Good stories aren't always about winning; and midway medals

We gather last night at the end of a very busy day and we’re talking about the story of the day.

You’ve got the trampoline gold, the swim silver, the cycling bronze and, you know what?

The very best story was Paula Findlay, last in the triathlon.

It pretty much summed up what we are, and what these Games are and what it all truly means.

We love medals, we celebrate them, they’re fun and they make us feel good.

But we admire, truly admire, athletes who compete through tough times, who stick it out because finishing is what matters, it’s important and getting the job done and seeing how it all works out says far more about an athlete than where they finish, I think.

I don’t know Paula Findlay, not sure I’ve ever even been in a scrum when she’s spoken, but I have so much admiration for her it’s not even funny.

And you should, too.

Here’s a woman who could have packed it in and no one would have been all that troubled by it. She was hurt, it was a tough slog and at some point if she’d stopped and explained it all we would have said, ‘ah, tough luck, too bad.’

But she didn’t.

She got through it because it mattered to her and she knew it mattered to the people who support her and care about her. She did it because that’s what elite athletes do, they fight through.

Last in the triathlon is not good, no one’s suggesting that it is.

But I honestly think that willingness to finish says more about her than any podium finish would, it tells you she knows what matters and who it matters to.

I saw the quote where she apologized and that’s just wrong.

She did it. She got through it when it would have been easy not to.

Yes, Rosie MacLennan was great and Ryan Cochrane was great and the cycling team was great.

The story of the day was Paula Findlay.

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The woman are at Old Trafford and, I swear, you cannot have enough Ricky Hatton in a sports blog, can you?

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An Olympic moment.

As I’m watching the trampoline and, as you can imagine, I have no real idea what I’m seeing.

Bosses ask for a play-by-play of Rosie MacLennan’s final routine, I get a’scared about writing it because, well, because I have no clue what they do in the air but the coach, Dave Ross, comes through in a pinch and it’s like I know what I’m talking about.

I (heart) the Games.

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Words I uttered I never thought I would:

“Was that a triple somersault or a double?”

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So we’re halfway through this marathon (at least the competitive portion of it, I think I’ve been here long enough to be able to vote) so …

Gold

The Ship Tavern

Great place, fine suds, a piece of Haddock about a foot long, tiny snugs, it’s down an alley, a five-minute walk from the hotel, a comely young lass drawing the pints.

If they put one in Hazeiville, I’d never leave.

(Haven’t wandered down to Cheshire Cheese yet; that’ll be second half gold)

Gold

The venues

Archery at Lord’s, beach volleyball at Horse Guard’s Parade, the Olympic Park is functional without being ostentatious and everything seems to work.

Silver

Hotel

Yes, it has a bar that’s OATH (Open All The Hours) and it’s fine but it’s also just a hotel; I’d much prefer a village where the world’s press all lives ‘cause it’s far easier to meet new people that way. I’d trade a wee bit of comfort for being able to arrive home every night and join some table of some people from some country and decompress.

Silver

The weather

Let’s see.

It was 33 C the first few day and unbearable. It was 16 C one night at I was the beach and cool. One day it poured for about 15 minutes, got clear, poured again, got clear. It’s teeming rain right now as I look out the window here to my left; I glance to my right and see clear blue skies in the distance. Weird.

Bronze

I got none.

Really.

Through this first week I haven’t even seen a hiccup let alone experience one.

It’s, of course, the jinx we all know well but these things have run swimmingly so far.

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Hey, it’s Simcoe Day weekend, right?

What are you all doing?

Funny how it’s not a long weekend here.

Well, it’s a long weekend but not that kind of long weekend.

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Gotta run a bit early and a bit today, am helping run Team Star over here today (think herding cats only with very nice people in the role of cats) and there’s much to do before I head to see the women play basketball.

And after a day where I wrote about a double-amputee 400-metre runner and trampoline, kind of like the thought of getting back into my comfort zone.

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Comments

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

I'm curious about your opinion, especially after reading your (Very needed) comments about Paula Findlay. The Olympics used to be something special to me, because the athletes were of the Findlay type - competing for the love of their country, and the love of the sport.
In my opinion, that changed drastically when pros were allowed to compete. Do you think that the motivation that Paula Findlay had is the same motivation that the US Men's Olympic Basketball Team has? Personally, I think that many, if not all, of them are there because of what it can do for them personally. To me, that takes away from the true spirit of the Olympics.
Keep up the great work - both the blogs and the articles - I find both very informative, and the blogs always have some entertaining bits in them!

Blogger's note: I agree to a point but there a nationalism to everyone here, some more than others, though

[Simone]

Paula Findlay and the double-amputee runner are two very inspirational stories. They open your eyes to the real meaning of determination.

[Jonathan M]

Manchester City doesn't play at Old Trafford, Manchester United does. Let's hope the added Olympic security can quell the rioting that's about to ensue.

[Peter]

OATH. Well done. :)

[doug]

I disagree about Tim H and the pros at the games...to watch Kobe at volleyball events as a spectator enjoying himself and see LeBron all smiling and taking in the opening ceremonies says it all to me...yes their pros but their human beings who are enjoying a trip to the games...and the Olympics weren't always about the Findlays, (that's fairy tale stuff) athletes benefiting financially, or communist country athletes competing to improve their life at home etc...has always been a part of the games so the pros angle is no different then many of the athletes angle...Findlay's story to me is a inspiration but is the exception moreso then the rule...I am a huge Olympic fan and always have been but I am careful to not make the olympics something they aren't same as the NCAA...to me the 2 organizations lie in the same bed....ok cheers...

[doug]

good article on JV here scouting and accessing his performance in each game and good little piece on Kleiza in same article...informative..

http://www.hoopsworld.com/jonas-valanciunas-shines-in-limited-time/

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Thanks @doug, for posting that piece on JV. I haven't had a chance to see him play yet, so that's a promising write-up. And ditto on Kleiza – second best Raptor but how does a guy show that on one leg? Sounds like he's back in fighting form and he'll be fun to watch this year.
Hey, just wondering if there could be some kind of a format cooked up to get John McEnroe and Charles Barkley doing play-by-play and colour side by side. They could trade off and it would be a major hoot. Wouldn't matter what the event or the venue or the subject was.
A day or too late, but Hitchcock's "Gaslight" doesn't get enough credit as another true classic
My hat's off to Paula Findlay. And here's a toast to every Olympian who has ever finished 4th. God bless ye, lads and lassies.
Cheers. Three of them.

[doug]

@D-Mac to me he showed it on one leg due to his court smarts and presence...he is tough, has a high b-ball I.Q. and reads a play and defenses quite well...the shots he was missing last year were shots he knows he has to take as he usually makes those ( as he showed good shot making is all in the legs)...as the article says and I agree with totally he showed it in snippets last year, and when he did you could and can see why BC loves him....I said it in this blog and in the IGBT last year that I thought he was the 2nd best Rap and he is, hands down....cheers..

[Russ Dewar jr]

Did you really start your career covering stock car racing in a small Ontario town?
Now your on your sixth Olympics writing about Canada's athletes WOW
Ralph Hurley always said you would make the big time
Russ Dewar jr

[doug]

Phelps isn't even close to the greatest Olympic athlete (no matter what the Americans think) we may have saw him today if he repeats in the 200 and the relay then Bolt is it hands down...as he is not just winning he is destroying the field in a events that are usually photo finishes....and that being said I watched the Olympic moment profile on him tonight he is Jamaican and his parents are not only parents but class people and still together....if ever a role model was needed for young men he is it, it's alright to be a dad and stick around and be a parent....and don't hand me politically correct crap, as i worked in the field and saw it everyday, Jamaican men need to step up and yes be men...excellent article here by the Stars own James....if your dad then be one...cheers...

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1237502--james-loud-and-proud-it-s-a-great-time-to-be-jamaican