Olympics Wednesday
Wow. Some people can’t catch a break. Isn’t it interesting how some people seem destined to not perform well at the Olympics? I don’t know if they choke or just have bad luck. Dan Jansen famously couldn’t get around the speed skating track and after being a world champion Kim Zmeskal never seemed able to pull an Olympics together.
Lindsey Jacobellis seems to be in this group. After basically throwing the 2006 snowboard cross race she lost control last yesterday in the semifinals and boarded right through one of the gates for a DNF. Every NBC producer broke down in tears at that site.
In contrast to that there are competitors who rise to the occasion and bring their best competition with them. Evan Lysakec was one of these competitors. Four years ago he had a terrible short program figure skate and it took him out. Last night he left all that behind (something Jacobellis couldn’t do) and jumped, twirled, and cameled his way to a personal best and just in second place. It will be exciting to see the long program tomorrow night.
That’s what’s exciting about the Olympics. People peaking at the top of their game and bringing their best competition to the games. That’s what Lysacek is doing and that’s what Alexandre Bilodeau did the other night, and that’s why he captured people’s hearts. It doesn’t have to be for medals either. Kevin Van der Perren (who looks a lot like my friend Sean) was ecstatic after his skate and he clearly has no chance of medaling. For him, he skated great and had the Olympic experience. What more could he want?