Joes Map

Here are some more results from the men and women’s individual events. In the men’s trampoline final, China came out ahead with two medals, gold and bronze. Silver went to Jason Burnett of Canada. In the men’s Horizontal Bar event, China took gold again with Kai Zou. From the United States, Jonathan Horton placed second and Germany won the bronze. China dominated the men’s events finishing with gold on the Parallel Bars. Korea placed in this event with silver and surprisingly the first I have heard from this country this year, Uzbekistan took bronze.

Now for the good news. American gymnastic dream team, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Luikin, placed first and second tonight in the Balance Beam event. Shawn won gold, Nastia took silver, and no surprise China rounded out the podium with bronze. We are proud of you girls!

All the races are over and it’s time to tally up the medals. Michael Phelps swam in eight competitions and won gold in all eight. He is the only Olympian to win eight gold medals in one year. He is also the only athlete to win gold in every event he competed in. This year we saw history unfolding before our eyes. Not only does Michael Phelps hold 27 personal world records, he is also the most decorated Olympian in history. As if that isn’t enough he is only 23 years old.

Tonight at 10pm Michael Phelps will be competing for his eighth gold medal this year. The race that is coming up, the 4×100-meter medley relay, has historically been dominated by the American team. The Australians are the only team that seem to be able to give Phelps and his team a run for their money. If the US wins this race Phelps will have broken yet another record, the first person to win eight gold medals in one Olympic year.

This is a sport that I did not know existed until this years Olympics. Two people spend four years training to dive in unison for a gold medal. I am not completely sure on all of the rules for this competition, but it seems things like hitting the water at the same time as your partner, coming out of your tucks at the same time, and starting precisely at the same time are the things that count. I was awe-struck as I watched part of this event and wondered how many hours were spent training to know your diving partner well enough to know his/her every move. Kinda creepy but kinda cool.

Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympic swimmer of all time. At least, he has won the most gold medals of any Olympic swimmer in recorded history. So far, Phelps has won six gold medals and has broken six world records. He has swum over two miles in eight days. He consumes 12,000 calories a day and burns 4,000 calories in one workout. As of this writing, counting his former medals, he is the most decorated Olympian in history. Twenty-six individual world records and no hint of stopping here.