OT: Who is your favorite Olympian?

Neen L.
on 7/30/12 4:45 am - Arlington, VA

A discussion at lunch made me wonder who everyone considers their favorite Olympian of all time! I loved hearing the stories and reasons from my coworkers, so who is YOUR favorite?

My Olympic hero is Greg Louganis: The man who could dive without making a splash. Arguably the greatest male diver of all time, he is most well known for his outstanding performance at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. After hitting his head off of the springboard and suffering a concussion during the preliminary rounds, he went on to win gold in both the tower and springboard diving events.

He later revealed that he was HIV positive and a gay man, and has since worked closely with the Human Rights Campaign to defend the civil liberties of the LGBT community and people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

This year, he returns to the Olympics as a mentor for the U.S. team. His physical and mental courage are unmatched in my eyes, and he is one of the athletes who truly inspires me.

So, who do you think is awesome?

Long-term post-ops with regain struggles, click here to see some steps for getting back on track (without the 5-day pouch fad or liquid diet): http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/bananafish711/blog/2013/04/05/don-t-panic--believe-and-you-will-succeed-/

Always cooking at www.neensnotes.com!

Need a pick-me-up? Read this: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/10/it-will-be-sunny-one-day.html

Marianne H.
on 7/30/12 4:49 am - Alanson, MI

Revision on 03/31/15

I have to agree with you.... I love Greg Louganis! But my all-time favorite is Lolo Jones. I hate to admit it but it is for selfish reasons.... I want to have a body like hers!

I have a picture of her in front of my treadmill. When I start to feel "tired" it motivates me to run harder and faster. Her legs are something to aspire to- so muscular!

Silly reasoning but that is the truth....

Zeigled
on 7/30/12 4:54 am - Parkton, MD

RNY on 07/20/11

Michele Phelps - Baltimore girl here.

Of the previous group....Nadia Comaneci, Dorothy Hammill, Peggy Flemming

HW 357 SW 341

Paul C.
on 7/30/12 5:29 am - Cumming, GA

RNY on 07/16/10

I would have to say that I have a number of Olympians that I would look up to and respect and they come from a time when the Olypics was truely about love of the sport. Back when professionals were not allowed to compete. Seriously sending NBA players to the olympics to have a better shot at a win, which has not always worked out, and truely shows how much sportsmanship some of these people have. If you look back at the true underdogs that continued to push through and prove they deserved to be there.

Eddie the Eagle and the Jamacian Bobsled team both from the Calgary games demonstarted what being an Olypian is really about.

Joan Benoit is a true olympian after finishing the Womans Olympic Marathon in LA just weeks after knee surgery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dFgH_vDh6E is true inspiration.

Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04

Larry Wassmann
on 7/30/12 5:37 am - Lacey, WA

RNY on 05/09/12

Zeus is my favorite. He is all powerful like me.

Visit my Blog at http://www.lwassmann.blogspot.com/

Neen L.
on 7/30/12 5:51 am - Arlington, VA

RNY on 04/28/04

Admittedly, an unlimited supply of lightning bolts would be pretty awesome.

Long-term post-ops with regain struggles, click here to see some steps for getting back on track (without the 5-day pouch fad or liquid diet): http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/bananafish711/blog/2013/04/05/don-t-panic--believe-and-you-will-succeed-/

Always cooking at www.neensnotes.com!

Need a pick-me-up? Read this: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/10/it-will-be-sunny-one-day.html

Paul C.
on 7/30/12 6:04 am - Cumming, GA

RNY on 07/16/10

Being a post-op Larry probably has an unlimited supply of thunder but dunno if he is shooting Lightning Bolts out his ass prior to the claps of thunder!

Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04

Citizen Kim
on 7/30/12 6:04 am - Castle Rock, CO

RNY on 07/27/04

Ryan Lochte and it has little to do with his swimming abilities

I, too, want Lolo's legs and so I get that ...

I'm looking forward to seeing some of the new kids on the block like Missy Franklin (from Centennial, CO) and the track and field guys and girls ... It's always fun when someone comes out of nowhere to perform well ...

For me, it was great to see some of Britain's Olympic greats at the Opening Ceremony - Dame Kelly Holmes, Steve Redgrave (5 gold medals in 5 Olympics!) Daley Thompson (Decathlete) Lord Coe etc ... For a tiny country, and with nowwhere near the money invested in athletes as other countries, we really have had *some* golden times ...

Proud Feminist, Atheist, LGBT friend, and Democratic Socialist

Whit
on 7/30/12 6:20 am

Revision on 12/10/12

I love Evelyn Stevens- Cyclist. I know she did not win she cam in 16th. But she only started riding 4 years ago. Not competing but riding which is amazing. To me that means anything is possible....