Two blogs from Greg M from Beijing

[edew]

Here are two blogs that Greg Massialas sent me from Beijing:

Beijing Olympics
Wed, Aug. 6

The past couple of days have gone quite smoothly. Gerek is staying at the Village. Martino (Martino Minuto is Gerek’s training partner) and I are staying at Beijing Normal University (BNU). BNU is the US Olympic Committee’s high performance center, and they have everything set up beautifully.

BNU has a brand new sports complex, and we are the first group to use it. Each USA sport is set up there, and fencing has 8 fencing strips to use. The strips are brand new and all the equipment is in top shape. We also have the US armourer in case anything breaks down.

We get to use the same 50 meter pool that the USA swim / water polo teams use. We get to use it 1 hour each day, but Gerek, Martino, and I are in this great pool all by ourselves (it beats swimming at the Y back in SF and going around the slow swimmers).

The food at BNU is excellent. It’s a full time western restaurant with great cuisine and served by very helpful staff brought in from the USA. They serve all 3 meals plus snacks all day long. The food at BNU is better than at the village and most of the USA fencers come over to at here (including Gerek). Since we have training over here, it works out that the fencers come over and spend most of the day over at BNU (they have a nice computer set up, video games set up (the wii rock band has been very popular).

Martino and Gerek worked out very well yesterday. We are getting ready to go over right now. Today we will swim to stretch out after our fencing workout and get a massage at the center. Then we will be free for the rest of the day.

Yesterday I went to the Athletes Village after our swim workout and walked around with Gerek (my credential allows me into the Village but not into their dining hall, so I stay at BNU). It is the best Village that I have seen. The rooms are nice and the grounds are nicely designed. There is a nice bus that goes back and forth between the Village and BNU for the US Teams using the Olympic lane on the roads, so there is no traffic.

We are now going to workout., so I will be in touch.

Cheers,

Greg

*************************

Beijing Olympics
Fri, Aug. 8, (9am)

Things are getting ready for the Opening Ceremonies this evening on 8/8/08 at 8pm 8 minutes and 8 seconds. Both Gerek and I will be marching in the Opening Ceremonies in the US Team, so keep out for us. From everything that we hear, it should be a great Opening Ceremonies. The past two days have been hot and smoggy, but at night, the Opening Ceremonies should look very nice on TV.

The Men’s Foil Olympic DR bracket is up. Gerek (ranked #9 on Olympic DE table) fences the Egyptian, Nagati in his first bout (in top 32), if he wins he probably fences Zhu, China (in top 16), and if he wins he probably fences Cassara, Italy, (remember when he came to the club in June), the new #1 seed, for the top 4 (if Gerek gets that far he is in the semis).

Now we are getting ready to go workout, so we can get back to the Village in preparation for Opening Ceremonies. All is good and the air of excitement is building up. Don’t forget that some athletes compete on Aug. 9 in their opportunity of a lifetime.

Time to get going, stay tuned………..


Thurs, Aug. 7

On Thurs we started with a press conference at the media center which is close to the fencing venue, so we walked over there to take a look at the venue. We could not get into the competition section of the Fencing Venue, but from the looks of things from the practice side, it is a beautiful and first rate complex. China has done a fantastic job of building first rate facilities, and as we drive around the different buildings are not only great facilities, but they are also beautiful structures. On the Thurs Sports section of USA Today there is a very article on Beca Ward, one of the USA favorites in Woman’s Saber. Here is the internet link to the article, but the actual hard copy of the newspaper is much better. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olymp...-fencing_N.htm

After the press conference we came back to BNU, had some lunch, and then off to training. At the same time that we were working out the USA Men’s Basketball “dream team” was working out. Gerek and I both got to see whole men’s team doing it’s thing (Kobe, Lebron, and all the guys). I also had a nice talk with Coach K (head coach of Duke University, and the dream team) and we took a photo together. It was another solid workout with Gerek and Martino. Since we know who Gerek’s match ups are, we are able to target things a little better. At the end of the workout, we had a nice interview with NBC. Then, we got a nice massage (at the same USOC complex), got changed and ready for the Gala Opening of the Olympian Reunion Center at the Prince Jun Palace in Beijing.

The Olympion Reunion Center is open to all Olympians and their guests during the Olympic Games. The facilities are usually in very nice locations, but this one is over the top. The Prince Jun Palace is beautiful compound (as Chinese royalty needed to live). It is a large compound of buildings with many Chinese designed royal buildings, ponds, fountains, etc.

At the Opening Event, I had a nice chat with Prince Albert of Monaco (an Olympic fencer from 1984), and reminded him that we have not had any International Foil events in Monaco in a very long time. It was a great event with great company, excellent food and wines. Because it was a very big event and we were outdoors, it was quite hot and humid. Still it was a great evening.

[catwood1]

Thanks Eric, thats an awesome post!

My jealousy of those guys cannot be captured in text...

[edew]

Don't thank me. Greg's the writer. I'm just the messenger. (Don't shoot, nor praise, the messenger.)

[catwood1]

Well, in that case, thank you for delivering such information.

[mdstasinos]

Dito!!! It's great to get the information.
MD Stasinos

[notalent]

Originally Posted by edew

I'm just the messenger. (Don't shoot, the messenger.)

The first thing they taught us to say in Messenger school

Followed by "I had a flat"

[Soberin]

Gotta wonder what the selection criteria was in '84 for Prince Al to make the fencing team of his own royal Principality.

[KD5MDK]

Well, I don't know about back then, but now at least you have to do decently well in the FIE competitions to qualify, and since he's in the Euro zone it wouldn't be a walkover.

[edew]

Prior to 2000, any country that wished to field competitors to the fencing events may do so. The selection criteria then was dependent solely on the country's NGB.

[Soberin]

Originally Posted by edew

Prior to 2000, any country that wished to field competitors to the fencing events may do so. The selection criteria then was dependent solely on the country's NGB.

Guess who was president of the Monaco Fencing Federation at the time?

[peet]

Apparently Princess Anne also competed in the olympics, in equestrian events, and is now on the IOC in some capacity.

[edew]

Originally Posted by Soberin

Guess who was president of the Monaco Fencing Federation at the time?

Hitler?

[OROD]

Originally Posted by Soberin

Guess who was president of the Monaco Fencing Federation at the time?

Rene Roch?

[EDIT: Oh... sorry, I see Eric already guessed the same thing.]

[piste off]

If you can, please ask Greg to get Prince Albert to devulge who let him out of the can.

R-

[bunbury]

Originally Posted by piste off

If you can, please ask Greg to get Prince Albert to devulge who let him out of the can.

R-

Someone locked him in the toilet?

[edew]

Beijing Olympic Notes
Aug. 9, 2008 (4pm)

What a great start to the first day of fencing in Beijing. All 3 American Woman’s Saber fencers are in the semi-finals. Now, it’s up to the evening, and what medals the USA will get (it’s 3 Americans and 1 Russian). It works out that the first USA medals that will be won in Beijing will be in Woman’s Saber (USA is guaranteed of at least 2 medals and could sweep). The USOC personnel will come by tonight to watch our ladies compete.

The morning started a little shaky for our defending Olympic medalists, Sada and Mariel. They both had to come back in a couple of very close bouts, and then in the round of 8, they were in the flow. Becca, our young phenom, had a good start, but in the round of 8 she got a little tight and almost blew a 14-12 lead against a Tunisian girl who was hot this day. Fortunately, she gathered her composure and scored on a solid attack to win 15-14.

At one point in the quarterfinals, all three American girls had scored 14 touches and were looking for the final touch. Mariel pulled it out first, then Sada got her win, and finally, Beca closed the deal 15-14 (phew, that one was close).

I was talking to a British reporter with the BBC who had never seen fencing, and was so excited about it. He said that he will return for the finals because this was the most exciting thing he had seen in a long time.

We will see, the semi final match ups are first, Sada vs. the Russian, then the two club mates Becca and Mariel. Then there is the Bronze match, and then the gold. Wish us luck.

Cheers,

Greg



6pm – Aug. 9

There is a very quiet mood in their preparations in the warm up area. The 3 Americans and 1 Russian warm up on different sides of one warm up room for the evening session, as we wait to see who will get the medals this evening. Everyone is quiet and cordial in both camps (USA, Russia). It is almost too quiet as the fencers and coaches try to keep an eye only on their own fencers (from time to time their eyes scan across the room to the other side). In about an hour there will be an intense level of energy flowing from all these fencers, right now, it’s like everyone is charging their mental resources. Right now, the fencers take lessons, warm up with their partners and there is a quiet air of congeniality. Wait and see…..



11:59pm Aug.9

The Greatest day in the history of US Fencing – Gold, Silver, Bronze. Considering the fact that today no other USA Olympic athletes won medals in Beijing, it was quite a start to the games.

This was an amazing evening. For good luck I had brought the same USA flag from 4 years ago when the USA won it’s first gold in Athens. I will bring it for the Men’s Foil. We taped it up (with band aids from one of the mom’s) on the handrail for an extra push of moral support.

Sada started the night with a great bout against the Russian fencer. I was in the middle of the Woman’s Saber families (Ward, Jacobsen, Zagunis), and we made sure to make a tremendous amount of noise. My goal was to make as much noise with my voice, arms, and feet.

Next, the two Oregon Fencing Alliance fencers fought hard for it, but today it was Mareil’s day. She had great changes of footwork, kept the pressure on her opponents, and used her defense from this pressure, or finished with solid attacks, for the win.

In the Bronze match (only 20 mins. to rest and clear her mind) Becca was distracted from her previous defeat to her teammate and she was down 5-1 or so. Then, she put on the afterburners and kept the Russian on her heals, controlling the distance, so that the Russian did not have the time to use her strong attacks. Once Beca clicked in, it was another story. Still, she had to overcome being down at the end, and she finally took control of the distance and won the bronze 15-14.

Now, it was center court time between the two Grand Dames of USA Woman’s Saber fencing, and our returning Olympic medalists, Sada, and Mariel. Both ladies are very focused, but today was Mariel’s day. She was fencing better than anyone else and she deserved this hard fought gold medal. Mariel took early control, and fought hard to keep Sada from being able to gather any momentum. We are all very proud of this amazing evening, and the effort that these fine ladies showcased to the world.

We were all ecstatic, and the gold medal was quiet for us as there are 2 USA fencers on the strip. It is almost surreal, and so different than 4 years ago in Athens when Mariel fenced for the Gold, and we jumped the fence to go and throw her up in the air.

Knowing all the coaches, and families of our Women’s Saber fencers, it is also hard for all of them. All 3 ladies had a realistic chance at the gold medal, and when two American fencers compete, they have to stay quiet. This is very tough on all of them, and every once in a while someone a gets a small squeak, they quickly bite their tongues. This is really really tough on the families and coaches, yet they are all very gracious individuals. They sometimes go to the side, the tears come and quickly go, but everyone was so proud of every one of our fencers. Everyone hugs everyone, they are sensitive to the situations, they fight back the tears when they are together, and the USA could not be more proud of a great group of families. It has been a long road for all the families, coaches, and fencers, spending time, money, blood, sweat and tears. What a night!!!

At the awards ceremonies it is amazing to have all three flags from the USA raised high and hear the sweet sound of the USA National anthem on the Olympic fencing stage.

As the USA sweep was going on, NBC cameras were flying around. Former President Bush came down at the awards ceremonies, and the FIE top personnel were all amazed by the USA showing.

After the awards all the coaches, and families were in the back waiting for the athletes to do the quick interviews, drug testing and get ready to go over to the Intercontinental Hotel for a celebration. There will be another celebration on Sunday with the whole US Team at the USA House, but tonight we had to get together for this amazing night.

Olympic Champion – Mareil Zagunis
Olympic Silver medal – Sada Jacobsen
Olympic Bronze medal – Becca Ward

As the USOC motto for the Beijing Games goes “ amazing awaits…………..”

Cheers,

Greg

[ysbadadden]

Can we move this to the Olympics section? I almost missed it! This is terrific reporting!

[edew]

I posted this identical second blog in the blogging thread in the Olympics sub forum.

[Lemonaide]

Great Blog, no we won't shoot you -you're just the piano player...

Nice notes and the description was so..... plush!!! I almost gained weight reading the blog. I just came in from a run, and it was good to read all about it. I saw Erin Smart is sharpening up she's 32? Let's see what she can do, hoping for more from her. I saw Italy won back some gold, it really looks like a great show from China.
{I wish we had a little dragon smiles thingy to send along with this]