Going for 8 Tonight

What is it that keeps so many Americans glued to the TV? Well I guess the answer can vary depending on the person. But for the past 8 days, the answer has been the same for 70 million+ Americans. The Olympics have been extremely popular in the States this year. We have all been sitting in front of the TV cheering on our fellow Americans. Whether it is Phelps in the pool or Nastia in the gym, we anxiously await for the results each and every night.

The Olympics have been amazing this year! Although we still trail China in the number of gold medals that we have earned, we are still leading in the overall medal count. One of the most amazing aspects of the current medal count is that Phelps has earned (or helped earn) almost half of the gold. He is currently at 7, and he goes for #8 tonight.

Here is a quick look at the current medal count:

So tune in about 9:30 tonight and be sure that you catch this possible record breaking performance. He has broken 6 world records, raced in 16 races, he is the all-time medal leader of any Olympian, and he is the all-time gold medal leader of any Olympian. If he wins this final race tonight, he will be the all-time gold medal leader of an Olympian within a set of Olympic games. The current record is 7, which he now holds with Spitz (from the 70s). But he has a chance to even break that record tonight!

But these Olympic games are not only about Phelps (although that is what most of are focusing on the most). We cannot forget the gymnastic teams that will be going for gold in their individual events over the course of the next few days. Also, track and field opened up last night. So there will be countless other opportunities to win some of those events. Finally, volleyball will continue to play over the next few days, and we are right on track to collect some golds from those events as well.

If you have not yet gotten involved in the Beijing Olympics, then start tuning in. It has already been an exciting time, but there is still more to come.

Matt