If you could only win one (or qualifying in ONE) event at the Olympic Trials what would you chose?
Personally, I'd go for the 100free. Sheer strategy here. I'd get the 100 free individually and the 4x100 free relay as well as the medley relay.
Now, if we are talking non-relay events it'd be a toss up between the 200IM, the 50 free, and the 100 fly.
If I could WIN an Olympic medal in only one event I'd probably go first for any of the relays, but in terms of individual events ... the 200IM I guess...
Well, since this is pure fantasy (my chances of qualifying in the OTs in any event, swimming or track and field, being about the same as my being named to the Supreme Court), I might as well have a little fun:
Swimming: if I could qualify for and then win gold in an event, it would be the 100 or 200 freestyle--short enough for me not to feel I'd have to swim forever, long enough for it not to be over so quickly I couldn't savor it a little at least. (Okay, I know savoring isn't really an option when you're in a race, but a done-and-out-of-the-water event like the 50 doesn't give you a lot of time to experience yourself racing in the Olympics.)
Okay, non-swimming...but still summer Oly's: 5k run. This again--gives me time to experience being in an Olympic race, but allows for the possibility that it might be torridly hot as in Athens. (The marathon in Athens was a pretty brutal event for the women...seemed to have cooled a little for the men...hah! so unfair!) ;)
And since I'm fantasizing, why not dream BIG and fantasize winning both a swimming and a running event! ;) The imagination is a wonderful gift!
Originally posted by kaffrinn
The 400 IM. Not because that's my best event, but because that event commands ultimate respect!! I'd be the Queen of Swimming!
not that I'm even able to finish a 400 IM right now, but I totally agree, what an event! whew! I'd like to get to the point where I can just finish one without looking like a drowning victim!
I would also pick the 100 free because it is my best and favorite event.
In other sports I would pick figure skating because outside of swimming and running I am a complete klutz so I've always admired the sports that combine athleticism and grace...
I'm another for the 400 IM: it has everything. It would feel great to be a master of so many discrete skills and the master of putting them together seamlessly. Plus, as I have learned, distances seem much shorter when you swim all the strokes.
200 back for sure!!
Other sport--Tennis. Thats what I would have done if I hadn't done swimming. Its so much fun especially when you have a bad day--you can really hit the ball!!!
Originally posted by Jayhawk
I've ridden a luge. I was in Calgary the summer after the 1988 Olympics. We went to the Olympic Park, where they held the bobsled/luge, ski jump, and freestyle skiing events.
When they planned the park, they were worried about the possibility of there being a warm spell during the Games. Just in case, they built a refrigeration system into the bobsled/luge track. It turned out to be a smart move, because I believe they did have a few warm days during the competition.
Anyway, during the summer of 1988, they left the refrigeration system on on the bottom portion of the track and let tourists ride the luge (for a fee, of course). The track consisted of 14 turns from top to bottom; the tourists were allowed to ride the last 4 turns. They said that we would reach a speed of 25 miles/hour. It was a BLAST and over much too quickly. I would love to do it again!
I'm jealous! That sounds like soo much fun!
I would want to qualify in Skeleton (luging but you go head first). That always looked fun!:D
As for the winter Olympics I'd pick aerial skiing. I saw the practice facility in Salt Lake City and begged my mom to let me try (I think I was 13) and she said no way. It was off a ramp into a pool. IT was way cool. I love twisting and flipping. The luge or bobsled would be cool too.
