Aug. 4, 2012
It is the last day of Olympic swimming, and my feelings about that are bittersweet. I guess when you are submerged in a meet, you are anxious to be done by Day 7. But as I settle in to the new spectating role, I realize that a week of sports spectating like this comes around only every four years (or once in a lifetime if you are lucky enough to spectate live).
Carolyn Grevers, Matt's older sister, was mentioning the general goodwill felt everywhere. London feels like Whoville around Christmastime. Anticipation and smiles are everywhere. On the underground trains, we scan the occupants for American flags or listen for American accents and usually fall across a few of our fellow Americans ... and we are instant friends.
But the friendship thing extends beyond your own country people. I had two Germans sitting next to me during the 100 back semifinal cheering for Matt. The general public is enthused to have someone to associate with and get behind. At first I felt like I was bragging telling people that my fiance won an individual gold medal, but now I have seen what a thrill it is for people to know someone who knows someone in the Games. I told the chef from our area's King George IV's pub about Matt and he said "shut up!" in disbelief. It is wonderful to have a human connection to these Games that can seem as fantastical as Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Speaking of William and Kate, I would like to take this time to describe an encounter I had with Matt's parents in the Proctor and Gamble House a few days ago. We had just finished our free lunch (all of the P&G House amenities are free for five people linked/related to an Olympian) and were heading toward the exit in the labyrinthine facility when I saw a slender, regal-looking young lady resembling Kate Middleton. She was wearing the blue dress she has worn in her famed engagement interviews and spoke with eloquence and care. She saw my shocked face and generously asked if I wanted a photo with her.
I was shaking as I realized Kate Middleton was as kind as she seemed in interviews and grabbed Matt's parents, Ed and Anja, to get in a photo. A shorter fellow hung with Kate and looked slightly like William in the face, but I towered over him (I'm 6'1), and he was wearing quite a bit of makeup. We wrote him off as a well-groomed escort. The Grevers and I giddily left the P&G house anxious to show our photo with Kate and a short William to the Facebook world.
Then we did some research. William is 6'3, so it was definitely not him, but we held on to hope that we had met the elegant Kate Middleton. That evening, I sat behind the family of Nathan Adrian (Olympic gold medalist in 100 freestyle) during the finals and his sister asked if we had seen the Kate and William lookalikes at the house. My lingering hope was lost, and I felt stupid for being so invigorated by my visit with a couple of frauds.
Just one instance of British humor taking advantage of ditzy Americans. I guess it's time for me to study up on my roommate's Star magazines so I don't make a similar mistake next time I'm in a foreign place.
Finals of the 4x100 medley relay take place this evening. Matt has a chance to break the world record with his leadoff backstroke split. There's not much more the guy could do to have a more successful meet than he's had! And it's not a bad relay lineup: Gold-medalist backstroker, bronze-medalist breaststroker (Brendan Hansen), gold-medalist butterflyer (Michael Phelps) and gold-medalist freestyler (Nathan Adrian). I'm feeling confident.
Bring the noise for swimming's grand finale, and GO USA!
Cheers to the last splash in London!
The Grevers and I with our deceivers. Don't study the picture too closely.
Decent "Kate," don't you think?
Nathan Adrian's family. The glowing mass in the distance is the pool. And these
were considered good seats!
Missy Franklin. What a stud. World record in the 200 back last night. And she will only be
21 for the next Olympics. America is in good hands.
The Orbit and Olympic Stadium by
night. Holds the same excitement as Whoville before Christmas ... and looks as sculptural as Whoville.
Populated by some larger-scale people, though.
