Want to root for an underdog? Try Zimbabwe.

When Kirsty Coventry brought home medals in swimming in the 2004 Summer Olympics, she became the first athlete from Zimbabwe to medal in 25 years. Kirsty will be competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well, and could well repeat her 2004 performance. However, no man from Zimbabwe has EVER won an Olympic [...]

Using the Olympics as a teaching opportunity

As a homeschooling Mom, I’m always on the lookout for educational opportunities. The Olympics provides a lot of them. From teaching your kids about other countries (including geography, popular activities, etc.) to educating them on current events (the Olympics, Tibet, etc.), you could spend every day from now until the end of the [...]

U.S. Olympic Swimmer Battling Cancer

When you’re getting ready for your first Olympics, you would think that would be the most important thing going on in your life. But that’s not the case for U.S. Olympic Swimmer Eric Shanteau. A week before the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, Eric got a call from his doctors telling him that [...]

News from around the world about Olympic athletes

On this blog, we cover a lot about American Olympics athletes, but sometimes the stories from other countries are so interesting I just have to share.

In the sad category, Cuban cyclist Pedro Pablo Perez is in a coma following a car accident on Monday. He will miss the Olympics. The Beijing Olympics would [...]

Double Amputee Ruled Eligible For 2008 Summer Olympics

I read this really cool story on MSN the other day about an amputee trying to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
A South African sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, won an appeal this past Friday that will allow him to try out for the Beijing Olympics, running along with athletes that don’t have any disabilities. This [...]

Handicapped Runner Banned from Olympic Competition

Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee dubbed the fastest man on no legs, will most likely be banned from pursuing his Olympic dreams. Tests conducted show that his prosthetic legs give him a competitive advantage. He plans to appeal the decision and request additional testing.

I understand the IAAF’s need to ban any items which give [...]