Aliann Pompey's Live Blog From Beijing: August 21 and 22

Here is Olympian Aliann Pompey blogging live from Beijing, China. Pompey is a track and field competitor representing Guyana.

 D Wizzle's World knows that fans want to get an athlete's view on everything going on in China and NOT always from the biased media.

Thanks to Aliann for giving us a glimpse of what's going on in Beijing at the Games.

Friday, August 22, 2008

This morning Coach Ryan, myself, and Adam had an interview with Irish tv Rte. And a good time was to be had by all. By far, it was the most relaxed interview I've ever done.  There was a lot of joking around, laughing ,and  making fun of Coach Ryan.  

After that, we had a special presentation from/to the Ambassador to/from the Guyana Olympic President Juman Yassin.  The highlight for me was meeting June Griffith.  She's the woman who had the 400m and 200m national records.

  I was supposed to go to the silk market, but a certain Derrick Adkins (Bahamas) left without me.  

SO I stayed home to watch Jamaica women drop the the baton in the 4x100m.  I was waiting for them to smash that record.  I just knew they were going to.  My heart goes out to them, they were their worst enemies.  Nothing rocked my world like the men's 4x100m relay. 

Did you see it? Oh my God, Bolt handed off to Asafa, watched him finish with a world record, ran down the track to congratulate him, AND BEAT SOMEONE!!! I know Trini-Bago got second, congrats to that team.  

I don't really know what else happened int he race, except Jamaica finished twice. In one Olympic Games, Bolt has 3 world records. Everything he touches is gold.  He is officially, the greatest track athlete of all time.  I think I'm a fan. OMG!These are definitely a track fan's Olympics.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Today I was thinking long term.  I went to a mini-seminar in the Olympic Village.

 Mr Gorgemans from Switzerland was giving a speech about post-competition transition. 

 A few people showed up, and he talked to us about a company he started in Switzerland where they facilitate top level athlete's transitioning into their lives after competing.  I did get a bit discouraged because 'top-level' athletes usually mean Olympic gold medallist. 

 But he was helpful to me, passing on some tips and contact information.  Thank you Sir. I still can't believe Federer didn't win though.

Later that night... I don't know where to begin with the relays.

 USA dropping the stick in both men's and women's 4x100? What a curse!I'm not sure who had a better chance, but they both would've had some work to do to beat Jamaica.  But it didn't even get that far. WOW!I got over those races really quickly though.

 The race of the night was definitely the men's 400m.   I don't know, but I think Merritt was a little surprised.  It looked like he kept looking for Jeremy, who eventually came.  A whole second later.  All I have to say, is if people are betting, someone is losing a whole lot of money, or winning a whole lot. (duh, right?)

Quick story before I go:  I forgot to tell it the other day, but it's still cracking me up.  So after our race, myself and Christine (Amer-steel) Amertil were on the bus to come home. Mind you, it was packed to capacity.  This man fro New Zealand got up to talk to someone, and I went to sit down.  

This South African athlete had the nerve to put her foot on the seat, and say, "i'm saving it for my friend". I said well your friend isn't even on the bus, but I am, and sat. That's not the story. So the bus leaves, most of the people that are sitting are officials and or males.  That means mostly females/athletes are standing, right?  So Amer-steel goes off ont his tirade about how chivalry is dead, we fought for equal rights, and now we can't get a seat, and men are inconsiderate.

  I'm laughing of course, because I laugh at everything.  They hear her, but no one is even moving.  

Walter Dix is sitting right behind us, doesn't budge.

 So this HUGE thrower from Spain got up. "Please, take my seat". Sitting, he looked huge. When he stood up, he blocked the sky.  I'm laughing sooo hard at this point, because he had this hurt (or was it disgust) look on his face, and now the other men are starting to feel bad. 

 But it's too late, she already had a seat.  Christine is starting to feel bad, apologizing to him, I was just talking. Please sit down. He says no no, I'm done with it. It's ok.  Maybe you had to be there to see it play out in order to appreciate it. But it was funny to me. 

Olympian Aliann Pompey's Blog From Beijing

Here is Olympian Aliann Pompey blogging live from Beijing, China. Pompey is a track and field competitor representing Guyana. D Wizzle's World knows that fans want to get an athlete's view on everything going on in China and NOT always from the biased media.

Thanks to Aliann and my boy Fudgeman for hooking it up and allowing D Wizzle's World access to an Olympian's perspective on the Games and China.



Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Welcome to the 23rd Olympic Games. Scratch that, welcome to the Jamaican National Invitational. Ok, Ok, I can do this. Welcome to the Usain Bolt experience. In case you missed it, Usain has now won the men's 100m in record time. 

More impressively, he won the 200m in record time. Two things about this race. 1) The pundits said this was a record that was going to last for decades. No one was going to touch it. Come close, yes. Smell it maybe. See it from afar, but not break it. 2) Usain was RUNNING!! 

Yea I know, of course he was running, it was a race. But he was trying. In the 100m, he stopped, tied his shoes, ordered Chinese food, shook some hands, kissed a few babies, asked me for my phone number, stood a while and tried to convince me that he's the one for me, I say no, I'm already taken, you are barking up the wrong tree, he says OK, I respect your stance, you man is very lucky to have you, it's my loss, then he beats his chest and finishes his race easily. World record time. After doing all that. Not so in the 200. He came out the blocks and ate  Brian from Zimbabwe. And Brian is no scrub. 

He came off the turn so far ahead it looked like he was photo-shopped in. At about 130, I saw a grimace on his face. That's when I saw the clock. I was watching the race with the Bahamians. At this point, everyone was on their feet. Screaming. It was one of those moments where everyone was screaming something at the same time, but for some reason you can hear them all, and you knew what they were saying. I wish I could've seen Michael Johnson's face on a split screen

Before the race started Derrick Adkins took out his phone, and said he was calculating how fast he was going to run. "10 flat for the curve, flying start for the last 100m, that's about 8 seconds. 19.25" Laughter, doubt, and jokes followed. One person said drinks should be on Derrick if the world record goes. The general consensus was 19.5 or there about. I guess we all owe Usain a drink. I'm still in shock. A lot of people are. I'm really happy for Brian and Kim for making the finals, and Churandy for his silver medal. Brendan should've been in there too (Antigua). For now, it's Usain's world, we're just here to idolize him.
OVERHEARD IN THE CAFETERIA "I GUESS JAMAICA WANTS ALL THEIR ATHLETES TO HAVE GOOD TEETH. THEY ALL HAVE BRACES."

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Today we took a trip to the Forbidden City, Tienamen Square, and Chairman Mao's mosemleum. The whole Guyanese team went, except for Mr Rose, the team's manager. I really wish he did, he's the funniest person here. It was a ton of walking. My feet are killing me, I swear it's as hard as a track workout.

We started at the Mosemleum, and we had to walk about a mile to put our bags in the check area. You are not allowed in there with anything. Then we walk back, standin line, go through security, and enter. A brisk walk into the chamber, you see Chairman Mao being laid to rest in a glass case. Everything is quiet, no one is saying a word, some lay flowers as they go in, pay their respects and leave.

The Forbidden City was a giant maze, in the form of a nesting egg. Everything looks very similar. You walk through a court yard, beautiful, AMAZING architecture, go through a big gate/door, into another courtyard. The colors are a bit different, but for the most part, it's very similar. I took about 100 pictures, this time I had my camera. The historical significance of Tieneman Square resonated deeply with me. But let me not get all political on you.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I'm still a bit bitter, I admit it. I've been moping, eating McDonalds, laying down right after I eat, everything that's in "Athlete's Don't do This" book, I've been doing. I wanted Shericka to win. I almost popped a muscle in my neck cheering for her. That's it. I'm now officially over it.

Monday, August 18, 2008
I didn't even cry. On my way from the computer lab after my last post to the room to cry, I ran into a few people I know, and some I didn't. What I got was encouragement. people saying how proud they were of me, how close I was, how much they were screaming, and for a second, I felt like I actually accomplished something. The coach from Surimane: Guyana, you did great. We are neighbors, and I was cheering for you the whole time. British Virgin Island Official: I was on my feet til the final round, praying that you made the finals. Friend: Not one soul can say you went out there and didn't give it your all. Sometimes I think I am most critical of myself. I still didn't do what I came here in mind to do: I didn't make the finals. Plain an simple. 

But as one person said: You aimed to reach the moon. Instead you reach Mt. Everest. You didn't get to the moon, but you got really far up there; real close. I guess I can sleep with finishing 11th at the Olympics. It is the highest a Guyanese athlete has ever finished. I did tie the national record in doing so. That's my consolation prize.