The men’s gymnastics were really incredible. I wince everytime they hit the parallel bars on their upper arms… those bruises!

I was afraid Phelps would say something stupid when the relay team won the close race against the French athlete who had been talking smack… but he took the high road. So far, he’s really been a class act. None of that “USA-USA-USA!” I remember from other athletes in previous games. The pressure upon him in all of this is beyond what I can imagine — yet he just always seemed to be able to be cool and polite. Plus, he is good to his Mother. No matter how you slice it, that kid can SWIM.

Shawn Johnson’s praise of the Chinese team after the team competition really showed that although they didn’t win gold the lack of celebration was not poor sportsmanship.

A lot of the focus this Olympics is on Michael Phelps because there will probably never again be a person so completely dominant in an Olympic sport. Hearing his conversation with Mark Spitz (maybe the one person who truly understands the accomplishment) made me realize that he is very much aware of the contributions his team mates have made to his gold medals. Not just in the team events, but in pushing him to perform at his best in practices and meets.

It is entirely unfair to equate NBC’s coverage with the attitudes and personalities of the athletes competing in the games.

The Korean swimmer who fell into the pool and was disqualified at the last games and then came back to win the gold at this game won my heart. As did the Indian air rifle gold-medal winner. First Olympic Gold for India! How can the whole world not be happy for that?

I hate that the only medals that matter to the USA are gold… or at least, that is what it seems. USA women’s gymnastics took silver, but you wouldn’t know it by the press, where they were ‘crushed’ by the Chinese. (As for the Chinese gymnasts, who are absolutely amazing notwithstanding, there is no way all of them are over 16 years old. No. Way.) To be a top athlete is amazing to me and to get a medal, any medal, is absolutely astounding.

At the same time, asserting that the winning teams are not at a competitive advantage is not really seeing the whole picture. Our friend Valerie talks about the Peruvian swimming team being made up of the folks who could manage to get through the training season without contracting typhoid from the water.

I love Michael Phelps… what am amazing athlete! But yes, the focus solely on him is a little bothersome. I just hold my breath whenever someone approaches him with a mic, hoping that he keeps his modesty (so far, so good). But what about all the other Olympians who actually showed up to walk that opening ceremony? They have compelling stories, too, in my book.

I held back on watching the gymnastics just because the US team even if they won the gold would not be as jubilant as the other teams happy to be at the olympics.

In swimming the focus is all on Michael Phelps. He’s not winning the gold on his own, his team mates who are getting less than top billing are completely responsible for two of the gold medals awarded to Phelps.

In general it is more than evident the olympics is not about amateurs or givng everyone a chance. It’s about semi-professional and professional athletes who are poor sports, poor losers and in general boring to watch.