I suppose Usain Bolt might be feeling some pressure, he’s only the “Fastest Man In The World.” He set a world record in the 100 yard dash in Beijing, and the world will be watching to see if he can better his own feat in South London.
Each Olympian likely feels pressure in one form or another. It’s enough to think, “I’m going against the best in the world, I’m representing my country,” but, um….how about a hemisphere?
Say hello to Julie Zetlin, who just might have the largest single bag of expectations of any Olympic athlete. Julie’s sport? Rhythmic gymnastics. I know, I know….
Rhythmic gymnastics came to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984, with an individual all-around competition. Team competition was added in 1996 in Atlanta. It should come as no great shock to readers that the champions have and do still come from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Ukraine, Bulgaria…..you get the idea. There are more 17 year-old long-haired brunettes in this competition than at your average One Direction concert.
I do not know enough yet as to why, I am still learning, but Zetlin’s position among gymnasts is unique in that she does not represent the Unities States, solely. She represents North, Central and South America. Evidently, the competition qualifiers come from areas of the globe, and we have one opening for us Westerners. So Julie Zetlin, a 22 year-old from Silver Spring Maryland, might just have supporters from Buenos Aires through Manitoba. Julie’s mother was a nationalchampion in rhythmic gymnastics in Hungary, so there is an Eastern European tie, there. Julie is fluent in Hungarian.
Individuals compete in four disciplines, ball, hoop, club and ribbon. That ribbon, by the way is 7 meters long, and must stay in “perpetual, fluid motion throughout the routine.”
The odds-on favorite to win the Individual all-around gold medal is Evgenia Kanaeva, the two-time defending champion, from Russia. Events are scored out of a possible 30 points, she is the only person in history to score a 30 in international competition.
All the Americas wish good luck to Julie.
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