Relay we had to get started. We had a good showing in the forbidden city where shortly after noon we had a beer in the sacred garden. The next day we followed up a strong performance on the great wall with beers on the wall, 9:00 am. This was a hair of the dog effort so extra points. Today we broke the seal with a 8:45 AM performance in the middle of the village. For some reason there is no shame in this since it is late evening in the states and the Chinese don't judge. We will ramp up our efforts since in the Olympic village beers are 5 yuan (eighty five cents). Walked the village and went into "The Cube" early to watch swimming warm ups. We hope to complete our beerlympics with a strong final showing in the events tomorrow.
Saw Phelps and the others in the practice pool. Dara was actually getting stretched out in the main hall so I snuck in behind her for a picture. If you don't know who she is she is the 4 time Olympian who took Silver in a single event and helped the women take gold in the relay all at age 41!
Then came the history breaking moment. 4x100 mens medley relay. You saw it on tv so I won't elaborate but Team USA with Phelps took the gold handing Phelps his 8th and final Gold in Beijing!
After the race I caught a swim cap from Jensen (5th in the 1500 free) and met Bella Karoli.
A few hours to kill before the gymnastics so we walked the village. Unlike the plethora of cheap beer we were facing having little to eat. The snack booths had only snack like items including a box of rice and meat that self heated (like those Marine meals). Normally we'd be all over the local food but not this time. Not wanting to leave the village we took the only other option that I am ashamed of. For the second time in my traveling history I was forced to go to McDonald's over seas. Somehow having a beer with your BigMac makes it a little better but I'm not proud of myself.
Into the Arena for Gymnastics. We walked the joint looking for Steve Butcher who is the FIG US president and Olympic judge. Steve and I met in college and havn't really stayed in touch but I was hoping he'd remember me. We later found out that he had already left Beijing to return home due to the poor health of his mother.
The meet was good and after explaining the scoring to Laura we still couldn't help some of the people were gypped on scoring. It made me want to get a pommel horse and start doing that again to stay in shape but alas.....I have no where to put it and I'm extremely lazy now.
We are off to an early start tomorrow to go out to the Women's Triathlon event in the morning. More tomorrow.
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