My Newest Olympic Memory
This is just one of the many reasons why the Olympics are amazing.
I’m a bit behind on my viewing so I’m watching Monday’s late night program today. Towards the end of the broadcast they televised the Men’s High Bar routine. Russian Aleksei Nemov gave an unbelievable performance. He looped and flipped over the bar with incredible ease and flair. It would have been the definition of near perfection if not for a small step taken right at the very end. Overall, a very inspired performance.
The audience and the commentators are all probably thinking it’s a 9.825 or higher, which would put him in first place. Nope, a 9.725, which would place him in third with five more competitors to go. He wouldn’t medal.
And the audience didn’t like that number one bit.
For the next five minutes the Greek audience booed, hissed, cursed, hooted and “thumbed down” the judges score. American all-around Gymnastics Gold Winner Paul Hamm took the stage immediately after Nemov’s scores were announced, but was forced to sit down by the distracting cat calls.
For five minutes. For five minutes the mostly Greek audience told the world what they felt about the judges score. And the judges listened. After three minutes of the audience’s shared much frustration, the judges from Malaysia and Canada reviewed their scores nd changed them, upping his score to a paltry 9.762, still keeping him in third with five athletes yet to go.
It was an unbelievable scene. With the low score, the routine was sure to be a forgotten memory someday soon since it wouldn’t earn a medal. But the audience assured that no one would forget this routine, not even an Olympics only Gymnastics viewer like myself.
Aleksei showed a great deal of humility throughout the protest. He would occasionally wave to the crowd and the audience would respond with one crazy Greecian hissy fit. It was a beautiful moment.
The drama continued following that, but I’ll make you go to the news sites for the rest.
Oh, so who won? An Italian named Igor Cassina, who gave a medal worthy performance. Lots of incredible releases. American Paul Hamm came in second and scored the Silver. But his performance was half that of Aleksei’s.
A lot has been made about the half empty stadiums in Greece. It’s a shame. Had I known it would have been that easy to score tickets maybe I would have planned a trip to Greece. But those who did travel to the Games and those local Athenians absolutely know how to enjoy a good sporting event. And they’re only at half power.
