Summer Olympics News » Jill Manty

Olympic Medals 8/24

Jill Manty — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:49:12 +0000

USA 36 gold, 38 silver, 36 bronze, 110 total

China 51 gold, 21 silver, 28 bronze, 100 total

Russia 23 gold, 21 silver, 28 bronze, 72 total

Great Britain 19 gold, 13 silver, 15 bronze, 47 total

Australia 14 gold, 15 silver, 17 bronze, 46 total

Germany 16 gold, 10 silver, 15 bronze, 41 total

France 7 gold, 16 silver, 17 bronze, 40 total

South Korea 13 gold, 10 silver, 8 bronze, 31 total

Italy 8 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze, 28 total

Ukraine 7 gold, 5 silver, 15 bronze, 27 total

Japan 9 gold, 6 silver, 10 bronze, 25 total

Cuba 2 gold, 11 silver, 11 bronze, 24 total

Belarus 4 gold, 5 silver, 10 bronze, 19 total

Spain 5 gold, 10 silver, 3 bronze, 18 total

Canada 3 gold, 9 silver, 6 bronze, 18 total

Netherlands 7 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 16 total

Brazil 3 gold, 4 silver, 8 bronze, 15 total

Kenya 5 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 14 total

Kazakhstan 2 gold, 4 silver, 7 bronze, 13 total

Jamaica 6 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze, 11 total

Poland 3 gold, 6 silver, 1 bronze, 10 total

Hungary 3 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze, 10 total

Norway 3 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze, 10 total

New Zealand 3 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze, 9 total

Romania 4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total

Turkey 1 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total

Ethiopia 4 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze, 7 total

Denmark 2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze, 7 total

Azerbaijan 1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze, 7 total

Czech Republic 3 gold, 3 silver, 6 total

Slovakia 3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze, 6 total

Georgia 3 gold, 3 bronze, 6 total

North Korea 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Argentina 2 gold, 4 bronze, 6 total

Switzerland 2 gold, 4 bronze, 6 total

Uzbekistan 1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Armenia 6 bronze, 6 total

Slovenia 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Indonesia 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Bulgaria 1 gold, 1silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Sweden 4 silver, 1 bronze, 5 total

Lithuania 2 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Croatia 2 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Mongolia 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 total

Thailand 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 total

Zimbabwe 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 total

Finland 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze, 4 total

Greece 2 silver, 2 bronze, 4 total

Nigeria 1 silver, 3 bronze, 4 total

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 4 bronze, 4 total

Mexico 2 gold, 1 bronze, 3 total

Latvia 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

India 1 gold, 2 bronze, 3 total

Austria 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Serbia 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Ireland 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Estonia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Portugal 1 gold, 1silver, 2 total

Belgium 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Dominican Republic 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Iran 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Trinidad and Tobago 2 silver, 2 total

Morocco 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Bahamas 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Algeria 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Colombia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Kyrgyzstan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Tajikistan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Bahrain 1 gold, 1 total

Cameroon 1 gold, 1 total

Panama 1 gold, 1 total

Tunisia 1 gold, 1 total

Chile 1 silver, 1 total

Ecuador 1 silver, 1 total

Iceland 1 silver, 1 total

Malysia 1 silver, 1 total

Singapore 1 silver, 1 total

South Africa 1 silver, 1 total

Sudan 1 silver, 1 total

Vietnam 1 silver, 1 total

Egypt 1 bronze, 1 total

Afghanastan 1 bronze, 1 total

Israel 1 bronze, 1 total

Venezuela 1 bronze, 1 total

Mauritius 1 bronze, 1 total

Moldova 1 bronze, 1 total

Togo 1 bronze, 1 total

Misty May-Treanor to dance on Dancing With the Stars

Jill Manty — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:36:25 +0000

There is a leaked list of next season’s competitors that came out this morning. Misty May-Treanor is listed as one of them. So, if you just can’t get enough of Misty May on the volleyball court, look for her in sequins and heels this fall.

Olympic Moms

Jill Manty — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:31:01 +0000

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh may be toting around babies in 2012, but there were plenty of Moms competing in the Beijing Olympics, as well. Of course, I’m sure there were plenty of Dads, as well, but for some reason that doesn’t seem to be “Today Show” worthy.

Olympic Medal Count 8/22

Jill Manty — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:11:08 +0000

USA 31 gold, 36 silver, 35 bronze, 102 total

China 47 gold, 17 silver, 25 bronze, 89 total

Russia 17 gold, 17 silver, 22 bronze, 56 total

Great Britain 18 gold, 13 silver, 13 bronze, 44 total

Australia 11 gold, 14 silver, 16 bronze, 41 total

Germany 14 gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze, 36 total

France 5 gold, 13 silver, 16 bronze, 34 total

South Korea 11 gold, 10 silver, 7 bronze, 28 total

Japan 9 gold, 6 silver, 10 bronze, 25 total

Italy 7 gold, 8 silver, 10 bronze, 25 total

Ukraine 5 gold, 4 silver, 11 bronze, 20 total

Cuba 2 gold, 6 silver, 11 bronze, 19 total

Canada 3 gold, 8 silver, 6 bronze, 17 total

Netherlands 7 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 16 total

Belarus 4 gold, 4 silver, 8 bronze, 16 total

Spain 4 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze, 12 total

Brazil 2 gold, 3 silver, 7 bronze, 12 total

Kazakhstan 1 gold, 4 silver, 6 bronze, 11 total

Jamaica 6 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze, 10 total

New Zealand 3 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze, 9 total

Romania 4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total

Poland 3 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze, 8 total

Kenya 2 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze, 8 total

Hungary 1 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze, 8 total

Turkey 1 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total

Denmark 2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze, 7 total

Norway 1 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze, 7 total

Azerbaijan 1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze, 7 total

Czech Republic 3 gold, 3 silver, 6 total

Slovakia 3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze, 6 total

Georgia 3 gold, 3 bronze, 6 total

North Korea 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Uzbekistan 1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Armenia 6 bronze, 6 total

Ethiopia 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 5 total

Switzerland 2 gold, 3 bronze, 5 total

Slovenia 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Indonesia 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Bulgaria 1 gold, 1silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Sweden 4 silver, 1 bronze, 5 total

Lithuania 2 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Zimbabwe 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 total

Argentina 1 gold, 3 bronze, 4 total

Croatia 1 silver, 3 bronze, 4 total

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 4 bronze, 4 total

Finland 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

India 1 gold, 2 bronze, 3 total

Austria 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Greece 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Estonia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Mongolia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Thailand 1 gold, 1silver, 2 total

Portugal 1 gold, 1silver, 2 total

Mexico 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Iran 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Latvia 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Trinidad and Tobago 2 silver, 2 total

Algeria 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Colombia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Kyrgyzstan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Serbia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Tajikistan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Ireland 2 bronze, 2 total

Nigeria 2 bronze, 2 total

Bahrain 1 gold, 1 total

Cameroon 1 gold, 1 total

Panama 1 gold, 1 total

Tunisia 1 gold, 1 total

Belgium 1 silver, 1 total

Chile 1 silver, 1 total

Dominican Republic 1 silver, 1 total

Ecuador 1 silver, 1 total

Malysia 1 silver, 1 total

Singapore 1 silver, 1 total

South Africa 1 silver, 1 total

Vietnam 1 silver, 1 total

Egypt 1 bronze, 1 total

Afghanastan 1 bronze, 1 total

Israel 1 bronze, 1 total

Morocco 1 bronze, 1 total

Venezuela 1 bronze, 1 total

Mauritius 1 bronze, 1 total

Moldova 1 bronze, 1 total

Bahamas 1 bronze, 1 total

Togo 1 bronze, 1 total

Olympic Medal Count 8/21

Jill Manty — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:44:27 +0000

USA 27 gold, 31 silver, 29 bronze, 87 total

China 45 gold, 15 silver, 21 bronze, 81 total

Russia 16 gold, 16 silver, 19 bronze, 51 total

Great Britain 17 gold, 11 silver, 11 bronze, 39 total

Australia 11 gold, 13 silver, 14 bronze, 38 total

Germany 11 gold, 8 silver, 11 bronze, 30 total

France 4 gold, 12 silver, 14 bronze, 30 total

South Korea 10 gold, 10 silver, 6 bronze, 26 total

Japan 8 gold, 6 silver, 9 bronze, 23 total

Italy 6 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze, 21 total

Ukraine 5 gold, 5 silver, 9 bronze, 19 total

Netherlands 6 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 15 total

Canada 2 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze, 13 total

Belarus 2 gold, 3 silver, 8 bronze, 13 total

Cuba 1 gold, 6 silver, 6 bronze, 13 total

Spain 4 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze, 11 total

Kazakhstan 1 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze, 10 total

Jamaica 5 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze, 9 total

New Zealand 3 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze, 9 total

Romania 4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total

Poland 3 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze, 8 total

Kenya 2 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze, 8 total

Brazil 1 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze, 7 total

Czech Republic 3 gold, 3 silver, 6 total

Georgia 3 gold, 3 bronze, 6 total

Denmark 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

North Korea 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Norway 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze, 6 total

Turkey 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze, 6 total

Azerbaijan 1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Uzbekistan 1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Slovakia 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 5 total

Switzerland 2 gold, 3 bronze, 5 total

Slovenia 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Indonesia 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Bulgaria 1 gold, 1silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Hungary 4 silver, 1 bronze, 5 total

Lithuania 2 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Armenia 5 bronze, 5 total

Zimbabwe 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 total

Sweden 3 silver, 1 bronze, 4 total

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 4 bronze, 4 total

Ethiopia 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 total

Finland 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

Argentina 1 gold, 2 bronze, 3 total

Austria 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Croatia 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Greece 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Estonia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Mongolia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Thailand 1 gold, 1silver, 2 total

India 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Mexico 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Algeria 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Colombia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Kyrgyzstan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Serbia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Tajikistan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Bahrain 1 gold, 1 total

Cameroon 1 gold, 1 total

Panama 1 gold, 1 total

Tunisia 1 gold, 1 total

Chile 1 silver, 1 total

Dominican Republic 1 silver, 1 total

Ecuador 1 silver, 1 total

Malysia 1 silver, 1 total

Portugal 1 silver, 1 total

Singapore 1 silver, 1 total

South Africa 1 silver, 1 total

Trinidad and Tobago 1 silver, 1 total

Vietnam 1 silver, 1 total

Egypt 1 bronze, 1 total

Afghanastan 1 bronze, 1 total

Iran 1 bronze, 1 total

Israel 1 bronze, 1 total

Latvia 1 bronze, 1 total

Morocco 1 bronze, 1 total

Venezuela 1 bronze, 1 total

Togo 1 bronze, 1 total

Olympic Medal Count 8/20

Jill Manty — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:16:11 +0000

China 45 gold, 14 silver, 20 bronze, 79 total

USA 26 gold, 26 silver, 27 bronze, 79 total

Russia 13 gold, 14 silver, 18 bronze, 45 total

Great Britain 16 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze, 36 total

Australia 11 gold, 12 silver, 13 bronze, 36 total

France 4 gold, 12 silver, 14 bronze, 30 total

Germany 11 gold, 8 silver, 9 bronze, 28 total

South Korea 8 gold, 10 silver, 6 bronze, 24 total

Japan 8 gold, 6 silver, 9 bronze, 23 total

Italy 6 gold, 7 silver, 7 bronze, 20 total

Ukraine 5 gold, 5 silver, 8 bronze, 18 total

Netherlands 4 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 13 total

Canada 2 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze, 13 total

Belarus 2 gold, 3 silver, 8 bronze, 13 total

Cuba 1 gold, 6 silver, 6 bronze, 13 total

Spain 3 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze, 10 total

New Zealand 3 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze, 9 total

Romania 4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total

Poland 3 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze, 8 total

Kenya 2 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze, 8 total

Kazakhstan 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze, 8 total

Denmark 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

North Korea 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Brazil 1 gold, 5 bronze, 6 total

Czech Republic 2 gold, 3 silver, 5 total

Jamaica 2 gold, 3 silver, 4 total

Switzerland 2 gold, 3 bronze, 5 total

Azerbaijan 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Norway 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Slovenia 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Indonesia 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Bulgaria 1 gold, 1silver, 3 bronze, 4 total

Hungary 4 silver, 1 bronze, 5 total

Uzbekistan 2 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Armenia 5 bronze, 5 total

Slovakia 3 gold, 1 silver, 4 total

Georgia 2 gold, 2 bronze, 4 total

Zimbabwe 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 total

Turkey 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze, 4 total

Ethiopia 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 total

Finland 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

Sweden 3 silver, 3 total

Austria 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Greece 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Lithuania 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 3 bronze, 3 total

Estonia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Mongolia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Thailand 1 gold, 1silver, 2 total

Argentina 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

India 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Mexico 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Algeria 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Colombia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Croatia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Kyrgyzstan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Serbia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Bahrain 1 gold, 1 total

Cameroon 1 gold, 1 total

Panama 1 gold, 1 total

Tunisia 1 gold, 1 total

Chile 1 silver, 1 total

Dominican Republic 1 silver, 1 total

Ecuador 1 silver, 1 total

Malysia 1 silver, 1 total

Portugal 1 silver, 1 total

Singapore 1 silver, 1 total

South Africa 1 silver, 1 total

Trinidad and Tobago 1 silver, 1 total

Vietnam 1 silver, 1 total

Egypt 1 bronze, 1 total

Afghanastan 1 bronze, 1 total

Iran 1 bronze, 1 total

Israel 1 bronze, 1 total

Latvia 1 bronze, 1 total

Morocco 1 bronze, 1 total

Tajikistan 1 bronze, 1 total

Venezuela 1 bronze, 1 total

Togo 1 bronze, 1 total

Hilarious Rhythmic Gymnastics Video

Jill Manty — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:33:46 +0000

Matt Lauer and Al Roker performing men’s tandem rhythmic gymnastics.

Hey, we set up the protest areas, what more do you want from us?

Jill Manty — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:21:30 +0000

Out of 77 applications for protests, guess how many were approved? None. Not one. Watch the video and shake your head.

What?!? No Wheaties box for Michael Phelps?

Jill Manty — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:21:00 +0000

Yep. Michael Phelps is going to be on Corn Flakes, instead. Um, okay. It just doesn’t have that ring, but I guess you have to do what you have to do.

A MUCH Better Night for Gymnastics!

Jill Manty — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:17:16 +0000

There were definitely still areas to quibble about, but tonight the end result was satisfactory. Shawn Johnson finally gets her gold— yea, Shawn! Nastia Liukin adds to her collection with another silver. Of course, the Chinese gymnasts each had pretty major errors, so if that HADN’T been the result, well I just don’t know how ugly a post I would have to have written!

And then on the high bar, Jonathan Horton pulled off a silver!

So, that was a pretty good night for American gymnastics.

The U.S. women end up with 8 medals overall, and the men end up with two.

Olympic Medal Count 8/19

Jill Manty — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:09:02 +0000

USA 25 gold, 26 silver, 26 bronze, 77 total

China 42 gold, 14 silver, 18 bronze, 74 total

Russia 10 gold, 14 silver, 18 bronze, 42 total

Australia 11 gold, 11 silver, 12 bronze, 34 total

Great Britain 15 gold, 9 silver, 8 bronze, 32 total

France 4 gold, 11 silver, 14 bronze, 29 total

Germany 11 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze, 26 total

South Korea 8 gold, 10 silver, 6 bronze, 24 total

Japan 8 gold, 6 silver, 8 bronze, 22 total

Italy 6 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze, 19 total

Ukraine 5 gold, 4 silver, 8 bronze, 17 total

Netherlands 3 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 12 total

Canada 2 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 11 total

Cuba 1 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze, 11 total

Belarus 1 gold, 3 silver, 7 bronze, 11 total

Spain 3 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze, 9 total

Romania 4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total

Kazakhstan 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze, 8 total

Poland 3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze, 7 total

Kenya 2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze, 7 total

New Zealand 2 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze, 7 total

Denmark 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

North Korea 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Brazil 1 gold, 5 bronze, 6 total

Czech Republic 2 gold, 3 silver, 5 total

Switzerland 2 gold, 3 bronze, 5 total

Azerbaijan 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Norway 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Slovenia 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Indonesia 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Hungary 4 silver, 1 bronze, 5 total

Armenia 5 bronze, 5 total

Slovakia 3 gold, 1 silver, 4 total

Jamaica 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 total

Zimbabwe 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 total

Bulgaria 1 gold, 1silver, 2 bronze, 4 total

Uzbekistan 1 silver, 3 bronze, 4 total

Ethiopia 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 total

Georgia 2 gold, 1 bronze, 3 total

Finland 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

Sweden 3 silver, 3 total

Turkey 2 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

Austria 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Greece 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Mongolia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Argentina 1 gold, 1 bronze, 2 total

Algeria 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Colombia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 1 total

Croatia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 1 total

Kyrgyzstan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Lithuania 1 silver, 1 bronze, 1 total

Serbia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 2 bronze, 2 total

Cameroon 1 gold, 1 total

India 1 gold, 1 total

Panama 1 gold, 1 total

Thailand 1 gold, 1 total

Tunisia 1 gold, 1 total

Chile 1 silver, 1 total

Ecuador 1 silver, 1 total

Estonia 1 silver, 1 total

Malysia 1 silver, 1 total

Portugal 1 silver, 1 total

Singapore 1 silver, 1 total

South Africa 1 silver, 1 total

Trinidad and Tobago 1 silver, 1 total

Vietnam 1 silver, 1 total

Egypt 1 bronze, 1 total

Iran 1 bronze, 1 total

Latvia 1 bronze, 1 total

Morocco 1 bronze, 1 total

Tajikistan 1 bronze, 1 total

Togo 1 bronze, 1 total

Mexico 1 bronze, 1 total

Nastia Liukin victim of weird tie breaking system

Jill Manty — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:30:47 +0000

As I alluded to in my last post, the new tie breaker system is ridiculous (and I don’t mean in the good sense of the word “ridiculous”). She tied for gold, but received the silver. What was wrong with tying and giving out two golds? I have no idea! But that’s not how they do it now.

The commentators asked if He Kexin really believed she won the gold. Well, of course she’s does— she’s too young to know any better!

Why gymnastics scoring sucks– let me count the ways

Jill Manty — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:24:29 +0000

Well, this is becoming the theme of my Summer Olympics blog— gymnastics scoring sucks! So, here are the reasons I can come up with (feel free to add your own in the comments).

1. Tie breakers— Really? A tie breaker? And the tie breaker protocol doesn’t even make any sense! You drop the highest and lowest scores, as usual. Then you drop another score, look at the remaining scores, and the gymnast with the highest score from the remaining three scores wins. Confused? Yeah, so was Nastia’s Dad, and he’s a judge. And it’s not even the same tie breaker procedure for different events within the same sport. The gold in the men’s vault was also decided by a tie breaker, but in that event you just take the highest score out of the two vaults (which at least makes some sense).

2. No perfect 10— no explanation needed

3. Difficulty scores— meant to make things more fair but really just makes things more confusing

4. Inexperienced judges— Because there can be no judges from a country that is competing, you end up with judges from countries with horrible gymnastics programs judging the finals. And, apparently, in their programs falling down isn’t a big deal!

5. Judges bias against American gymnasts— Can it really be coincidence that China always seems to benefit from “voting irregularities”, and it never seems to help the Americans?

Those are my beefs. What are yours?

Is Usain Bolt a Poor Sport?

Jill Manty — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:34:30 +0000

I wrote the other night about watching Usain Bolt winning the 100m, looking like he wasn’t really trying. Today the commentators have been talking about the sportsmanship of not putting in your best effort at the Olympics and, even worse, mocking your fellow competitors by turning around to see what’s happened to them since they’re so far behind. I’m not sure I agree that shows poor sportsmanship or even that he is looking around to mock them. But he has been more subdued in the preliminaries he’s run since then. What do you think? Is it poor sportsmanship to start celebrating before you cross the finish line? Or is it okay as long as you can back it up?

Olympic Medal Count 8/18

Jill Manty — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:48:54 +0000

China 39 gold, 14 silver, 14 bronze, 67 total

USA 20 gold, 22 silver, 25 bronze, 67 total

Russia 7 gold, 13 silver, 14 bronze, 34 total

Australia 11 gold, 10 silver, 12 bronze, 33 total

Great Britain 12 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze, 27 total

France 4 gold, 10 silver, 13 bronze, 27 total

Germany 9 gold, 7 silver, 7 bronze, 23 total

South Korea 8 gold, 9 silver, 6 bronze, 23 total

Japan 8 gold, 5 silver, 7 bronze, 20 total

Italy 6 gold, 6 silver, 6 bronze, 18 total

Ukraine 5 gold, 3 silver, 8 bronze, 16 total

Netherlands 3 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 12 total

Belarus 1 gold, 3 silver, 7 bronze, 11 total

Cuba 1 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 10 total

Romania 4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total

Spain 3 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze, 8 total

Canada 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze, 8 total

Kazakhstan 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze, 8 total

Poland 3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze, 7 total

Denmark 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

New Zealand 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

North Korea 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total

Brazil 1 gold, 5 bronze, 6 total

Czech Republic 2 gold, 3 silver, 5 total

Switzerland 2 gold, 3 bronze, 5 total

Azerbaijan 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total

Indonesia 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze, 5 total

Hungary 4 silver, 1 bronze, 5 total

Armenia 5 bronze, 5 total

Slovakia 3 gold, 1 silver, 4 total

Jamaica 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 total

Zimbabwe 1 gold, 3 silver, 4 total

Norway 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze, 4 total

Slovenia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze, 4 total

Ethiopia 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 total

Georgia 2 gold, 1 bronze, 3 total

Bulgaria 1 gold, 1silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

Finland 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

Sweden 3 silver, 3 total

Kenya 2 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Turkey 2 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total

Austria 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Greece 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Uzbekistan 1 silver, 2 bronze, 3 total

Mongolia 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 total

Algeria 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Colombia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 1 total

Croatia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 1 total

Kyrgyzstan 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Serbia 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 2 bronze, 2 total

Cameroon 1 gold, 1 total

India 1 gold, 1 total

Thailand 1 gold, 1 total

Tunisia 1 gold, 1 total

Chile 1 silver, 1 total

Ecuador 1 silver, 1 total

Estonia 1 silver, 1 total

Malysia 1 silver, 1 total

Portugal 1 silver, 1 total

Singapore 1 silver, 1 total

Trinidad and Tobago 1 silver, 1 total

Vietnam 1 silver, 1 total

Egypt 1 bronze, 1 total

Lithuania 1 bronze, 1 total

Argentina 1 bronze, 1 total

Tajikistan 1 bronze, 1 total

Togo 1 bronze, 1 total

Mexico 1 bronze, 1 total

Who is the greatest American Olympian?

Jill Manty — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:50:54 +0000

Is it Michael Phelps? Or do you think it’s someone else? Leave a comment below or take our poll.

Which sport do you think the Olympics should get rid of?

Jill Manty — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:29:09 +0000

I read this article today, bemoaning the loss of baseball and softball from the 2012 Olympics. The author had several recommendations for other Olympic sports that could be gotten rid of, instead, including trampoline, sailing, badminton and others, as well as his recommendations or replacement sports. Guitar hero and Texas Hold ‘Em, anyone?

This article followed an article I read the other day, which proposed adding stock car racing to the Olympics.

And it got me thinking. What sports would I get rid of? And, perhaps more important, what sports would I want to add to the Olympics?

Sports I’d be happy getting rid… this one’s hard because I know that all of them really do require skill. But I’d be okay getting rid of weightlifting. I mean, sure it’s hard, but is lifting heavy things really a sport? Do we really need 15 shooting events and, for that matter, if equestrian events can be co-ed, why can’t shooting events? That would cut out six of the events, leaving more time for other sports.

Like what? What other sports do I think should be added to the Olympics? Well, when Mareike stayed with us, she told us about gym wheel. Sure, it would be yet another gymnastics event, but I think you’ll agree it’s pretty interesting. It would be like bringing the circus to the Olympics.

How about the man vs. horse marathon? They already have steeplechase in track and field and equestrian. This is the next logical step.

If they lose badminton, perhaps they could replace it with crouquet. I played both at my grandmother’s house growing up, so I figure they are both equally deserving of being in the Olympics.

But enough of my thoughts, what events would you pull from the Olympics and what would you replace them with?

Alicia Sacramone’s score is just another example of why the new gymnastics scoring system sucks

Jill Manty — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:52:43 +0000

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If you fall down, you shouldn’t medal. When Alicia Sacramone fell off the beam and then had another fall on the floor, I could totally accept that she got low scores. Tonight, she completed two decent vaults. Small steps or hops on both landings, which should never beat a perfect vault, obviously, but nothing that should have taken her completely out of contention. Her scores were decent, and I had no complaints.

Then, Cheng Fei performed her vault. The first one had a high difficuly, and she performed it well and got a well-deserved high score. On the second vault, she fell. She landed her knees. And you know my rule— you fall down, no medal. Only in this case, even with the fall, her overall score was approximately .03 higher than Alicia Sacramone’s, so she eventually received the bronze.

I just don’t get it. I don’t care how difficult a vault is, falling down should knock you out of contention unless everyone else falls down.

On the up side, the silver medal went to Oksana Chusovitina, the 33 year old from Germany. Way to go! I can’t even believe that she’s still able to compete at all against these other young women half her age, much less get a medal.

So, that was the good and the bad of the vault competition tonight. Too bad for Alicia Sacramone, but great job Oksana.

Michael Phelps Videos

Jill Manty — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:27:48 +0000

In case you just can’t get enough of Michael Phelps.

Interview with Debbie Phelps

Jill Manty — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:03:25 +0000

This was a great interview with Debbie Phelps. You want to know what it takes to raise an Olympic phenom? Watch this.