Meet Some Olympic Medalists

The morning of my most recent post, I exited my Ipanema apartment pumped to see Kim Rhode compete in Olympic shooting.

My friends who've seen me since that afternoon will tell you the toll that commute took on me.

Sadly, getting to the most remote venue in the Deodoro Olympic area northwest of Rio forever tarnished my to-that-point positive impressions of 2016 Games execution.

I am convinced the Rio 2016 planners who created the spectator pathways are either complete morons, heroin addicts, masochists or some combination of the three. More about these observations will be shared later. 

Meanwhile, the last 16 days provided many positive interactions with Olympic medalists from around the world.

Since I am dog tired and prepping for the final day of the Games including tonight's closing ceremony, presented here is a partial roundup of Olympic champions and silver or bronze medalists encountered in Brazil, some as recent as last night at basketball and the track.

Enjoy!

All photos by Nicholas Wolaver may not be used without permission.

Swimming Into Olympic History

London Olympic swimming -- that's one ticket I've not invested in for this Olympiad. For me, seeing Michael Phelps' final race in Beijing may never be topped in terms of extraordinary tickets landing in my lap (though several event tickets popping up in London are close runner-ups).

With a ticket to women's gymnastics yesterday, there was no way to get to swimming in time for what became Phelps record-tie and new Olympic record-setting swims that make him the most decorated Olympian of all time.

But in the London Media Centre I was tuned in to the races and saw the BBC's "breaking news" of Phelps' remarkable achievement. What a great victory! And only a couple hours before, I spotted the previous all-time Olympic medals record holder at the women's gymnastics team final (the announcers did a nice introduction of her to the audience).

Olympic records are falling all over. Today's cycling road event includes recent Tour de France victor, Team GB cyclist Bradley Wiggins, chasing the British record for most Olympic medals (up to this point held by rower Steve Redgrave).  London is Wiggins' fourth Olympiad after Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

I've seen Phelps in person three times so far -- twice in Beijing in competition, once in May at the Team USA Media Summit in Dallas. When I presented him a pin for this Olympic blog, he stated he remembered it. Whether true, or he was just being polite, I appreciate his positive feedback.

Congratulations to Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic medalist in history.

Photos by Nicholas Wolaver