What a relay
I haven’t been watching the NBC coverage of the Olympics. But that’s mostly because, after paying the Beijing Organizing Committee some huge sum of money to switch finals to the morning Beijing time, they are tape delaying the swimming on the west coast (someone please explain that one to me). It doesn’t come on until 10 PM and apparently, the only place to watch it live is Al Jazeera, which is not one of my parents 10 channels. Instead, I have Greg check his iphone every 2 minutes while my family and I battle it out over the Scrabble board.
So it wasn’t until yesterday morning that I actually watched any swimming. I knew that the US men had taken the 4×100 free relay but I didn’t know how exciting it was until I saw Jason Lezak’s name plastered all over the internet. I just had to see it for myself. Wow! That was a great finish! And it seems to have ignited the team because last night they swam really well too.
One of the great swims from last night that I think I should mention is Rebecca Soni’s silver medal in the 100 breaststroke, the event she took over from Jessica Hardy and the one I took third in at Trials. I did feel a little sad looking at the results and thinking about what could have been but I was glad that she was able to take advantage of the opportunity presented to her. While I’d like to think that if I had been there I might have had a shot at it, she was the one in the water and she rose to the occasion. She earned that medal. Congratulations Rebecca.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
“What a relay” is an understatement. That was THE most incredible anchor leg I have ever seen. All I can say is, “Wow!” Michael Phelps may have been thinking the same.
As for Rebecca Soni, she did do very well, didn’t she? I am sure that she was thinking of you in the back of her mind.
Due to your and Lara’s situation, I’ve had a couple of friends say that they do not plan to watch any of the swimming at the Olympics. I tell them, go ahead and watch. You can’t miss out on the best swimming in the world this year.
Tara, your gracefulness during this time will take you far. It must be a very difficult week for you, but hang in there! I am a big fan.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:12 am
you are someone who truly embodies sportsmanship… even after disappointment, you are right there cheering on those who have the opportunity to do something you just narrowly missed out on. That relay was the greatest relay in olympic history. The way that Lezak caught Bernard was insane. Will we see you in competition anytime soon? Maybe you can make the world championship team in Rome… Either way you have had a great career and should be proud of everything you have accomplished.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Tara,
In Canada the tv coverage is poor to the point of non-existent or not engaging. In my frustration for news I found that cbc has nine live feeds on this website: http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/ . I watched gymnastics live a couple nights ago and it was fabuloso!
I’m a fan too.
Your expressiveness and composure is inspiring.
rhonda
August 14th, 2008 at 2:06 am
TARA,
THAT SURE WAS AN AWESOME RELAY I DIDN’T MISS A SECOND OF IT! MY CHILDREN AND I ARE BIG FANS OF YOURS AND WATCH ALOT OF YOUR RACES ON YOU TUBE AND ALSO SAW YOU ON WHAT NOT TO WEAR. WE WILL ALWAYS BE FANS OF YOURS NO MATTER WHAT AND KNOW YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE SUCCESSFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. YOU ARE AN AWESOME PERSON WITH A LOVELY SPIRIT! YOUR FANS, THE STRETCH FAMILY
August 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Tara –
I’ve just caught up on all the swimming news, including the unfortunate turn of events that has both you and Jessica Hardy out of the Olympic Games and feel compelled to write you a note. I so wish this scenario had been different. I am loathe to judge Jessica as I know one can test positive, can imbibe substances without intention, but given the fact that she did step down, it was in the country’s best interest to name you to the team. It’s really a crying shame that we don’t have a better mechanism to move swimmers onto the team in situations like this. It seems to me that you earned your spot on the 2008 Olympic team and but for poorly thought out bureaucratic rules, you would be in Beijing. Although the particulars are different, in many ways, it reminds me of all those athletes who lost their chance to compete in Moscow in 1980, some of whom I knew, some of whom were Stanford swimmers.
Right, wrong, and just plain dumb aside, I am really writing because I read your blog and heard your great sadness, disappointment and frustration. Don’t lose sight of how remarkable your achievements have been (and while I don’t know you, I have no doubt you are a remarkable person as well). As a former competitive swimmer and a Stanford alum, I know something about what it takes to get where you’ve gotten. Although I never had the kind of swimming talent you have, I do understand the great ache of not making a cut–and I can only imagine the indignation of having a spot “taken” from you. I wish I could say something that would make it feel better. I know life has a lot of hard spots and sometimes things work out in odd ways. My freshman year at Stanford, I had a terribly disappointing swimming season. At the beginning of my sophomore year, I quit. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done–might still be. Then I found sailing–and unexpectedly, found that I was good. I managed to make the team that went to nationals–three times. It’s an easier field than swimming, but my point: one door closed and another opened and it was good in the end and I had a lot of fun along the way. And of course, I’m sure a lot of folks have said this to you recently, “Just look at Dara. The sky’s the limit.”
So, take some time. Remember that you are one smart cookie with an awesome degree that will take you places, and you’re a swimming champ and Olympian to boot, and so many other things, I am sure. You’re an amazing swimmer and no one can ever take that away from you.
Best of luck,
Gina