espnW Blog: 2012 London Olympics
Russ Isabella/US PresswireYou asked U.S. midfielder Tobin Heath questions via Twitter, and she answered. She weighs in on superstitions, card games and staying motivated ahead of the London Olympics:ALEXIS @alexist_20: @espnW @TobinHeath #AskTobin Does she have any superstitions?
AP Photo/Wayne JonesHow does it feel to be an Olympian?As the media attention builds in anticipation of this week's opening ceremonies, I've been asked this question in just about every interview I've conducted recently.
We've all been there: boarding a long flight, having to walk by lucky colleagues who scored an upgrade. They're ostentatiously stretching their legs, drinks in hand, while the rest of us grit our teeth in anticipation of stiff necks and bruised knees from the claustrophobia-ville otherwise known as coach seating.
Earlier this week, I went for a walk around Glasgow, Scotland, where we're currently staying, and where we'll play our first two Olympic games. It was around 10 p.m., the sun was setting, and everything was at peace around us.
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesIt may sound funny, but I'm not training that hard right now. With less than two weeks to go before the Olympics begin, my teammates and I are trying to keep our minds relaxed, our bodies feeling good and our strength levels up.
Courtesy of Ariel HsingRight after I made the Olympic team in May, I got the chance to play a few rounds of table tennis with my good friends, "Uncle" Warren and "Uncle" Bill. You may know them if I include their last names: Buffett and Gates!
Tobin HeathU.S. national team midfielder Tobin Heath will be blogging for espnW through the London Olympics and sharing her experiences from the road. Her debut entry below deals with the always tough question: What to pack for a trip.
Bill Streicher/Icon SMISo, apparently the news of the week is I'm out and proud. I haven't been hiding it and this isn't the first time anyone's thought about it as far as I'm concerned. But I guess to some degree the assumption is everything is straight and everybody is straight, and I don't want anything to be assumed.
Kaitlyn LoI love hearing our national anthem. It's a moment of calm before the storm, and everyone is focused on just listening to the music. Last week, I heard it for the last time before we hear it in London. We played in a series of four physical games at home against Hungary, the team we'll play in our opening match at the Olympics less than a month from now.
AP Photo/Mark J. TerrillWhen I touched the wall at the end of the 100-meter breaststroke final last week at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, my first thoughts were happy ones. I knew it had been a good race, but then I looked at the scoreboard.
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty ImagesI love competing, but there's one part of every meet I can't stand: the few minutes right before it's time to march out onto the floor to start the competition. I'm all ready to go, and there's always a lot of waiting around right then, which makes my heart start beating faster.
Harry How/Getty Images for USOCEarlier this week, American boxer Queen Underwood learned she had been awarded an Olympic berth in the women's lightweight division. Here is her account of that life-changing phone call and the month that led up to it.
Yuchen Nite/USA Field Hockey Back slumped against the wall, legs extended, exhausted yet relieved, I sat on the training room table.Katie, the team physio, looked at me quizzically. "What happened to you? You were supposed to be back from your run at 12:15.
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty ImagesWhen I opened my eyes Sunday morning, I knew right away it was going to be a great day. It was the final day of the U.S. gymnastics nationals, one of the most important meets leading up to the Olympics, but I was so calm.
Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images Ten years ago, my coach, Liang Chow, did a gutsy thing: He sent a video of me doing gymnastics to National Team Coordinator Martha Karolyi with a note that said something like, "I think this girl can really help Team USA.