The Olympics has been one of my favorite TV-viewing experiences since the LA Olympics in 1984. I had a back injury that year and watched the entire Olympics from a prone position. Then I realized-- "This is great!"
I am enjoying the the Rio 2016 Olympics and will take in as many events as possible-- from track and field to archery to handball to water polo and even a bit of ping-pong and guys firing pistols at targets. Turns out handball does not involve hitting a ball against a wall; handball is more like water polo on land... the players on each side attempt to throw a ball past a goalie. Volleyball players are incredibly tall. The volleyball games in a gymnasium move incredibly fast and incredibly tall human beings slam the volleyball with great skill, soaring high above the net to make shots and block opponent's shots.
This year I became more aware of Olympic technique-- how even the greatest athletes use strategy along with their strength and speed. Even the 100 meter sprint involves technique for the brief 10 seconds involved in running the race.
1) Usain Bolt-- turns out that even in a 9 or 10 second race of 100 meters, great runners like Usain Bolt have to keep their heads facing down as they come out of the blocks, and for the first 10-20 yards. The best runners take a quick glance at opponents towards the middle of the race, and shift to a higher gear to win the race. Holding your form and maintaining composure and posture is essential. Usain Bolt and other great runners maintain a relaxed stride to the end of the race. The combination of fast-twitch speed and most relaxed stride usually determines who will be the victor. Interestingly, the runner with the calmest visage, a relaxed, composed face, often does the best.
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