Jaw-dropping

[girlyswot]

A few years ago I remember watching the diving competition at, I think, the Commonwealth Games. I know nothing about diving but quite quickly became an armchair critic on the sport. But I never saw anything like this:

This boy is 13 years old. He'll be at the Olympics this year. I think there's a chance we'll be hearing God Save the Queen.

(And yes, I have finished my essay, why do you ask? *g*)

Comments

[stmargarets.livejournal.com]

Yay! You finished your paper! Aren't you glad? Now you can relax and take another buggy ride with the Amish dude. :) Have you seen Young(ish) Harrison Ford in Witness? A very good movie set in the Amish area of Pennsylvania.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the film. Harrison Ford irritates me, though others have recommended this film too. The buggy ride was one of the best things I've done in America, I think. I'll be taking all my visitors there from now on.

It's very nice to have finished the paper. Plus, it's a snow day here, so I didn't go in to the library. I'm going to write something fun, I think, while I snuggle up under a quilt on the couch. Maybe I'll start on Ken's story.

[tdu000.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on finishing the essay. The diving's impressive but "God Save the Queen" still seems like a long shot. Not that I'm any judge - my negativity is just conditioning!

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

LOL - I know, it's easier to expect the worst and avoid the inevitable disappointment.

[crumplehornedki.livejournal.com]

They just featured him on the news here a couple of days ago cause the Olympic qualifying event is on in Beijing right now. I don't know about him winning since the Chinese are in a league of their own be is is so impressive for a 13 year old (said by she who can't even dive from the 3 metre platform)

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I get scared just watching him wobble on the end of the board. Especially when he's doing the handstand one.

[megan29.livejournal.com]

The water entrances are very smooth, but are the jumps difficult enough? I know zip about the sport, but I have watched it in the Olympics, and they always have a start score (difficulty), so the best jumps don't necessarily get the highest scores. Still, the kid is impressive, and will probably become a star at the next Olympics. I wouldn't bet on him at this one, though. Too inexperienced to go against the Chinese.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Well, when you're 13 you don't always need experience - just confident naivete. I think his dives are difficult enough - he's been diving at Senior level for a while. He won the British U18 championships when he was 10. So we'll see.

[girlspell.livejournal.com]

wow...I'm so impressed. He gets out of the water each time! 13? I think the Olympic cut off birthday is 13. Not sure. Will he compete? This year its in China. China is big snob about diving. They are considered the best in the world. I've bet they scouted him out.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Yes, he's competing at the Olympic qualifying event in Beijing at the moment. Apparently they changed the rules at the World Championships to allow him to compete when he was 12 (normally the limit is 15). I think he's at that age where he's just getting better literally every time he does it, so it's hard to predict how good he'll be in the summer.