Five-ring circus: The Thread of the XXXIII Olympiad

He might be an American competing for Sweden, but that kiss with his girlfriend sure looked French.

 

Greece relied heavily on the heritage rule in 2004 to field teams in sports they don't compete in normally. Its softball team was made up totally of American college players.

 

Looked up Mondo’s indoor records — he’s set it five times. So 14 total. Long way to go to catch Bubka.

 

That was also this year's USA men's 3x3 team.

 

Track/pursuit cycling may be my favorite thing at the Olympics that I forget exists once the Games are done. So fun to watch.

 

They could never make me understand the thought process behind putting those guys together and expecting anything other than what they got.

 

I have no problem with Duplantis representing Sweden.

I don’t understand the coaching conflict. Ryan Crouser’s coach is his dad, not Joe Kovacs’ wife.

I might be alone, but I think Duplantis is about the coolest man on the planet.

 

technically, Kovac's wife is the women's throws coach. Gary Aldrich coaches the men

My understanding of it is that his older brother was competing for Sweden because he wasn't good enough to make the USA team, and they saw how good Mondo was and made dad a national team coach to lock down Mondo's allegiance for competition.

 

Like Bubka, Duplantis gets a bonus from his sponsor every time he breaks the record.

Hence the incrementalism.

Also, the Olympics began sex-testing female athletes . . . in 1968. No excuse the committee hasn't figured some of this out by now.

 

I assume you can have whoever you want as a private coach as they are on your payroll, your responsibility, whatever,

But my understanding is that Duplantis wanted his Dad to be the Team USA Pole Vault coach? Is that correct.

 

Speed climbing is another sport that benefits from super slow-mo replays.

 

Ok, my apologies for underestimating photo finish technology of the 1940s and 1950s! I'm positive, though, that race would have been a trainwreck in the 1864 Olympics in Washington. "Ok, everyone please hold that pose..... HOLD THAT POSE!"