But enough about me! Back in beijing, i reckon it turned out to be a pretty good day actually. Despite myself, I sometimes can't help feeling a bit disappointed when the medal is bronze or silver, but then you hear the interviews and see how thrilled the winners are, so you can't help getting swept along.
First up was wannabe astronaut David Florence, a somewhat better representation of the homeland than Moaning McMurray, winning silver in the canoeing. Great interview on the radio, when he admitted telling a few porkies about speaking russkie on his application form, to general hilarity. Then saw the highlights on telly, where he and his family were stalked by Gary Richardson, and the very British celebration of his victory - handshakes from brother & father, hugs from sister and mother, no general whooping and jumping around!
The next one was the team bronze in the eventing. Seemed to me like a poor performance in the horse dancing on the first day is what cost them a 'better' medal, but they seemed pretty chuffed with the bronze, and by all accounts the Krauts were pretty hard done by in Athens when they were disqualified on a technicality having won Gold. it's hard to feel sorry for Germans, who did, after all, invent a word for enjoying other people's misfortune - that'd be schadenfreude - but maybe on this occasion, justice was done.
The good news continued as Tina Cook, only drafted in to the side to cover for some posh Royal SPOTY totty, managed to get a bronze in the individual show jumping. She went clear, but then we had to sit through another 6 ridersIt was probably the only time I've listened to show jumping on the radio, but it was pretty compelling - largely because the nation was just waiting to hear the clatter as one of the subsequent 6 riders hit a fence. 4 of them did! And the best thing of all - afterwards, her and the rest of the team all admitted they were just waiting for it to happen too! Good on them!
Meanwhile, at the badminton court, what sounds like a sensational match in which Gail & Nathan came back from 12-17 down in the final set against the 2nd seeded Chinese to win 21-19. In theory, the draw is now wide open, which probably means they'll crash out in the next round in true Brit style! Did i tell you that I practically KNOW them, having seen the final in Athens, and had a drink with their mates who had flown out especially for the match! Great blog by Jonathan Legard, normally the tennis correspondent, clearly thrilled to be covering something not involving rich, moaning Jocks.
My favourite moment though was the moment the first Togolese won a medal in the obvious event of Kayaking. His splendid celebration involved snapping his oar in half just after he finished - so not sure if he was able to pick up his medal or not, as he might still be stranded in the middle of the rapid. I think we can draw a veil over his having been born & bred in France!
See it here
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