Author: adroyer

Closing Ceremony Live Blog

Well, I’m watching the replay so updating like I’m watching live.

Strong start, Tara and Johnny bringing the weird, as is their job. Giving me vibes of one of my favorite online things at the moment, Very Important People Show.

Kind of weird to do a highlight reel of the opening ceremony at the closing ceremony but sure, if someone missed it I guess it’s nice to know some of the plot points?

This is singing performance is exactly what I picture French people doing on the daily. Just walking around singing weirdly in black outfits and neckerchiefs. Nailed it.

I don’t think I actually wrote about him at all but one of my favorite moments of the games was during Track and Field coverage he won a medal and the crowd in the stands for Track went crazy because they were watching on their phones and everyone on the track was confused and they had to delay some events until people calmed down. But I’m excited for Leon Marchand and what he did on his home turf and his future career. He looked like he was enjoying being part of the closing ceremonies and also thinking “this is really silly but cool”.

It took me a very long time to figure out the silver things in the medal are the continents. I thought for a while “mkay France, keeping it weird and artsy”.

Always love it when a cutie Marimba player gets the spotlight he deserves. And those tubular bells in the background, get it.

I enjoy this match-up. I did not enjoy the live feed to them making them answer questions while they are holding the flag during the closing ceremony. What are the kids saying, let them cook/just have some fun.

I just want to know how many people meet at the closing ceremonies where you can mingle and party and have fun…and then how many commemorative Olympic condoms are needed later in the evening. Especially putting the US athletes in pants and heavy jackets, getting everyone all hot and bothered. And everyone walking around with their medals, do you think a gold medalist only talks to other gold medalists?

Thank you Tara Lapinski for explaining what was going on here. I would not have gotten a “dystopian future without the Olympic games and a golden voyager dropping in to change the world” on my own. Now that he’s on the ground he’s giving Wolverine at Mardi Gras vibes. Actually maybe more Lady Deathstrike?

I’m glad these 3 people found each other. They can be mysterious and shiny together. Oh wait, silver person is walking away, guess they didn’t make the cut. Maybe they aren’t good at archaeology because the gold guy sent them away? I’m lost on the plot now. No one here looks like Dr. Alan Grant or Dr. Ellie Sattler so I’m having trouble believing their is any legitimate science happening by these people in white dancing around.

I just laughed out loud at Tara Lapinski responding to the rings being found “I feel better, practicing gratitude”.

Is this piano player OSHA-approved? I’m worried there is going to be a complaint.

I saw this online and I’m not sure if I missed it already or not but NO ONE should be shaming this guy for eating some noodles when he can. We all do what we’ve got to do to get some snacks in.

The musical performances of the evening have been interesting, thinking they are more for the people there over people watching on their couch so trying not to judge but my vote is to move to the next segment. Tara has been very quiet, I don’t think she’s a fan either.

This flag passing with the 3 waves is kind of hilarious. But did Simone get to do it? Or was that not part of the official ceremonial waving and it would anger the golden guy if she did and he would come back from the clouds and take spiteful vengeance for not following the ancient ways of the Olympics?

I should have expected Tom Cruise to do something silly after he was so visible at the football final. Not sure who he just made out with on the way to the stage either but good for her for shooting her shot. But at least we have the official US flag in the US again!

Red Hot Chilli Peppers were…a lot. Lots of fashion choices and a lack of shirts and/or pants.

Ok, I love Billie Eilish, but I think my overall takeaway for these closing ceremonies is that I’m not looking for a full-blown concert here. It’s like they saw everyone loving The Spice Girls from the London closing ceremonies and wanted to repeat that but missed the significance of them reuniting and performing again.

But Snoop Dogg can do whatever he wants.

Alright, that was enjoyable. Didn’t love the closing ceremony but it wasn’t bad. And just like the flame is extinguished in Paris, it is time for my Olympic flame to be extinguished as well so I can go back to sleeping semi-normal hours and catching up on all the other parts of my life that I’ve ignored for two weeks. See you in 2026!

Medal Count FINAL COUNTDOWN

What a day, there were some amazing medals and performances and goals and 3 pointers and relays. And there were some kangaroo jumps. I know I’ve been slacking on the updates and with a work event tomorrow for most of the day, my plan is to do a live blog of the primetime replay of the closing ceremonies and then 1 final wrap-up blog. And commit to do better for the next games.

BUT we are so close to getting the top spot for gold medals. I think we’ve got at least 3 chances for gold with Women’s Basketball, Water Polo and a female wrestler. Because like always, women are saving Team USA. I don’t know China’s chances of getting medals tomorrow but everyone get your crystals out and ready to go for the last day of the 2024 Olympics!

Olympic Jobs I want

Brigadier Banger

I do enjoy this littler pizazz that France added into the games. I know they are all former athletes from those sports but maybe there is an opportunity to manage the Brigadier before and after the official banging to start a competition?

Olympic Medal Organizer

Caleb Dressel is crushing it here but maybe he needs an apprentice?

Track Mini Car Driver

These little cars bring back the equipment that is thrown by the athletes in the field competitions. Apparently, no one wanted to lug around shotputs. They also apparently race them during downtimes and I would be honored to do it.

Athlete Stage Manager

We’re holding, we’re holding. Mr. Dressel, you should probably pop that shirt off now since we are going to be holding for a bit longer. Still holding.

Gymnastic Coach

I don’t even know what’s going on here but I could probably do it for the sake of the athletes.

Red Box Official

I’m not sure what they do and if they are allowed to visibly cheer for American winners but I bet I could do whatever they need done well.

Mariska Hargitay Personal Assistant

I will do anything she needs if she continues to lead the charge on things like this.

Cap Catcher

And last but probably my favorite, the cap catcher. I would be proud to also show off my non-Olympic physique in a speedo and dive in and get a cap that falls in the pool. I spent so much of my childhood in the pool without googles diving for rings and sticks. I did that until my eyes burned, is that why I need glasses now? But I will gladly do it again to help the swimmers, especially Mr. Dressel.

Cole Hocker Appreciation Post

Everyone has been saying Jakob Ingebrigtsen this and Josh Kerr that. Rivalry and trash talking and multiple earrings and large sunglasses. But I’ve been following Cole Hocker on Instagram for a couple years now and he’s been slowly showing how fast he’s become. I like how he said in the post-race interview that Jakob and Josh were so focused on battling each other in the last 200 that they didn’t even notice that not 1, but 2 Americans were ready to pounce.

Yared Nuguse also ran a brilliant race and then Hobbs Kessler got 5th for the US, 1 – 3 – 5!? Who are we? Kenya in 2000? I turned the race on immediately after finishing a meeting to catch the last lap and luckily my office door was still closed because I was yelling some things during his failed attempt at passing on the inside and then at the very end when I realized he was getting gold and Yared was getting a medal.

There is probably some sort of moral lesson in all of this about how hatred can only fuel you so far and the real winners are those who believe in themselves? Where’s Aesop when you need him.

Watch a replay here.

Birdwatching Break

It’s nice to see they give the sport climbers a break in the middle of their competition to do a few minutes of concerned-looking birdwatching. They are all out there right now with their little binoculars in front of a very sold-out crowd. France must really love their bird-watching/sport climbing.

I hope someone spotted a Eurosain Hoopie, they look fun.

Today’s USA Medalists

I’m very behind today so we are going to do some haiku.

Bronze Medal – Women – 3×3 Basketball

basketball threesome

Group hugs for bronze medalists

five is still better

Silver – Sam Hendricks – Pole Vault

soar high in the sky

your junk didn’t knock the pole

boo turncoat Mondo

Gold – Valarie Allman – Discus

two time gold winner

we both born in Delaware

but I can’t throw well

Silver – Skeet Mixed Team

go Hancock and Smith

shoot your shots to the windows

and the walls skeet skeet

Silver & Bronze – Biles & Chiles – Floor

fun dances, leap high

tiny mat, watch the corners

time for a new queen

Silver – Triathlon Mixed Relay

swam in e coli

photo finish, very close

good luck to your butts

Gold – Caroline Marks – Women’s Surfing

breaking news right now

Caroline Marks wins surfing

TIED FOR GOLD MEDALS

What is Repechage?

The hottest new word in the Olympics is repechage. It is pronounced rep-eh-shazh and it loosely translates in French to “to fish out” or “second chance.” I tried to say it at a brewery and I think the bartender was concerned I lost the ability to speak after a single beer.

From Wikipedia: allows participants who failed to meet qualifying standards by a small margin to continue to the next round. The Wild Card system in MLB playoffs is a repechage system even though it’s not called that. It’s already been part of Olympic rowing and other sports for years and now track and field is jumping on the bandwagon.

I like it in theory. If you end up with 4 amazing athletes in a prelim race but only the top 3 advance it gives that 4th person a second chance to win an additional race to advance to the next round. It seems like a good compromise because they are penalized for not outright qualifying by having to do that extra race. They won’t be as fresh for the eventual next round while the people who immediately qualified get some time to recover.

But now we have the Freddie Crittenden approach. He is making headlines for jogging his preliminary round in the 110M Hurdles because everyone makes it to the repechage round. He aggravated a muscle in practice and said I’m going to give it a rest for a day and go hard in the repechage.

He did nothing wrong but I think it’s just dramatically different from what we are used to seeing in the prelim rounds that I’m personally having trouble not judging him. And I know I’m a hypocrite because I’m excited for weightlifting to begin where they can skip a weight to give themselves a rest and whenever I see that I think they are being strategic and even mysterious.

But I do think Track should adjust the rules a smidge here in the future. This isn’t 2nd grade gym class where everyone is a winner. This is the Olympics with the motto faster, higher, stronger so I think you should have to earn your second chance. Maybe just two people from each heat make it to the repechage round? And again, not saying Freddie did anything wrong, he made a smart choice within the rules for his situation. But let’s keep at least 1 sport simple and not reinvent the wheel…looking at you 3×3 Basketball.

And adding this that I just saw online and it’s perfect

Swimming Finale

What a way to end the swimming competition at the 2024 Olympics. I did not pay as much attention to swimming as I usually do, giving myself a C- on aquatic coverage but I can celebrate the finale.

I am kind of curious who would win in a Kangaroo VS Bald Eagle battle

What I did pay attention to along the way was the US getting a lot of medals but not a lot of Golds, and the female athletes bringing home the individual gold bacon. I didn’t realize until yesterday that we were in danger of letting Australia win more gold medals than America in swimming for the first time since 1956. But thank goodness for the folks below, who helped us pull ahead with 8 gold medals over Australia’s 7 keeping the streak alive!

BOBBY FINKE

Gold Medal and World Record in the 1,500 meter freestyle. I was trying to find a fun fact about him and only found that he likes Marvel superheroes, pizza, video games and table tennis which can be said for most. But I did find this interesting fact.

Did he invent raw-dogging plane rides? It sounds like he would excel at that, in addition to swimming a Metric Mile the fastest ever in history.

WOMEN’S 4×100 MEDLEY

The women finished out the swimming with a Gold Medal and a world record in the ultimate event!

Regan Smith – Backstroke

Also was looking for fun facts and found something similar to Bobby: “Before the races themselves, I don’t like to listen to anything. I really enjoy feeding off of the crowd instead, but I do love music. I’m all over the place with my music. I think it definitely depends on what I’m feeling. For example, Stranger Things has helped me form an appreciation for 80s music.” What’s up this younger generation of swimmers not using music to hype up? But Stranger Things is still on my watch list so I appreciate that part.

Lilly King – Breaststroke

I’m loving her personal facts on the US Swimming website. Biscuits & Gravy, Pre-Race McDonalds and the X-Files!? Loving it.

Gretchen Walsh – Butterfly

Gretchen had a great games and it was nice that she was physically there for her sister after her difficult disqualification. But watch out, the phenom sisters did an interview earlier this year and showed no mercy for their mother, pushing her into the pool in what I can imagine was a complete sneak attack and not a staged funny photo at all.

we have fun here

Torri Huske – Freestyle

Torri also anchored the mixed 4×100 medley relay that got a world record so she’s been crushing it. I’ve also felt a smidge bad both times because her teammates had time to recover and she kind of rolls out of the pool and needs a well deserved sec and everyone else wants to jump up and down. She also visited Australia at some point and befriended a kangaroo, probably bribed it with snacks to learn the Australian secrets. I’m ok with it since it clearly worked!

Ok swimmers, it’s been fun. I hope you all are partying and sleeping and eating giant croissants or whatever you want to be doing. Turning back into a dolphin and returning to Atlantis? You do you. We’ll see you in the slightly deeper pool in LA2028.