Your favourite Olympian

[Melinda]

I was just inviting other opinions. LMHF as well as your dear self is clearly a gymnastic godesses.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I was just inviting other opinions. LMHF as well as your dear self is clearly a gymnastic godesses.

Did you see that American guy (Artemev or something similar) yesterday on the pommel horse? He was compared to his team-mate Raj

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Every so often there is an athlete who is sooo far ahead of their peers that they redefine the events they are in. Michael Johnson is one of those - just AWESOME.

I remember him on the sofa with Sue Barker speaking encouragingly to a young British 400m runner who had ran out of her skin and narrowly missed out on a medal.
Micahael was taking to her and giving her pointers and she was slack jawed, finally she shook her head and said:
"Sorry, Im not taking any of this in! I cant believe Michael Johnson is talking to me!! You're a hero!"

Awww. Sweet!

I like the fact that he is very balanced and even handed about people - very encouraging to athletes, like above, but also does not shirk criticising them when he feels they have not made as much effort as they could and perhaps should have done

 

[cesare]

I was just inviting other opinions. LMHF as well as your dear self is clearly a gymnastic godesses.

AFAIK they are still some of the most difficult moves even today.

 

[Melinda]

Awww. Sweet!

I like the fact that he is very balanced and even handed about people - very encouraging to athletes, like above, but also does not shirk criticising them when he feels they have not made as much effort as they could and perhaps should have done

Ooh yes, the British 4 x100 team didnt appreciate his comments much on occasion. There were 2 or 3 Games where they messed up with the baton and Michael didnt pull his punches.

The sight of Darren Campbell (whom I love) raging- "I dont care if he is Michael Johnson, just tell him to keep his comments to himself!" is pure comedy gold.

Its such a coup that he's with the BBC team. Stroke of genius whoever head hunted him.

 

[JTG]

Did you see that American guy (Artemev or something similar) yesterday on the pommel horse? He was compared to his team-mate Raj

His dad was pretty good as well in his day

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

His dad was pretty good as well in his day

ahhh, is that why the name seemed familiar

 

[felixthecat]

All time favourites have to be:

Jesse Owens for giving Adolf Hitler the finger (metaphorically speaking) and keeping the 100m record for 20 years

Daley Thompson - for being well, Daley Thompson

Edwin Moses for being the coolest dude in athletics - ever.

This year I've got soft spots for:

Phillips Idowu - adds a bit of colour and character to athletics, as well as being bloody good at what he does

Lisa Leslie - one of my all time favourite womens basketball players, 1st women to dunk in a professional game, and on her 4th Olympics and probably 4th gold medal.

 

[Swan]

I was looking up the Korbut flip, salto and flic flac last night and all I could find were comments that they were so complicated, they've never been successfully duplicated - that's AWESOME after all these years (and I hate that word)

Olga is one of my fvourites too. She can't really be compared with the girls today, some of the moves she did on the bars have been banned, bcause they are considered too dangerous.

 

[ScallyWag II]

Some of my favourites are

Daley Thompson
Coe and Ovett
Nadia Comaneci
Steve Redgrave
Haile Gebresalassie
Ed Moses
Michael Johnson

 

[N_igma]

Of the Olympics I've watched properly:

Hicham El Guerrouj (so unlucky at times but finally got what he deserved)
Haile Gebrasallasie
Jonathan Edwards
Jan Zelezny
Michael Phelps
Michael Johnson
Steve Redgrave