I’m not saying that the Olympics are, “just another competition,”’ but except for the thousands of cheering spectators, the events are the same. I was excited to be there, but I wasn’t more nervous than I typically am for a world class event.

During the ride and race I really noticed the difference between the Olympics and other events. To hear that many voices and to know that so many people were interested in my sport was thrilling. Too, it was really nice knowing that my mom’s was one of the voices there.

When I rounded the corner and saw our flag and all the Americans cheering me on, I was moved. I think that’s when it really hit me. What a shot of adrenaline! What a wonderful feeling!

Thank you for your interest in Modern Pentathlon and in me. I’ve enjoyed this experience more than I can say. The Olympics are done for 2008, but the annual competitions are heating up, and I am in training for the next one now.

The picture is me and Sheila Taormina in our outfits for the opening ceremony.

For me, Linda is now part of my Olympic experience, and her sweetness and sense of wonder will be what I think of when I think of China. That little girl embodies the spirit of the experience; she has an accepting openness, kindness, curiosity, and humanity that make her a gem, and she proves that, as I expected, the Chinese are more like us than not.

My new friend, Linda, whose mom runs a small shop in Beijing, really made my trip special in a personal way.

My mom met Linda while on a walk by herself in a hutong (residential area) in Beijing. Linda’s mom looked out the door of her shop and noticed my mom having difficulty with a band-aid. Linda’s mom quickly guided my mom to a seat in her shop where she provided and installed a new band-aid.

About that time, Linda woke from her nap and came out into the shop from the adjacent living quarters, she conversed with my mom in English, guessed that somehow mom was there because of the Olympics, and, soon, they were friends.

Mom brought me back the next day, and the four of us went on a shopping tour of their Beijing. In no time at all, Linda had won me over too. What a smart and pretty little girl!
If I asked her a question that required a thoughtful answer, she would stroke her chin with her fingers and say, “I am thinking.” It was just too cute!

Sheila and I had breakfast with orangutans.

It was great fun having my mom with me in China. We found time to be tourists after the games. This shot is of a brief encounter with the Mongol hordes at the Great Wall.

I’ve been out of touch electronically while I’ve been in Singapore all week. I’m really glad to be back in Beijing!

What a transformation! It’s like they got an air transplant! Clear, blue skies, lower humidity, and fifteen degrees cooler! It’s invigorating.

I’ve missed the Olympic Village and all the wonderful eating opportunities. There is so much food to choose from here, and (I have mentioned that I enjoy my dining adventures – haven’t I?) I am really glad to be back.

I went to cheer for our track and field team mates today. I really am ready to compete! I envied them out there going for it!

My mom will be here tonight. She should be nearing Tokyo soon. I can’t wait to see her.
My training schedule and travel along with the fact that there was no wireless connectivity in Singapore have made blogging impossible for the past week. I’m looking forward to having a regular connection and more time to communicate.

Oh! I rode a hot air balloon in Singapore! That’ll be a story for my next blog.

Thanks for your interest! Stay tuned to cheer for Team USA! What an experience!

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The Opening Ceremony -- Words can not describe it

Amazing!

Exciting!

Wonderful!

Touching!

Stupendous!

Awe inspiring!

Grandiose!

Captivating!

I have nothing in my previous experience to which I can compare this experience. I imagine that they did a good job of capturing the opening ceremony on television, but the feeling of the combined experience of personally interacting with the citizens of Beijing and the scale, pageantry and beauty of the opening ceremony as I experienced it was overwhelming. I may well live the rest of my life without ever knowing anything to equal it again.

Even the heat, the oppressive humidity and the throngs of people interacted to add to the experience. Electrifying anticipation – that’s how I describe waiting for my turn to march in the opening. The feeling of anticipation and excitement that every one of us felt multiplied the emotional impact of the night’s events. I don’t think the world has ever seen such a show, and to be a part of it . . . well just imagine stepping into the light of the bird’s nest knowing that the best athletes in the world had, or soon would, trod that path too.

I have to echo my team-mate’s observation, “They get it,” said Sheila Taormina of the people of Beijing. They understand the dynamic and the whole spirit of the Olympics. We hold more in common than we have in difference we people of this planet, and to me, the opening was a celebration of our sameness. It was exhilarating, it was exhausting. I am thrilled to have been there.

I hope you are following along with our progress in the games. Hooray for our saber fencers and our basketball team!

Wow! For some things there just aren’t adequate words. This has been one of them.