Day 43 - Men's Team Final - Victory!

Hey Everyone!

Today was Men's Team Final for gymnastics.  We got to work at 8AM and prepared for the day.  We had some extra time after looking up info on our athletes and a few of us went over to the McDonalds on the Green.  I was CRAVING a hash brown and was dying for an excuse to go over and get one.  After our fix, we headed to the press tribune to watch the events.  The entire day was incredible.  As you all probably saw on television, the men did a wonderful job!  The last few rotations, the tension really started to build.  At this time, we were all heading to our positions for the interviews.  I headed to the broadcast mixed zone and got to watch the men compete on the pommel horse - about 20 feet away!  When the U.S. team had finished and realized they just got the bronze metal, every single one of them went crazy including the coaches.  It was a neat moment.  The medal ceremony followed soon after.

Visit http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastics/news/nesid=199300.html#gymnasts+rally+bronze to see the interview in the mixed zone.  I was literally inches from the camera and just a foot away from the athletes as they talked with Andrea.  So coo!

I have to say that watching the medal ceremony was probably one of the coolest things I've seen during these Games.  True, the U.S. did not win gold, but it was the atmosphere and nuances that made it so spectacular.  The athletes cleared the floor and the podiums were set.  The winning teams walked into a screaming stadium.  The Chinese, with the gold, had the most supporters in the house and they were going wild.  Set to dramatic/movie score music, the presenters handed out the bronze to the U.S.  The Japanese came forward to receive the silver and shook the hands of the U.S. team.  The Chinese walked up last and shook hands with the U.S. and Japanese teams.  This was a special moment.  Many local Chinese I've talked to say the Japanese aren't their closest friends - but here, they were joined through sport and had put that behind them.  Both teams seemed amiable.  The final announcement over the PA proclaiming China as the champion caused an immediate eruption from the crowd.  Camera flashes went off like confetti all around me.  It was like one of those endings to a Hollywood sports movie.  As the Chinese national anthem played and the flags were raised, I couldn't help but get shivers at what I was witnessing.  The U.S. men's team suffered the loss of two valuable players (Morgan and Paul Hamm), but they were able to surprise everyone and rise to the challenge.  The Chinese were infinitely proud of this moment as well - and it showed.  This truly was an Olympic moment.

Ted