Main events of Olympics in the first half of the Games are swimming and gymnastics.  In the US, the focus is all on Michael Phelps who is going for the record 8 gold medals in single Olympic Games. 

A couple of nights ago, one of the most exciting races has got to be 4 X 100m relay in the Olympic swimming pool.  The French team was leading almost the entire body length, coming into the final turn of the final leg.  French team was the heavy favorite and it was heading to end that scinario.  The US team came back in the, literally, final 3 strokes and regained the lead and won the gold medal in the world record time.  The entire competition really reminded me of how Peter Snell won in the final of 800m at Rome Olympics in 1960.  Obviously, the final swimmer on the French team has got to start out too fast in all the excitement.  Lydiard used to always say that the best way to run is to run the second half faster then the first half.  That's the way Snell won most of his races; that's the way Richard Taylor in his epic 10,000m win at 1974 Commonwealth Games ran.  Whether it was calculated or with luck, it was quite an exciting race--that's what Olympic Games is all about!

And as for Japanese, it was quite exciting to watch Kosuke Kitajima win his second Olympic 100m breastroke gold medal (his third with 200m at Athens as well).  As did in Athens, he screamed out of water (he reminded me of Godzilla, coming out of water at Tokyo Bay... ;o)).  After Athens Olympic Games, I read a book on his progress, titled "Project Kitajima".  Kitajima is a product of a long-term development.  He was discovered by his coach when he was a 14-year-old young swimmer.  Japanese like to believe that they are weak in upper body and the way they could excell is by emphasizing their lower extramities--like breastroke (though I don't necessarily buy that especially watching how they perform gymnastics...).  His coach, while viewing video clip of some of the best breastrokers in the world noticed how there is a stopping (or digressing) phase in breastroke as they bring their legs forward and bring their arms to the chest.  He found out that, in average, the world top swimmers spend about 0.08~0.12 second during each stroke when the swimmer is actually "digressing".  However, at the time (10 years ago), the best breastroker in the world from China only spent 0.03 second "digressing"!  There is a certain "swirl" created as they bring their feet forward around their hip area and that "drags" the body backward.  They worked on eliminating as much "drag" as possible to minimize this digression in each stroke.  Obviously, it worked.

This was such a fascinating story.  And it really shows what we can do by paying attention to such a minute thing and develop greatness.  Lydiaard always said that "it is not the best athlete who wins; but the best prepared."  Kitajima and his coach (team) prepared for 10 years for this Olympic glory.  There are many different "talents".  Many (most) only seek some measureable physical attributes.  How fast can he/she run (duh!)...?  Lyciard always said "sincerity" is the most important attribute in athletes.  Asked what made him "recruit" Kitajima, his coach said; "Spark in his eyes."  I like that.

(Images from Asahi Newspaper website)