The Olympics are back and I’m loving it. I enjoy watching most of the sports (sorry dressage, not you), and I even enjoy watching when Australia’s not competing. The sports that I enjoy watching the most are the ones that I’ve had a go at at some stage in my life, so I’ve had a taste of what it’s like and can appreciate how good these athletes really are at them.

Weightlifting

Weightlifting is an Olympic sport I really appreciate. I love the drama that goes on backstage with the smelling salts and the coaches psyching these athletes up.
At the Swans we do 2 or 3 weight sessions a week and we all get excited at the club gym when we punch out a personal best on the bench press or in a squat. More often than not we strut around the gym like we’ve just lifted a car or a small plane. However, when I see some small, 55kg guy throwing 140kg above his head like he’s hailing a cab I realise how strong these Olympic athletes are.

Athletics

Athletics is the other area that I have an appreciation for too. We do a lot of timed running over pre-season and I compare my times to what these Olympic athletes are able to achieve and it’s incredible the times they’re able to run. However, when I watch running it makes me think of pre-season training so I change the channel.

Rowing

I did the sport at school for a few years. Once the gimmick factor wore off, I quickly realised that I much prefer contact sports, sports that don’t involve training at 6am, and falling out of the boat into the Yarra River isn’t much fun either.

Basketball

I played junior football in the under 9’s with two guys that still play professional sport. One was a guy by the name of Chris Judd (who goes ok at AFL), the other is a guy by the name of David Barlow who is currently playing for the Boomers in the Olympics. I really enjoy watching the Boomers and following how Dave is going.

Swimming

Some of us did a swimming session on Tuesday this week. Our lap times are relatively similar to those of the Olympic athletes, except we were swimming in a 25m pool, not a 50m pool. I put it to Rhyce Shaw that when he swims his beard is so big and thick right now it must be like trying to run with a parachute on. I’m still trying to master the art of the tumble turn in swimming. I’m quite good at the tumble part, but when I push off the wall, it’s anyone’s guess where I’ll end up. It’s not uncommon to find myself in the wrong lane after a tumble turn.

European Handball.

I’ve never actually played this game but I really enjoy watching it. Part of me thinks I would really enjoy playing it, but I’m not sure if it’s because I like the game itself, or it’s because I know they play it in Europe.

Song of the week

This week’s song gets a nomination for 2 reasons;
1)    It’s an awesome song
2)    There’s a bit of an Olympic theme in the video clip
It’s ‘Trembling Hands’ by The Temper Trap

We’ve got our own big test this weekend against Carlton on Sunday. We’re looking forward to it, and preparing for a fierce game at Etihad. It’s going to be a packed crowd and hope we’ve got plenty of Swans support there.

Ted Richards
@richards_report
(wannabe European Handballer)