Day 4- Ukraine gets Kohei'd. Oh- and something about Serena Williams!

I can't speak for Amy, but I know I feel pretty drained today- physically and emotionally. As I said last post, we've been doing A LOT of walking and have had some pretty late nights followed by semi-early mornings. This has lead to both of us periodically griping about our legs being sore (yes, they're sore!) and even nodding off at times during morning events. Can't complain, though, as I'm still loving every minute of being here and know that I am unbelievably lucky to be able to experience the Olympics in person.


We got a slightly later start this morning- and by slightly I mean that instead of being up at 6, I was up at 7. Our original plan was to set out for Wimbledon around 9, but Amy ran into a few issues with the debit card each of us purchased in the states to use over here. Once we got it sorted out, we set out for Wimbledon around 10-10:30. Wimbledon is way the hell out there- so we got to see some tube stops we haven't yet seen. 

Notting Hill Station.

Oops. How'd that get in there? 


We got off at Southfields and set out for Wimbledon. Southfields, I am told, is the closest Underground stop to Wimbledon, but I'm not sure if I actually believe that. We walked about twenty minutes through a neighborhood to get there. I think we've been spoiled by North Greenwich Arena since the tube has a stop that spits you out practically at the arena's doorstep. Given how much we've been moving around, twenty minute walks anywhere now set off simultaneous griping from both of us. 


That sounds worse than it really is. When I say griping, it typically goes like this. 


*Amy and Gina walk*
Amy: "My hip flexors hurt."


*... 5 minutes later*
Gina: "My calves are sore."


*... 5 minutes later*
Both: "We're here!"


This was the conversation last night at Horse Guard's Parade, except there was some trashing of Paul Walker's movies/acting ability after we arrived and were out of earshot from him. What? I never said he was talented. I'm just a sucker for really bad teenage movies. 


Anyways, Wimbledon- or at least Court 1 of Wimbledon- is gorgeous. The whole area is huge and green and just overall really- English.

 Walking into Wimbledon. 

The board. I didn't realize Wimbledon was so HUGE.


Amy and I set out on a mission to find the Wimbledon pin and unfortunately came up short (my pin obsession is getting out of control, but more about that later). Once we realized that we weren't going to find the pin, we headed to our seats to watch the match already in progress. I forgot their names, but a guy from Belgium was playing a guy from Argentina. As I said before, we've been periodically nodding off during daytime events. I don't know if its because of a lack of sleep or if I'm just not as adjusted to the time change as I thought I was, but the fact that I don't understand tennis made it easier for me to drift in and out of sleep during the match. Once we got a break in the action, Amy and I set out for coffee and returned just in time for the next match. 

Oh. I forgot to mention that the following match included SERENA WILLIAMS. Awesome. 

Amy and I stuck around for about thirty minutes, but left early to head back to North Greenwich Arena and try to get tickets for the Men's Team Final. 


By some miracle of the gymnastics Gods, we got in (and I got another pin- see? I told you- out of control). Our seats were as far back as they go, but it was more important to us to be there and support the boys than to sit close. We missed the first rotation, but heard from Team USA alternate Chris Brooks (why yes, I did just name drop for no reason!) afterwards that it went well minus Sam Mikulak putting his hands down on a triple twist. 


The meet was shaky for Team USA, and honestly was a pretty disappointing performance. How do you go from first in qualifying to FIFTH? This is what kills me about our men's team. We have SO MUCH talent and so much fight, yet when it comes to competing on the international stage, we just don't measure up. Its sad, really. I love our men's team- it sucks to see them falter. 

Orozco on rings.

Pretty sure that's Sam Mikulak on vault. 


Side note: I think Sam is absolutely adorable. That is all. 

Danell on parallel bars. 


After a TERRIBLE qualifying session, we all pretty much rode China off and figured Japan and the United States would go 1-2 in some way, shape or form. Well, tonight, while we ignored China, they stuck every landing, caught every bar, held every element and pretty much did everything damn near perfect. As we got closer to the end of the meet, we saw China's lead in first grow and the United States' hope for a medal dwindle. We were surpassed for most of the meet by China and Japan. Great Britain and Ukraine even got in on the action, too! I wondered aloud during the meet when the hell the Ukranian men got so good at gymnastics. 


Speaking of the British men, they busted their asses and made sure the home crowd got their money's worth. The support in that arena for Team GB was fantastic. It was hard to concentrate on the US men when Team GB was on the floor because the crowd ROARED with every move their men made. Team GB hit the crap out of floor on the last rotation while Japan muscled through pommels. The final score looked like this:

When that screen came up and put Great Britain in silver medal position (and knocked Japan out of the medals in 4th), the arena went NUTS. It was so loud- the Brits in attendance were beaming with pride for their team, as they should have been. It was a pretty exciting moment- everybody was on their feet, waving Union Jacks and just screaming with joy. Amy and I couldn't help but smile. 


But then Kohei Uchimura (the gymnast in the above picture eerily staring up at the scoreboard) had to go ruin it all. 

There was a lengthy delay as the judges huddled around a computer screen on the floor and watched the part of the routine in question over and over. Ultimately, the inquiry was accepted and Kohei was credited for his dismount- which ended up bumping Japan to 2nd, knocking Great Britain down to 3rd and knocking Ukraine out of the medals completely. The arena filled with boos as the judges proceeded to leave. Japan celebrated while Ukraine stood around looking like we did after the USA qualification session yesterday (hint: stunned). What was hilarious was that once the boos subsided, the announcer immediately proceeded by saying, "Let's show some appreciation for our judges?"


BOOOOOO!!!!!


So I got to see my first medal ceremony today, and even though it wasn't my team, it was really special to see.

After the meet, we headed back to Oxford Street to see if we could find a Travelex. We returned to the hostel about 9:30- an early night we REALLY needed- and now I'm blogging and letting y'all know what we did today. I cannot believe that I have attended both the Men's Qualifications and now the Men's Team Finals. This is the stuff I am GLUED to the TV for every four years. To be able to say I was THERE when everyone is watching it on TV is surreal. Blessed is an understatement.  


Tomorrow will start with an early trip back to North Greenwich to try and buy tickets for the Women's Team Final. Here's the kicker about that: tickets are currently available online, and Amy and I are ready and willing to buy them. But we can't. Because we're not British. Really? We see on BBC News EVERY night different pieces about the empty seats in arenas. It kills me that if LOCOG doesn't realize how difficult they made it to get said tickets. They need to make tickets more accessible- to EVERYONE- and then maybe the empty seat problem will be solved. Just sayin'. 


And with that, I will bring this entry to a close. I'll post some pics of my new pins tomorrow, but like I said, its getting out of hand. I think the collection is up around 20 now. 


Anyways, you know the drill. Leave me comments either here or on FB. I miss y'all, and I will see you tomorrow- hopefully with picture from the Women's Team Final! GO GO USA!!!!