london day 4

Didn't see much variety tonight, but what a night!
-saw some diving, the Chinese won of course
-Allison Schmitt won gold in 200 m freestyle
-The Fab Five-Team USA, women's gymnastics. They are all my heroes. The team led going into the finals and it was theirs to lose, but unlike the men's team, they were able to pound it out. The girls started out on vault and gave three superb vaults. Jordan Wieber did an excellent vault and showed that her attitude was in the right place. McKayla Maroney is a superb vaulter, that's all she does for the team. She gets so much height and flings her body so well-it is amazing. Gabby gave great vaults too. Then came the uneven bars and the girls put up some solid scores, but Russia was still right behind them. The balance beam is the worst. I get so anxious when they perform their routines. Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, and Kyla Ross were so good on the balance beam and there were no huge mistakes to make me nervous for them. Then Jordan, Gabby and Aly were up on the floor exercise and all they needed was to do their routines fairly well. The Russians were the only ones behind them and they royally messed up on the floor. Aly was the last to go and you could see the relief in her face once she knew that he had it. The girls were so cute, crying and they were all so supportive of each other, but besides being cutesy gymnasts, you know they are top athletes of the world and came through in a clutch moment. And the parents, they are almost as fun to watch as the athletes. They get really into the routines and the emotion they feel for their kids. I definitely got a little teary watching the gymnastics. Bob was interviewing them and asked them their earliest Olympics memories (because they wouldn't be old enough to remember the Magnificent 7 in 1996) and they all said Carly Patterson in the 2004 Olympics. 2004! They are babies! Great job!

-Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian ever winning his 19th medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay, with Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens, and Connor Dwyer. Now, I don't always think the best of Phelps because he is kind of a schmo, cocky, etc. But if you look at what Lochte is trying to replicate and cannot, and how Phelps himself is struggling in this Olympic then you realize how great of a thing he was able to do in 2008. 8 medals in one Olympics and they were all gold. I give Phelps credit for coming back, there is no way he could repeat that, nor would he want to try. I think he's just trying to see how much he can add on to his record. From his interviews it seems that he may not have trained as hard or as much, so I think he's just taking things as they come and enjoying all that comes his way. Michael Phelps is truly a great Olympian. Congrats.