The Olympics are making me a little nervous.

[skypilot]

I haven't been following them that closely but from what I've seen of them and what I've seen on the local news the U.S. seems to be winning A LOT of gold medals. Of course, that is what the athletes are there for and the U.S. athletes are not going to perform below there abilities so as not to annoy the rest of the world but I just feel so uneasy this year watching so many U.S. athletes winning gold medals with all the animus felt towards the U.S. these days.

It's also possible that we aren't winning as many gold medals as I think since I haven't been watching regularly, so if that's the case feel free to set me straight. Otherwise, does anyone else feel just a little uneasy this year.

[private_ryan]

1. I think you're making yourself nervous

n/t

[qanda]

2. Actually, as of right now (10:44 am) China has won more gold

Than the US. Here's a table http://www.livingroom.org.au/olympics/olympic_medal_table.php

[HFishbine]

3. It's all those bronze metals

that have me worried.

[russian33]

4. US has one of the largest delegations...

..if not thee largest, so it's only natural they'd have more chances to win more medals

[ChocolateSaltyBalls]

5. China has 17 golds............

and the USA has 15.

I wonder if there is anyone in China as worried about their athlete's success as you are.

[skypilot]

6. I'm not worried about the athletes' success.

It's no secret that America is not the most favored nation these days. What was making me nervous was the thought of us cleaning up on the gold medals but as some have pointed out we are not in the lead as far as gold medals go. I'm not worried about the athletes and I don't begrudge them their success. It's the image of the entire U.S. that I am thinking about.

[private_ryan]

8. "It's the image of the entire U.S. that I am thinking about"

oh, how sweet of you. Maybe we should lose and never succeed in anything just so people aren't upset at us.

are you serious?

[skypilot]

11. Excuse me, but...

...why are you so rude? I specifically said in my post that I wouldn't expect the athletes to perform below their ability. I'm not asking anyone lose so that the world won't be mad at us. It was simply one of those apprehensions that entered my mind considering the current anti-American sentiment in the world.

Jesus, is it possible to have a discussion at DU without all this snide attitude these days?

[RivetJoint]

15. Seems to be very little

anti-American sentiment at the games. The European fans, as expected, are being having like adults and not holding our athletes responsible for the actions of our administration.

[private_ryan]

14. yeah you did

and then you said: "It's the image of the entire U.S. that I am thinking about", meaning that if we lost things would be better. The same logic would apply on the economy, science, arts, music and everything. No?

[skypilot]

18. "yeah you did"????

Yeah, I "did" what??? That's the way you chose to interpret it. You are apparently having a good time being unpleasant. Enjoy yourself.

[truthspeaker]

9. US media always reports US gold medals so you perceive we're winning a lot

There's nothing to worry about. I don't think we're winning any more this time than usual.

Populous countries rich enough to train athletes tend to do well in the Olympics.

[RivetJoint]

10. Why wouldn't they report US

Gold Medals...they're US media

[skypilot]

13. I wasn't suggesting that the US media...

...not report US medal winners. It just seemed to me that there were a lot of US medal winners but it has been pointed out to me that there are no more than usual.

[Astarho]

7. I wouldn't worry

most of the athletes seem gracious about it.

Also I saw on the local news that many of the athletes train in Flagstaff AZ at the high altitude training center. The center claims I think about 40 medals from various athletes.

[2Design]

12. I wasn't feeling nervous but I was feeling like we don't give

others a chance..we have so many more people there and in this country that it is an unfair balance.

I would like to see some of the others get some metals tooo...

Maybe we need to limit how many people can be there....

just overwhelming odds of other countries not winning when we have the largest group.....

[RivetJoint]

17. There are limits to the number of athletes and teams

from any one country in any one event.

[private_ryan]

19. I would like to see some of the others get some metals tooo

sure...as long as they win them. Don't the compete before the olympics to decide who goes there? is not based on population, is it?

[2Design]

23. I disagree with you....I think if we have 10 people and they have 1

the odds are against them winning...it is a stacked deck....

It gets to the point that there is no reason to go .......

I just think if we sent our best but limited our group to 100 instead of 400 .....majority of countries have less than 100 from their country...

[RivetJoint]

25. We ARE limited

EVERY country is limited as to the number of athletes/teams they can have in any one event. The US and China and Russia and France, etc. just enter more athletes/teams in more EVENTS.

[private_ryan]

29. why isn't China or India winning 4 times as many medals then?

let the best win. Obviusly with more people and more $$ availbale the ods are on your favor, but why let someone from Gambia or Costa Rica take Michael Phelps place?

[rooboy]

16. USA is not doing as well as expected...so don't worry about it.

geez, our piddly little country has 8 gold medals.

[RivetJoint]

20. We aren't?

How many should we have won versus how many have we won?

[rooboy]

40. I don't know how many you should have won...

but there have been a few media articles in the last few days talking about how much less intimidating the American team has become. At least one article discussed medal counts. But I can assure you that there is no feeling that the Americans are somehow creating a jealousy that the original post seemed to suggest.

[Journeyman]

21. You're worried because we've won too many medals. . .

but your not certain if we have or not. Hmmm.

Mark Twain once said: "I am an old man and have known many troubles, most of which never happened.

Lot of wisdom in that quote. Mull on that for awhile and I think you may see a reduction in your baseless fears.

[Trajan]

22. Watching the NBC coverage ....

One might get the impression these are national games, with 'foreign athletes' tossed in for color ....

I have always despised the inward, nationalistic tilt given the coverage of the US teams .... I love the US teams and the athletes, mind you, but the COVERAGE itself misrepresents the importance of the US versus NON US olympic teams ... We are always regaled with gustful acclamations of how the US athlete heroically won their bronze medal, but nary a peep is said about the 'foreigner' who won the gold and silver ....

An extension of the xenophobic worldview in the US, and perhaps a part of the cause of it as well ...

[private_ryan]

24. if you watched it in Russia or China you'd see the opposite

the athletes are representing our country, that's why. In Russia is the Russians vs The World. It's normal, just like someoen roots for the Yankees and someone else for the Mets.

[RivetJoint]

26. Exactly, like the 1984 Winter Olympics

which I watched in England. The BBC was a 24-hour "Torville and Dean" marathon! I had NO idea other countries were even IN the Olympics. "Now, let's switch from live coverage of the downhill skiing to interview Jane Torville's best friend's little sister's dog-groomer!"

[ChocolateSaltyBalls]

27. I agree, and wish that the coverage would............

include matches that don't always feature an American team.

I don't really care about the Summer Olympics all that much, except for basketball and soccer; today there are about 4 or 5 basketball games being played but the only one being televised is the one with the American women.

It's almost as if, if an American team isn't involved then it isn't really happening.

I am also a little amazed at how watered down the events have become; beach volleyball and softball have never really seemed like Olympic sports to me.......what's next, the 8, 12, and 16oz. milk chug?

[RivetJoint]

28. Some have already tried to get ballroom dancing

included as an olympic sport.

Beach volleyball is a GREAT sport, BTW.

[ChocolateSaltyBalls]

31. I can't argue that volleyball isn't great............

I enjoy playing it as much as anyone else, but I don't see it as an Olympic sport.

It just seems like the games are getting more and more watered down.

[RivetJoint]

32. Ok!

I see your point!

[theboss]

30. You are looking for things to get upset about

I may or may not be nervous about the world's perceived feelings about gold medals we may or may not be winning in a games people may or may not be watching.

Your own life must be going exceedingly well if this is something to get upset about.

[skypilot]

33. I'm not upset.

I said I'm "a little nervous". Let's try to concentrate on the word "little". It's not some all encompassing fear or something. It was just a nagging little apprehension that occured to me when it APPEARED that the US was cleaning up all the gold medals, which it has been pointed out to me they are NOT.

[Gin]

34. the olympics have been a good diversion from the craziness of the

scumbag not-so swift boat creeps...the athletes have been exciting to watch and good sports....I am not worried for their safety.

[truthspeaker]

35. Total medal count

More readable version here: http://www.nbcolympics.com/medals/index.html


Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
China  (CHN) 17 11 11 39
United States  (USA) 15 11 10 36
Japan  (JPN) 11 4 2 17
Australia  (AUS) 8 5 8 21
Italy  (ITA) 5 6 3 14
France  (FRA) 5 3 5 13
Ukraine  (UKR) 5 1 1 7
Russia  (RUS) 4 9 11 24
Germany  (GER) 4 4 7 15
South Korea  (KOR) 3 9 3 15
Turkey  (TUR) 3 0 1 4
Netherlands  (NED) 2 5 5 12
Hungary  (HUN) 2 3 1 6
Slovakia  (SVK) 2 2 1 5
Romania  (ROM) 2 0 2 4
Greece  (GRE) 2 0 1 3
Poland  (POL) 1 2 1 4
Belarus  (BLR) 1 1 3 5
Georgia  (GEO) 1 1 0 2
South Africa  (RSA) 1 1 0 2
Bulgaria  (BUL) 1 0 2 3
Thailand  (THA) 1 0 2 3
Switzerland  (SUI) 1 0 1 2
United Arab Emirates  (UAE) 1 0 0 1
Great Britain  (GBR) 0 4 4 8
Austria  (AUT) 0 3 0 3
Cuba  (CUB) 0 2 5 7
North Korea  (PRK) 0 2 1 3
Spain  (ESP) 0 2 0 2
Czech Republic  (CZE) 0 1 2 3
Zimbabwe  (ZIM) 0 1 1 2
India  (IND) 0 1 0 1
Indonesia  (INA) 0 1 0 1
Kazakhstan  (KAZ) 0 1 0 1
Portugal  (POR) 0 1 0 1
Serbia and Montenegro  (SCG) 0 1 0 1
Azerbaijan  (AZE) 0 0 2 2
Belgium  (BEL) 0 0 2 2
Brazil  (BRA) 0 0 2 2
Denmark  (DEN) 0 0 2 2
Argentina  (ARG) 0 0 1 1
Canada  (CAN) 0 0 1 1
Chinese Taipei  (TPE) 0 0 1 1
Colombia  (COL) 0 0 1 1
Croatia  (CRO) 0 0 1 1
Estonia  (EST) 0 0 1 1
Israel  (ISR) 0 0 1 1
Mongolia  (MGL) 0 0 1 1
Slovenia  (SLO) 0 0 1 1
Trinidad and Tobago  (TRI) 0 0 1 1

[skypilot]

36. Thank you, Truthspeaker

[RivetJoint]

37. Canada has only ONE Bronze??

What the hell? Something is wrong there; their better sports must still be yet to come.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[jus_the_facts]

39. A LOT of atheletes from other countries come HERE to train....

......they move here to get a *free* education and get to train with some of the best in their chosen field....then they go back and play for their own countries...just like the guy last night who would have won the gold in swimming after *our guy* had been accused of cheating and stripped of his gold medal....he didn't get upset that he didn't win...he was upset because he felt the American had been cheated out of his gold medal...they both had been competing against one another since they were little kids...right here in the USo'A.