A Michelle Kwan moment
You know that feeling, when you see something so utterly beautiful and magnificent, it literally takes your breath away? I get those all the time when I see Michelle Kwan skate, hence my informal term stated in the title. But tonight I witnessed a Michelle Kwan moment that didn't involve Michelle Kwan.Paul Hamm was on the parallel bars. He swung his body straight up and held a perfect handstand.
And time stood still.
Michelle Kwan moments never involve the big moves for me. A technically perfect triple jump is a thing of beauty, yes, but it doesn't give me goosebumps. Rather, I'm breathing a sigh of relief when skaters land them. The big flashy twists and somersaults in gymnastics give me the same feeling. And I rub my own arms in pain when I see the men do strength moves on the still rings. JeeZUS.
A Michelle Kwan moment is a display of basic technique. A handstand on the parallel bars isn't terribly difficult, nor is a spiral on the ice. (Well okay, both would be terribly difficult for me - I'm even more likely to trip on a spiral than a jump - but in the scheme of being an athlete in the respective sports, they aren't terribly difficult.) But occasionally, someone doing a relatively simple move will look like they were born to do it. Like they belong there.
Paul Hamm looked like he belonged on parallel bars when he did that handstand. It took my breath away.
And then Nessie and I got all teenybopper when he actually came back from 12th place to win. (Check out the look on his trainer's face. It's great.)
azncupycake18: OMG!And speaking of the Olympics, I think I will reflect the curiosity of most Americans when I ask, "How come Michael Phelps's Speedos don't fall right off?"
sMiLe: OMG OMG
azncupycake18: did you see paul hamm??
sMiLe: didja watch gymnastics?!?!?!
azncupycake18: OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!
sMiLe: I KNOW!!!!
sMiLe: OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG
sMiLe: :-D
posted by sugarfiend @ 2:24 AM
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