The first few days of the London Olympics have kept viewers on their toes—if they can figure out how to watch them.
NBC, seeking to maximize profits by showing events during the profitable evening hours, has elected to bypass live broadcast in order to show highlights for the first time in the evening, creating hours-long delays. Viewers can still watch all of the action live online or through an IPad app, but many have still voiced their displeasure.
Still, through all the backlash, the 2012 Olympics has set record viewing ratings in the US.
Here’s a recap of the first week’s main events:
Swimming
Michael Phelps showed the importance of a full four years of training for the Olympics. After taking two years off following his domination of the ’08 Beijing games (during which this infamous photo surfaced), Phelps was convinced by his trainers to compete one last time. His late start, coupled with his mentality that any medals won in these games would be “gravy” to what he had already accomplished, created a rude awakening for Phelps about how much the competition has caught up.
In his first event, the 400-meter IM, Phelps finished fourth, while fellow American Ryan Lochte took the gold. Phelps has finished fourth, second twice and has won gold (in the 800M relay) in his first four events. Phelps’ downfall, in addition to the parity of competitors in swimming this year, should only make us realize the sheer greatness that was his performance in Beijing. He is the most decorated Olympian of all time, and should be considered the greatest.
Missy Franklin, a 17-year-old who is still on her high school swim team, has won two gold medals and one bronze. She has a chance to tie the women’s American record of six medals in a single Olympic games — before her senior year of high school.
Gymnastics
Men’s and women’s gymnastics have reached seemingly opposite results in London. The U.S. men’s team, favored to win gold, greatly disappointed by finishing fifth, while the women’s team surpassed expectations, blowing away the competition and winning their first team gold medal since 1996, and only their second of all time. Team USA won by more than five points, the second-largest differential ever.
On another note, individually, Jordyn Wieber, the favorite for gold, failed to even qualify for the individual championships. She followed the heartbreak strongly though, performing well to help her team win the very next day.
In the medal count, the United States trails China in both the overall and the gold. However, Team USA is favored in men’s and women’s basketball, indoor volleyball and beach volleyball. All of the teams in these sports are undefeated and are still competing in the preliminary stages. An up-to-date medal tracker can be found here.
