A sure-to-be-growing list:
~ Michael Phelps, because he’s flippin’ amazing and goofy cute
~ Swimmer Jason Lezak, for his anchor leg in that earth-shaking relay
~ Swimmer Aaron Piersol, winner of the 100m backstroke, for being SO California laid-back. So mellow it seems like he couldn’t possible win anything. Haha. Dude cracks me up.
~ Jonathan Horton, for being the practically perfect glue the held the US Men’s Gymnastics Team together for an unexpected bronze
~ Natalie Coughlin, 100m backstroke gold medalist, for crying AND singing during her awards ceremony with her hand over her heart
~ The Chinese volunteers at the beach volleyball venue who searched for US player Kerry Walsh’s wedding ring which had slipped off during a play — all these people on their hands and knees, clawing at the sand, whipping out their, you know, handy-dandy metal detectors, all to find her wedding ring — which they did. The dude that got to return the ring to her just could not stop smiling. She rewarded him with some autographed merchandise while he just gaped at her in awe. Adorable.
~ Some unknown beach volleyball player in a match against the US team, for becoming so annoyed with the bug situation that he took the volleyball and, in a moment of sublime ridiculous wrath, SMASHED that ball down into the sand, killing a bug that had been tormenting him. Hahahaha, I loved that dude!
Please feel free to share your Olympic crushes. Or any crushes, really. Sarahk likes US gymnast Sasha Artemev — so I’m outing that crush right here, right now.
Your embedded Olympics reporter, just gettin’ it done.
I’d probably agree with you on all of these! I didn’t think they’d ever find Kerry Walsh’s wedding ring. Whoever thought to watch the tape to see its trajectory was very clever.
Oh, and Raj Bhavsar from the gymastics team would be my crush in yoga class–I think a profile they showed said he did things like that to improve his athletics. He seemed very calm, in contrast to Jonathan Horton.
I stayed up way too late last night to watch the men get the Bronze. They did great. Man-crush on all-of-em!
I do believe I saw Ms. Walsh give the guy who found her ring a good-job-fanny-swat as they parted. Big crush on Walsh-May!
Kate P — Raj was great, too. He’s full of aphorisms, that one, but totally likable AND he kept his calm very well.
Brian — Hahaha! You’re right! She did give him the good-job bum swat! How could I leave that out?
All of these plus Bob Costas for not being in a Chinese prison on charges of murdering Matt Lauer during the opening ceremony; President Bush for saying, “I’m goin’ ta swimmin’… if you ever let me off this set”.
And I agree with Raj, too.