Wow!! Where to start? Got a call from a friend at 5:10 pm (trials started at 5:30), they'd purchased tickets for the event several months ago for their entire family, sadly two of their children couldn't get off work and would we like to have their tickets? WHAT?! WOULD WE EVER!!! We hustled our little selves over to the HP Pavilion for a once in a lifetime thrill! To watch athletes of that caliber compete (this event has always been our favorite of the summer games) was goose-bumpy exciting, hold-your-breath thrilling!! The pressure these girls were under was palpable, you could see it in their faces, feel it in the air. My heart ached for the girls who fell off the beam, the bars and on their little behinds. My heart thrilled at every NAILED tumbling run, twisting leap and flying swing through. This was it, do or die moment for all of them, these were the top, the cream of the cream, the very best of our nation competing for a spot on the Olympic Team. As far as I'm concerned, if you make it to the Olympics you've already won. Once you get there it's just a matter of rank. We watched every move, every routine. Yes Jordyn Weiber is clearly a champion. But so is Gabby Douglas. I tell you what - WOW! Jordyn Weiber has nothing but a few years on Gabby Douglas. As far as skills go, I feel they are equally matched. As of last night only three tenths of one single point separates these two girls. But Gabby stole our hearts. She has a presence that is commanding, shimmering and endearing all at once. This girl smiled from her very core, from her toes to her head and out through her eyes - and she smiled a lot. She was dynamite in the spotlight and a pleasure to watch in between. She was personable and pleasant with everyone she came in contact with, she mingled with her peers. Jordyn, possibly because of the pressure, bless her heart, kind of smiled once. And she kept herself at a distance from everyone else but her coach. No matter who else makes the team, we hope, hope, hope Gabby does, for her skills, her sportsmanship and for her grace under pressure.
Besides the routines, it was a lot of fun to watch the camera crews of all the different media and major television channels operating - such equipment!!!! It was fun to watch the girls when it wasn't their turn up, how they interacted, how they prepared themselves for their next routine. There in the auditorium, we got to see all the close ups of intensity the rest of the world didn't get to see.
It was absolutely spellbinding to watch those muscles so strong and defined (I was a massage therapist, had to have anatomy for a year so I appreciate and am in awe always of the human body) and the control these girls have over their bodies. I tell ya, MY body doesn't look, OR ACT like that. There would be open rebellion from my body at the first hint a split was on the way! It was intriguing to watch Gabby and her coach using ASL (American Sign Language) to communicate at distances. they were both very calm, very cool and laughed with each other. The judges, whew, they brought their most serious judge faces along, left all smile faces at home locked in the closet, they were all business. The whole thing was just electrifying. To be there for the finals on Sunday - oh that would be amazing. We'll just have to wait for the results like most of the rest of the country. (So hoping Gabby get's her spot!)
Besides the routines, it was a lot of fun to watch the camera crews of all the different media and major television channels operating - such equipment!!!! It was fun to watch the girls when it wasn't their turn up, how they interacted, how they prepared themselves for their next routine. There in the auditorium, we got to see all the close ups of intensity the rest of the world didn't get to see.
It was absolutely spellbinding to watch those muscles so strong and defined (I was a massage therapist, had to have anatomy for a year so I appreciate and am in awe always of the human body) and the control these girls have over their bodies. I tell ya, MY body doesn't look, OR ACT like that. There would be open rebellion from my body at the first hint a split was on the way! It was intriguing to watch Gabby and her coach using ASL (American Sign Language) to communicate at distances. they were both very calm, very cool and laughed with each other. The judges, whew, they brought their most serious judge faces along, left all smile faces at home locked in the closet, they were all business. The whole thing was just electrifying. To be there for the finals on Sunday - oh that would be amazing. We'll just have to wait for the results like most of the rest of the country. (So hoping Gabby get's her spot!)