The Olympics are here and SMACK! Media is ready to support our athletes, friends and favorite sports during the 2012 London Olympic Games.
We are certainly excited to support SHEEX Athlete Ambassadors Hyleas Fountain (Heptathlon/Track and Field) and Brad Walker (Pole Vault/Track and Field). Both are medal contenders in their respective events. Morgan was able to meet Hyleas at the Olympic Trials, while Eli had the opportunity to grab lunch with Brad before he left for London. Both Brad and Hyleas are incredible athletes and people with infectious personalities that inspire us to “Go for the Gold” in everything we do each day!
Other SMACK! Media affiliated athletes competing in London are the Rocktape Rockstar trio of Lashinda Demus (400 meter hurdles), Kellie Wells (100 meter hurdles) and Holley Mangold (Weightlifting). Check out the latest Rocktape videos with Lashinda and Kellie at the Olympic Trials and Holley at the CrossFit Games for more insight into their training, injury prevention and goals heading into the Olympics!
The SMACKANISTAS each have their own friends and favorites to watch at the Olympics. They are also inspired most by the sports they played growing up and in college. Here are their top picks!
Nobody knows more Olympians and medal hopefuls than Shanna. Three of her University of Colorado Track teammates will be competing in London and all three have a truthful shot at medals! Jenny Simpson (1500), Dathan Ritzenhein (10K) and Kara Goucher (Marathon) are America’s top distance running Medal hopefuls and some of Shanna’s best friends (no big deal). She is also excited to watch Ryan Hall in the Marathon, and support Boulder cyclist Taylor Phinney and triathlete Laura Bennett. However her all-time favorite athlete is Paula Radcliffe (Marathon). Her husband Kevin actually gave her the racing flat that Paula wore when she broke the 10,000m world record – signed! According to Shanna, “If there was a fire in my house, that would go with me.” 🙂
Sarah will intently focus on the swimming and diving competitions. Sarah says, “In both events I am inspired by the way the athletes move their bodies through the air and water – each requires amazing concentration and flawless technique. Plus I grew up a swimmer and always dreamed of going as a swimmer, but when you’re 10 anything seems possible!”
Eli loves almost all Olympic sports but her favorites are gymnastics, track and field and swimming. A collegiate rower at Princeton, Eli does plan to watch the rowing events because she knows a handful of athletes competing. As for her childhood Olympic aspirations? “I did gymnastics when I was young and find it one of the most challenging things out there – from balance to strength! And I definitely prefer women’s gymnastics, men’s not so much.”
It is well known that Morgan is a track and field fanatic, and this stems all the way back to her childhood when she picked up road racing with her Mom on weekends. While Morgan will honestly be glued to anything and everything Olympics while the Games are on, she will be up at 3am if she needs to be so that she can watch the Men’s and Women’s distance running events LIVE (800, 1500, 5k, 10K, Marathon). Her favorite athlete to watch will be High school Track teammate Chaunte Lowe who has a chance to win a medal in the High Jump. “In high school Chaunte tried to convince me to try out for the high jump. I laughed at her idea and kept doing my distance running, but having friends compete in the field events has made me appreciate and enjoy watching all of the Track and Field events.”
What sports, events and athletes are you most excited to watch? We want to know!