Watch Every Sport, Paris Olympics Edition!

This is a challenge that some friends of mine do every Olympics. This is the first time I have access to watch, so I'm actually attempting it. For each sport, I'm going to do a short write-up. Please feel free to play along. I do NOT anticipating getting to them all, but we'll see!

[] Archery
[] Artistic Gymnastics
[] Artistic Swimming
[] Athletics
[] Badminton
[] Basketball
[] Basketball 3X3
[] Beach Volleyball
[] Boxing
[] Breaking
[] Canoe/Kayak Slalom
[] Canoe/Kayak Sprint
[] Cycling BMX Freestyle
[] Cycling BMX Racing
[] Cycling Mountain Bike
[] Cycling Road
[] Cycling Track
[] Diving
[] Equestrian
[] Fencing
[] Football
[] Golf
[]
[] Hockey
[] Judo
[] Marathon Swimming
[] Modern Pentathlon
[] Rhythmic Gymnastic
[] Rowing
[] Rugby Sevens
[] Sailing
[] Shooting
[] Skateboarding
[] Sport Climbing
[] Surfing
[] Swimming
[] Table Tennis
[] Taekwondo
[] Tennis
[] Trampoline
[] Triathlon
[] Volleyball
[] Water Polo
[] Weightlifting
[] Wrestling

Basketball

Have I watched it before? Yes!

What match/stage? USA men vs Serbia

Overall Impression?
Basketball is basketball, which means it can be fun to watch but it's not my favorite sport. It is fun seeing this team of superstars, like LeBron and Steph Curry playing together. Also, Spike Lee is there!



Sports remaining: Archery, Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3X3, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Slalom, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Seen so far:

[] Archery
[] Artistic Gymnastics
[] Artistic Swimming
[] Athletics
[x] Badminton
[x] Basketball
[] Basketball 3X3
[x] Beach Volleyball
[] Boxing
[] Breaking
[] Canoe/Kayak Slalom
[] Canoe/Kayak Sprint
[] Cycling BMX Freestyle
[] Cycling BMX Racing
[x] Cycling Mountain Bike
[] Cycling Road
[] Cycling Track
[] Diving
[] Equestrian
[x] Fencing
[] Football
[] Golf
[x] Hockey
[] Judo
[] Marathon Swimming
[] Modern Pentathlon
[] Rhythmic Gymnastic
[] Rowing
[] Rugby Sevens
[] Sailing
[] Shooting
[x] Skateboarding
[] Sport Climbing
[x] Surfing
[] Swimming
[] Table Tennis
[] Taekwondo
[] Tennis
[] Trampoline
[] Triathlon
[x] Volleyball
[] Water Polo
[] Weightlifting
[] Wrestling

__________________
Letterboxd
Entertainment log

Beach Volleyball

Have I watched it before? Yes!

What match/stage? USA men vs Cuba

Overall Impression?
I absolutely love volleyball, and have fond memories of playing beach volleyball on the courts near the Lincoln Memorial. This is a fast-paced game, a really fun mix of strategy and power. This year's competition is naturally dinged by the involvement of a child rapist (don't worry, he was jailed one month for every year his victim was alive . . . which is to say he served 12 months!). I might watch more of the men's series if the Dutch are knocked out but otherwise, no thanks! I'm hoping to check out a few of the women's matches. Gabrielle Reece was an absolute idol of mine as a kid.



Sports remaining: Archery, Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3X3, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Slalom, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Archery

Have I watched it before? Yes!

What match/stage? Women's Final China vs Korea

Overall Impression?
Archery really does know how to bring the drama, with things like getting down to a final round and someone needs to shoot a bullseye to keep their team in it. And then, late stae, the judges are busting out magnifying glasses to see whose shot was closer to the bullseye. I also really enjoyed hearing from the commentators about how popular archery is in Korea, which reminded me of how one of the characters in The Host was a professional archer. Anyway, this was a lot of fun to watch!



Sports remaining: Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3X3, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Slalom, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Canoe/Kayak Slalom

Have I watched it before? Don't think so!

What match/stage? Women's Final

Overall Impression?
This sport looks absolutely exhausting! I mean, I'm not sure there's an Olympic sport that isn't exhausting, but anyone who has paddled a boat or been swimming where there is a current knows the absolute draining physical feeling of going against the current, and in this sport they have to go against the current for some of the gates. (You go through the green gates going downstream, but must go through the red gates going upstream). I appreciated that the commentators explained the rules. The only thing I didn't like was how big the penalty was if you missed a gate. Maybe I wouldn't feel this way if I watched the sport more, but if you miss a gate they add 50 seconds to your time, which is basically like doubling your time for most of the people.



Sports remaining: Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3X3, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Equestrian

Have I watched it before? Yes, but very minimally

What match/stage? Not sure!

Overall Impression?
I have really mixed feelings about sports that use animals. My main feeling is always overwhelming concern that they will get hurt. On the other hand, horses are total people pleasers, and you could tell how pleased a few of the horses were as they worked through the course. You can tell how much time and training has gone into these course runs, but with the horses involved I couldn't really relax and enjoy it.



Sports remaining: Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3X3, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

So far:

[] Archery
[] Artistic Gymnastics
[] Artistic Swimming
[] Athletics
[] Badminton
[] Basketball
[] Basketball 3X3
[] Beach Volleyball
[] Boxing
[] Breaking
[] Canoe/Kayak Slalom
[] Canoe/Kayak Sprint
[] Cycling BMX Freestyle
[] Cycling BMX Racing
[] Cycling Mountain Bike
[] Cycling Road
[] Cycling Track
[] Diving
[] Equestrian
[] Fencing
[] Football
[] Golf
[] Hockey
[] Judo
[] Marathon Swimming
[] Modern Pentathlon
[] Rhythmic Gymnastic
[] Rowing
[] Rugby Sevens
[] Sailing
[] Shooting
[] Skateboarding
[] Sport Climbing
[] Surfing
[] Swimming
[] Table Tennis
[] Taekwondo
[] Tennis
[] Trampoline
[] Triathlon
[] Volleyball
[] Water Polo
[] Weightlifting
[] Wrestling

What's been your favorite?

Fencing

Have I watched it before? Yes, but very minimally

What match/stage? Men's Final France vs. Japan

Overall Impression?
I enjoyed this, if only because the look of it is very striking and sort of weirdly futuristic? I did not like that the hits themselves were something I didn't have an easy time seeing. A light goes on to indicate a hit, but I had a hard time following the action. Again, I appreciated the commentators giving me enough information to follow the action and understand the basics of the rules. I thought it was funny that they both got a yellow card for basically not trying hard enough, LOL. I'm sure someone can tell me why they have these weird metal wire tethers, but I kind of prefer to leave it a mystery!





Sports remaining: Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3X3, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Rugby Sevens

Have I watched it before? Nope!

What match/stage? Quarterfinals, USA women vs Brazil(?)

Overall Impression?
This was fabulous. Lots of action, very easy to grasp the general sense of the rules if not all the little details. The two 7-minute halves are just the right amount of time. The players are incredibly athletic and fun to watch. The footwork, the passing, the strength as they plow through the defenders . . . just all really fun.





Sports remaining: Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3X3, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Basketball. That's my sport so enjoying watching it, womens started today so will start watching that. I remember at one Olympics the womens French team were excellent so will be interesting to see what they are like this time around.

Although the BBC don't seem to show full games, was watching the French vs Brazil game and they cut to another sport with about 1 minute to go! missed it because it wasn't on anywhere else... sigh.

Skateboarding was fun too, watched the women and mens street finals.

I caught a little bit of the Serbia vs USA men's game, and the second half of the USA vs Japan game. I enjoyed both, even though basketball isn't my absolute favorite sport. Naturally it'll get more interesting/intense as it gets to the finals.

I've yet to watch any of the skateboarding!

I like watching Fencing. It's a beautiful sport. I have enjoyed it for years.

There is even a Finnish/Estonian film that is about teaching children fencing. Well, there is more to the story of course.

Basketball 3X3

Have I watched it before? Nope!

What match/stage? Germany vs USA

Overall Impression?
So it's like pick-up/half-court basketball . . . which is fine, but not the most thrilling thing. I didn't mind watching it, but it didn't really draw me in.



Sports remaining: Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Boxing

Have I watched it before? Yes.

What match/stage? Women's, Columbia vs India

Overall Impression?
I don't really like fighting sports and especially boxing because I have complicated feelings related to my grandfather being a boxer and some of the health complications he had from that. I appreciated the athleticism of the women boxing and what looked like good sportsmanship.



Sports remaining: Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Volleyball

Have I watched it before? Oh, yes!

What match/stage? Women's, USA vs China

Overall Impression?
Yeah, this is just one of my favorite sports, and both teams played an absolutely fantastic game with some excellent rallies. I was not familiar with Haleigh Washington, but her serving was phenomenal.



Sports remaining: Artistic Gymnastics, Artistic Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Breaking, Canoe/Kayak Sprint, Cycling BMX Freestyle, Cycling BMX Racing, Cycling Mountain Bike, Cycling Road, Cycling Track, Diving, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Trampoline, Triathlon, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

[X] Archery
[] Artistic Gymnastics
[] Artistic Swimming
[] Athletics
[] Badminton
[X] Basketball
[] Basketball 3X3
[X] Beach Volleyball
[X] Boxing
[] Breaking
[X] Canoe/Kayak Slalom
[] Canoe/Kayak Sprint
[X] Cycling BMX Freestyle
[] Cycling BMX Racing
[] Cycling Mountain Bike
[X] Cycling Road
[] Cycling Track
[X] Diving
[X] Equestrian
[] Fencing
[X] Football
[] Golf
[X] Hockey
[] Judo
[] Marathon Swimming
[] Modern Pentathlon
[] Rhythmic Gymnastic
[X] Rowing
[X] Rugby Sevens
[] Sailing
[] Shooting
[] Skateboarding
[] Sport Climbing
[] Surfing
[X] Swimming
[] Table Tennis
[] Taekwondo
[] Tennis
[] Trampoline
[] Triathlon
[] Volleyball
[] Water Polo
[] Weightlifting
[] Wrestling

Australia still up there on the medal tally! One gold in the kayak slalom, on in the bike road race, 4 from the swimming pool. 3rd on the medal tally, below Japan and China.

__________________

I've enjoyed the swimming most so far, obviously - that gets covered a lot over here for good reason, and there's nothing more tense than watching the last stages of a race, when the person you're cheering for is tiring and competitors are catching up. Lord knows I've had a few disappointments when my guy or girl has been overtaken and misses out on a gold, or medal. The rugby sevens have also been a lot of fun - I've never really watched that before in my life, but these games have introduced me to it. Australia had a heartbreaking loss to Canada in the semi-finals of the women's comp yesterday.

I forgot to check Football - our women's team are called the Matildas, and they came back from being 5-2 down the other night to win 5-6, a rather strange abundance of goals in that game. Kayaking and equestrian are sports we do well in - and I find watching them nerve-wrecking because one touched or fallen obstacle can mean it's all over.

Yes, swimming is such an easy sport to enjoy. It's fast, but not too fast. The way they show the time splits at each turn on the wall adds lots of suspense. It's not ever something I watch when it's not the Olympics, but I think it's super fun.

I also love that Michael Phelps is hanging around, looking like he's in a very relaxed, possibly ready to start a cult, phase of life.