Honestly, these past few weeks, I feel like I have skied every half-pipe, jumped every axel, hurtled down every track and felt every single emotion from the Olympics. I have absolutely zero sporting ability but every Olympics, I get absolutely absorbed by the Games. The feats of athleticism on display always draw me in, and it’s never better than when it’s an Olympic Games in a European time zone (and particularly so when we’ve been able to attend in person).
Since returning from Milan last Sunday, I can’t say that we have done anything other than go to work and watch the Olympics.
I think that the thing that most struck me about this Olympic Games has been the phenomenal camaraderie and support between the athletes, particularly that amongst the figure skaters. Aside from perhaps the rivalry seen in the ice dance, most notably between the US and the French, the whole thing has been just a wonderful display of athletes celebrating their rivals performing to the best of their ability.
Some of my favourite moments included:
- Every single time Ilia Malinin (US) showed up in the crowd to support the rest of Team USA in their skating events after the men’s free skate had gone so badly for him. I don’t think I’d have left my bed, so huge respect to him for embracing that he was a gold medal winner in the team event rather than focusing on an individual medal that might, under any other circumstances, been his;
- Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) being a beaming ray of sunshine, in particular when helping Alysa Liu to arrange Tina the mascot around her medal.
- Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) platforming his teammate Shun Sato to the TV cameras while Sato was crying in shock and happiness at getting bronze. A lovely bit of gentle banter.
- Riku Miura (JPN) for being a (short) shoulder for her pairs teammate, Ryuichi Kihara, to cry on, both in despair and success. Also for generally being a chaotic delight whenever the results were announced.
- Alysa Liu (USA) skating for herself, skating with joy and generally supporting all the other athletes, not least Ami Nakai (JPN) who she literally picked up.
- Amber Glenn (USA) for getting in between a camera and Kaori when she was crying.
- All the figure skaters that took part in each other’s gala performances in supporting roles, not least the two who played supporting roles to Mikhail Shaidorov’s Kung Fu panda. If you haven’t seen the routine, go and watch it, it might be the only time you see a gold medal winner pulling out a triple jump dressed as a panda.
Roll on the Olympic Games French Alps 2030 because I’m ready to do it all over again.
