Reports Via Twitter from the Olympic Village

Given that NBC's Olympics coverage so far has been grilled, perhaps it was best to be following the 2012 London Olympics on Twitter as we did earlier tonight. It's 4:00 a.m. here in Danbury, Connecticut (not really where I'm blogging from, but the same time zone) and it should be about 9:00 a.m. in London.

Here are the tweets:

1) Scott Simon @nprscottsimon: Stuck on train platform SFO. Unable to see what NBC is cutting out of Olympic broadcast tonight. Pole vaulting by the pope?"

2) Professor Snape @_Snape: "More people would be watching the Olympics if Quidditch was played.

3) Ebba Rezeq @Gazanism: "I have nothing but respect for the Tunisian swimmer who refused to compete because of the Israeli swimmer."*

4) Joanna Fokas @Joanna Fokas: "I can't help but laugh when these men do gymnastics." **

5) Nicole Dunn @DunnyDizzzie: "I feel like I'm the only one that has watched basically every event on the Olympics today, literally all day long."

6) Nadia Comaneci @nadiacomaneci10: "On to the reception w/ Michelle Obama."***

7) Forbes @Forbes: "Olympic Games: NBA apparently thinks it's 1992 seemingly unaware of Twitter's existence."

8)  Shalane Flanagan @shalaneflanagan: "Woke up with butterflies!!!! One week to go!"****

*-First of all, I don't condone the actions of that Tunisian swimmer Takri Mrabet, even though I am a Turkish-American. Mrabet was disqualified by the Olympics for his actions. The Israeli swimmer Gal Nevo, whom Mrabet refused to swim against in the 400-meter relay finished a respectable tenth. One other Muslim athlete Ahmed Atari of Qatar did swim, but he alas finished last (36th).  American swimmer Ryan Lochte won this race, which also saw Michael Phelps finish a shocking fourth.

**_We don't agree with this view either, but it was amusing.

***-Yes, this is a tweet from the real Nadia.

****-Shalane Flanagan is an American distance runner; she has won a bronze medal for her efforts in a previous Olympics.

http://www.shalanefalanagan.com

http://www.qatarairways.com

http://www.nadiacomaneci.com

http://www.timesofisrael.com

Why We Loves Us Some Lochte!

Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps are set for an epic duel in the pool in the Olympic Trials and the Olympics.

Here's why we at Team Ironmac loves us some Ryan Lochte:

A few years ago at a swim meet in Daytona Beach shortly after Mac Crutchfield had died, Maggie Crutchfield (Mac's mom), was at a swim meet to cheer on Mac's former teammates. Ryan Lochte heard about Mac's death at the meet and walked over to her and said, "Whatever I can do for you, you just let me know, I'll be glad to do it."

Well, now we fast forward to look back at what Ryan Lochte has done for the Crutchfields and the Mac Crutchfield Foundation. He has made countless trips to the boonies of South Georgia to just visit with the family or to be the star of a fundraiser. He has agreed to be the spokesperson for the Mac Crutchfield Foundation. But what I saw a couple of weeks ago at a community pool in Gainesville summed it all up for me.

Gold medalist Ryan Lochte revealed his gold heart once again. He has become a surrogate big brother to Savannah Crutchfield, Mac's little sister. I have witnessed him numerous times do big brother things like give her noogies on her head and fake spit loogies in her hair. Things only a big brother could get away with.

Two weeks ago though, I saw it all play out in such incredible simplicity and clarity, it was stunning. Ryan told Savannah he wanted to come watch her swim. Savannah had just returned to competitive swimming a few months earlier. At the pool, Savannah turned to her mother and said, "I don't want him to come see me swim yet, I'm embarrassed."  Savannah's mom told her not to worry. Not two minutes later, Ryan Lochte slipped into the swim meet snuck up behind Savannah and put his hands over her eyes.  She guessed right away who it was.

Ryan Lochte slipped in like a ninja but soon the buzz grew. While Ryan quietly made small talk with the Crutchfield family, a small storm of excited kids waited like they were about to see a Santa Clause with six pack abs and bedroom eyes. When one kid finally got up the nerve to come over and ask for an autograph the line grew exponentially. Ryan was more than friendly and unassuming. He bent down to take pictures with the little ones. He signed everything. Who knows what kind of strong man workout he had just finished. He never complained, always smiled and did whatever the kid asked.

He graciously broke away to yell for Savannah when her event started. This was the only time he got loud. He made sure that everyone knew he was cheering for his newest little sis. Actually I don't think that was his point, he just wanted to be loud enough for Savannah to know that he was there to cheer for his newest little sis.

After she swam, he went quietly and graciously back to signing autographs until there was not a kid in the place with Ryan Lochte's name on something. He and Maggie then quietly made plans for the Crutchfields to come over to his house for dinner. And then he quietly walked off into the sunset like some mythical hero.

And he is, except he's not a myth. He's real. He's genuine. Oh, and Savannah also says he's goofy. Just like any little sis says about their big bro'.

So tonight, or any night over the next couple of months, you see that shark in the water devouring his foes. Remember that is one shark with one very big golden heart.

Ryan Lochte : An American Champion

Ryan Lochte
 

Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) broke his own American, U.S. Open and NCAA record in the 200-yard individual medley and established a new NCAA meet and University of Minnesota Aquatic Center record by touching the wall in a time of 1:41.71. The win makes Lochte the fifth UF swimmer to ever win multiple individual NCAA titles and tied him for seventh all-time in Florida history with two career NCAA titles.

Ryan Lochte

American champion, Ryan Lochte has made his country proud on numerous world levels with his award claiming performances. With his undisputable performance in the past championships, Lochte is believed to accelerate his breathtaking swimming at the upcoming world events.

 

Ryan Lochte 

Lochte has always been the blue-eyed-boy of the American fans. His stupendous debut in the 2003 Pan American Games lined him up with the likes of other world swimming elites. The 26-year-old Lochte has exceeded crowd’s expectations in most of the championships. His performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he defeated the world champion and his team member, Aaron Peirsol in the 200m back-stroke is the evidence of his towering potential. At the same championship, Lochte, proved his standing among the crowd’s favourite when he earned two bronze medals in 200m Individual Medley (IM) and 400m IM behind the swimming legend, Michael Phelps.

Ryan Lochte


Ryan Lochte
         

With his sensational recital, Lochte was one of those few Olympians, who have the honour to reach the podium four times at a single Olympic Games. Nevertheless, no one knew that none of this matter for the American youngster. He earned gold medals in his events at the 2009 World Championships in the absence of greatest swimmer of all times and his team member, Phelps.

Ryan Lochte

Ryan Lochte
 

His ultimate goal surfaced the earth in 2010, where he extended his participation to six events at the 2010 Irvine Pan Pacific Championships and seven events to 10th FINA World Short Course Championships in Dubai during December 2010. Lochte pocketed six gold medals at the Irvine championship in 200m back-stroke, 200m freestyle, 200m IM, 400m IM, 4*100m freestyle relay and 4*200m freestyle relay. His miraculous performance provided him the title of best swimmer for the championship and it was believed that now, Lochte can push any wall that comes between him and his world titles.

Ryan Lochte 

Ryan Lochte

The American born stunned the crowd at the second stop of 2011 USA Grand Prix Series in Austin, where he defeated Phelps in all events. Lochte has now earned the crowd’s most favourite spot in international swimming as he is expected to rule the events of his rival Phelps and Peirsol. With the retirement of his other rival, Peirsol, who held the record for 100m back-stroke and was the champion of 200m back-stroke, Lochte is now expected to extend his golden span to a wide range of events. At the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, he is the favourite for the 100m and 200m back-stroke events along with the 200m and 400m IM, where he will face tough battle from Phelps.

 Ryan Lochte

  

Lochte is also aiming high for the 2012 London Olympics and he focuses on enhancing his performance at the future events. The 26-year-old Lochte, has no plan of retirement in near future and he is considered as one of those player, who have the ability to amuse the arena.