Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk gets rosy.
Tom Daley is a Man about Town.
Paola Espinosa takes a dive.
Kevin Mayer knows how to look good training.
Jorge Urena finds a pretty training spot.
The Ice King (2018) A Quick Film Review Innsbruck 1976 figure skating champion John Curry passed away on April 15, 1994. At only age 44, his passing came too early and at a downward turn in his once-shining life. The at-turns glorious and tragic career is captured poignantly in 2018's documentary by James Erskine's The Ice King. Inspired by the 2014 biography Alone: The Triumph and Tragedy of John Curry by Bill Jones, The Ice King takes us briskly through Curry's remarkable life. Similar to Jones' work, what struck me most during the film is a prevalent tone of sadness, appropriately underscoring the inner turmoil that seemed to always shadow Curry.
As a boy, he struggled with a relationship with his father, who discouraged Curry's interest in dance, yet found skating a close alternative - acceptable to his father as it could be viewed as a sport. As he progressed in skill and recognition, he was determined to bring more artistry into skating, going against the prevailing grain of how a masculine skater should perform. Also working against a Cold War-era judging system that often subjugated superior skaters at the expense of politics, he finally broke through with the 1976 European Championship, setting him up for his Olympic win the following month at Innsbruck. Hideki Maruyama's win at the Masters this past weekend puts Olympic attention squarely toward him. The Times catches up with Olympic medalist diver Tom Daley, who is still targeting gold success. (paywall) As a child, Millie Bright had equestrian hopes first, and "wasn't very good at football", but rose to the challenge to hopefully lead Team Great Britain soccer at Tokyo 2020. Finn sailor Giles Scott is finally "trying to shake off all the rust" with the first serious competition of the year as he aims to defend his Rio 2016 title. Budding Olympic stars in surfing, Ramzi Boukhiam and Anat Lelior are the latest subjects in the latest State of Olympic Surfing. More soccer: catch up with Sydney 2000 Olymian and U.S. national team legend Landon Donovan in a FIFA.org interview. Rio 2016 medalist Felix Denayer offers a tribute to Covid-19 frontline workers on behalf of the international field hockey community. Could rugby star Tim Anstee pass on Australia's sevens, now that Covid-19 disrupted his momentum with the team? Team Canada veteran Sheena Lawrick talks with the Five Rings to Rule Them All podcast on her softball career, being an out gay athlete, and taking time off for family. Danish runner Thijs Nijuis is a relative late-comer to the marathon, but he is "fully prepared" for the Tokyo 2020 conditions in Sapporo this summer. The Olympic Channel: Figure skater Anna Shcherbakova is targeting Beijing 2022 after her maiden win at the World Championships last month.
Kenyan taekwondo star Faith Ogallo sees the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to discuss climate change issues in the community. Meanwhile, Aminat Idrees, eight-month pregnant competitor, wins a Nigerian taekwondo title. Rhys McClenaghan wants to beat the top pommel horse gymnast at Tokyo 2020 and isn't afraid to envision it. Rhythmic gymnast Sofia Raffaeli had a breakthrough competition at her first senior World Cup, can she keep the momentum at this weekend's next event? April Ross and Alix Klineman may have an Olympic beach volleyball berth sewn up, but they aren't resting as they continue to train and compete up until the Games. Frenchwoman Laetitia Guapo and Latvian Nauris Miezis top the newly re-opened FIBA 3x3 individual rankings. Get to know Mamey Biney, U.S. short track speed skating sensation, courtesy of a Togethxr short film.
We're within 100 days until the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games. And as the Olympic world celebrates, it's a bittersweet moment for me.
I have undoubtedly been a passionate Olympics fan, reveling in the global community and camaraderie, the sporting effort, and the spectacle. Who can resist the Olympic spirit? I've had the unique pleasure of witnessing it in person, first at Los Angeles 1984, then London 2012 and Rio 2016. Unfortunately, though, Games and Rings won't be at these next Games. After a couple years of planning and excitement, official (old now) news is that foreign spectators will not be allowed into Japan for the Olympics. It's logical, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues, and far too many remain unvaccinated and compromised. Just holding the Games safely, without a live audience, will be a daunting challenge. This, I can understand and accept. What sours me is the effect on Authorized Ticket Resellers (ATRs). In the U.S., CoSport has been the sole ATR from which consumers can purchase official event tickets, and thus hospitality (hotel) packages that include tickets. Ticket purchases alone carry a "service and handling fee" that now is un-refundable, so those customers will only receive 80% of their total ticket purchase back. As CoSport explains, Tokyo 2020 organizers will only reimburse ticket face value back to CoSport, so only that money is available. Why CoSport didn't purchase appropriate insurance to cover a shortfall is a different day's question. The real hard luck customers are the hospitality package purchasers. These packages will only receive 75% of their purchase back. As these purchases tend to be pumped up with premium hotel night costs, and "VIP" lounge access and treatment, the cost can be in the thousands of dollars. In my case, the loss of 25% means I will lose more than $3,000 U.S. This is not an amount I can afford to take lightly. But what's one to do? U.S. customers are told by credit cards that it is too late to contest the purchase. Travel insurance providers claim that this isn't a qualified reason to be reimbursed. Local hotels in Tokyo reportedly refuse to return what they receive from CoSport, hampering the ability to return more than 75%. How can I have protected myself better from all of this? Arguably hospitality package holders are key Olympic supporters, as they are fans - many athlete family members - who are willing to spend significant amounts to attend the Games and support in person. Today, I'm wary of the idea of buying a similar package ever again, let alone from CoSport. Were I to invest in an Olympics trip again, I'd take my chances - as I've done in past - with searching for accommodation on my own. I'm wiling to try to think of my cash loss as a supportive "contribution" to the global Olympic effort. But the fact that this money is really just covering CoSport's own losses is a bitter pill to swallow. In the meantime, another key date is coming up. April 15 is the last day to submit a request for a refund for a CoSport hospitality package in the U.S. "Failure to meet this deadline will jeopardize your refund." The other option is receive the amount as a credit toward future purchases, but how to trust CoSport again? What's an Olympics fan to do? Sarah Hanfou balances a legal career and building a charity while preparing for her second Games in table tennis., Long jumper-turned-sprinter Marcell Jacobs is ready to take on the outdoor season after a breakthrough indoor run that brought him a European Championship. Alexa Stais is a rising show jumper from Johannesburg, with a quick Q&A available on FEI.org. Esmeralda Falcon aims to become the first Mexican female Olympic boxer, and isn't shy to say it.
|
Above: Athens' Kallimarmaro, the site of the 1896 Summer Olympics
About This BlogAn Olympics fan blog celebrating all things Olympic sport athletesRead about me.
Navigate ItCelebrating Olympic sport athletes with news links, social media peeks, and more, seen through the cheeky lens of this particular, passionate fan.
Check out: A Little Roundup
Get to know the athletes of Olympic sports through a collection of links to recent news and feature stories Let's Get Social Take a look at what some of your favorite Olympic sport athletes are up to on social media, away from competition. They are the Champions Who made the podium in Olympic sports' world championships? Athletes Worth Watching Who are some emerging Olympic sport athletes worth keeping an eye on for the future? Ramblings and Things I have my own comment and opinions sometimes! A Quick Review Quick thoughts on Olympic sports-related films, art, books, TV, etc. that I've come across . p.s. see my Bookshop! Me at Rio 2016's Barra Olympic Park
Follow MeFavorite SitesThe IOC Categories
All
Archives
March 2024
To opt-out of cookies, and to read this site's privacy policy, read the Policy page.
The following link is listed for Mastodon site verification purposes only:
|