Random Facts Friday – the Olympic Version

1. I am addicted to the Olympics! And, I am secretly excited that the Kiddo shares my enthusiasm. Every morning when she wakes up, instead of watching Disney Channel or Nick, she wants to watch the Olympics. It doesn’t matter which sport is on, she wants to watch it. This is forcing me to watch sports I wouldn’t typically watch and I have to admit, I am liking it! I am learning all about field hockey, badminton, judo and water polo. Of course, I can’t wait to see the marathon and triathlon!

Go Team USA!!!  (source)

2. I wanted to go to the Olympics…but don’t all kids at some point? At age 12, I remember watching Mary Lou Retton bring home the gold. At that point, I had only been taking tumbling at my weekly dance classes, but I suddenly wanted to be an Olympic gymnast!  It was a rude awakening to find that at age 12, I was too old (and too tall) to fufill that dream. But, it didn’t stop me from taking gymnastics lessons and getting several years of enjoyment from the bars, beam and floor exercise. I hated the vault. I also remember watching Wide World of Sports on Saturdays as a kid and seeing the Tour de France. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool to be the 1st woman to do that?”

Mary Lou!!!!  Those leotards were da bomb!  (source)

3. I was in love with Mitch Gaylord when I was 12. He won my heart when he won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. And then he made the movie, American Anthem…I was smitten for sure!

The 1984 US Men's Gymnastics team  brought home the gold!

4. I also love the winter Olympics. Like a lot of people, figure skating is my favorite. And yes, I even sported that famous Dorothy Hamill cut as a kid. To this day, the “Battle of the Carmens” between Katarina Witt and Debi Thomas in the 1988 winter games is still the most memorable to me. Even after Christi Yamguchi won the gold in 1992, Tara Lapinski in 1988, and Sarah Hughes in 1992, the Carmens stand out. And who can forget the drama of Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, ack! By the way, Debi Thomas is now an Orthopedic Surgeon.

Debbie Thomas (source)

5. The commercials during the Olympics are THE BEST! Seriously, they make me cry. Have you seen the Proctor and Gamble ones? Holy cow. I also love this one from Nike:




Are you watching the Olympics? What are your favorite sports to watch?