“Dude, give me a hug!  That was ridiculous!”

Despite the outstanding gymnastics, Sam Mikulak was the best part of the men’s vaulting final. Watching Olympians get excited about other Olympians’ abilities, and seeing how joyful they are just to compete - with little concern over where they place, is what the Olympics is all about, for me. People like this, who are so unabashedly excited for others, do the most to represent the United States in the best possible way, especially at a time when this kind of behavior conflicts a little with the image our government’s actions can cultivate around the world. 

Watching people who are capable of doing amazing things display such genuine excitement is always the best part of the Olympics. Seeing people who are simply thrilled to be surrounded by others like them - the world’s most talented athletes - and who are so grateful for the opportunity to show off their talents while representing their country is, put simply, pretty cool.

Anyway, Sam Mikulak must have some sort of future as an Olympic commentator. That kind of positivity, his Southern California attitude, is surprisingly not annoying and really, really fun to watch. It’s so rare to see someone who is so genuinely gracious and enthusiastic like that. He’s tweeting the shit out of his Olympic experience, but all I see is the next Tim Daggett. 

I mean, also, he’s a babe.

So anyway, that’s all I’ll say about the men’s gymnastics this year.

Image via fuck-reezy-jeah

Also, remember when this happened? Ryan Lochte went to Fashion Week. And he and Nastia Liukin were totally doing it.

All things considered, 2008 was sort of a fun year. Remember the good times, America.

oh-ew:

Nastia Liukin and Ryan Lochte are totally doing it.

Also, since when does Ryan Lochte get to go to Fashion Week?

It’s hard to watch this year’s women’s gymnastics team without missing my dream bff just a little. The way she evil-eyed those Chinese five-year olds made me feel like we could have an understanding. Like, I want to have a beer and talk some shit with this girl.

This girl trains with her and also kind of looks like her, and used the Hava Nagila as her floor exercise music, which is a decision I really appreciate, but there’s only room in my heart for one Alicia Sacramone.

oh-ew:

I want to be friends with Alicia Sacramone. That’s what the Olympics has taught me, other than the fact that the Chinese are willing to descreate the sanctity of world unity in order to win gold medals. On a more positive note, she is exactly the kind of friend I want - tough, loyal, obviously hilarious (as evidenced by this picture and by the fact that she got PISSED on camera) smart, cute, and clearly confident. She’s actually a real person, unlike any of the Chinese gymnasts, and she weighs like twice as much as some of the girls she competed against, which I think is pretty raw. She worked twice as hard as those little half people, and she was pretty much the only one who knew it. I love her. Alicia, if you’re looking for friends for some reason, call me.

The 1972 Munich Summer Games featured the Olympics’ first official mascot.

Waldi, the first-ever official Olympic mascot, was based on a real-life German dachshund named Fritz (seen here looking very world-weary while he poses with his toy likenesses). Waldi went over big that year: the marathon track was designed in the shape of the popular Bavarian dog. 

Other Olympic mascots here.

Move over, Gosling. There’s a new Ryan in my life.

Photo: First swimming gold for Lochte.