We walked out and realized we were right in front of one of the entrances to the Field of Play. We figured now was as good a time as any to give the blue line on the bottom of our credentials a try. The blue line means we have access to FOP. We walked right out there like we owned the place (I've noticed that you walk into anywhere like you own the place, you will get what you want 99% of the time...it worked Tuesday night when we went to Club Bud--see pic below)
Anyway, we walked around the track until we got to the correct exit...there is one located right by our office and the mixed zone. It was pretty cool to be out ON THE FIELD--we saw volunteers putting together the medal stand, we saw the judges and officials heading out to the field (wearing lovely Beijing Olympics ties), and we walked by the starting blocks that Usain Bolt would launch himself out of later in the night.
For the first part of the night, I was in the office working as a copytaker. I snuck out (it was fine with my manager, so I guess it wasn't really sneaking), but I snuck out to see USA's Nick Symmonds run his qualifier in the Mens 800m. He won his heat so that was pretty cool.
After that it was back to the office for more copytaking and around 9:45 I headed out to the broadcast mix zone to get quotes from the Mens 200m and Womens 400m Hurdles Finals. The Mens 200m was first, and everyone was watching Bolt. The stadium quieted down for the start, and we all had bets about who would be finishing 2nd and 3rd...I predicted 2 Americans.
It was literally a photo finish..and again, being in the press area when that happened was pretty cool. The press have the best seat in the house. Bolt won, in world record fashion, with Netherland's Churandy Martina coming in second and USA's Wallace Spearmon coming in third. The three runners took their respective countries' flags and headed out for a victory lap. The three were cheering and jumping and Bolt was breaking into some signature dance moves. Then, a new finishing list flashed on the screen...Spearmon was listed as DSQ and USA's Sean Crawford was listed in third. I was right there when Spearmon threw the flag at Crawford and said something along the lines of, "I guess this is yours."
Crawford was flabbergasted and in all the interviews he gave immediately afterwards he was a class act. Even the guys from NBC that I talked to were impressed with the way he handled himself and how humble and gracious he was.
Imagine the shock he feels NOW! Shortly after, the US lodged a formal complaint and it was discovered that the runner from the Netherlands, Martina, had been DSQ as well. Sean Crawford went from having no medal, to having a bronze, to having a silver!
It was a long night...besides the Mens 200m drama, there was also the Womens 400m Hurdles final and the first qualifying round for the Mens Pole Vault. The pole vault went well after midnight because NO ONE could make the qualifying height.
A US runner, Sheena Tosta got silver in the hurdles and she was a great interview as well. Very sweet and just thrilled with her medal. That is something I have definitely picked up on here...you get a sense of the athletes that are the best kind of person, too. They are humble and thankful, in victory AND defeat.
没有评论:
发表评论