By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
Can you believe the London Olympics start in just about four weeks?
Well, OK, that probably depends on whether you go for high levels of excitement over the Olympic Games – and whether you take “can you believe it” literally. But all joking aside, for a lifelong Olympic fan like myself, the Olympic trials that started last week in various sports.
There’s nothing like watching the Olympic trials. In many ways, it’s more emotional than the Olympics themselves. Almost every United States athlete I’ve seen takes such pride in representing their country that it’s impossible not to catch the drama of the moment, even if you’re not there in person and you’re just watching on TV.
This past weekend, there were a number of highlights, moments that should stand in time as something special for everyone to remember
• Ashton Eaton, men’s track and field: It’s one of the oldest tags in sports – if you win the decathlon, you’re the world’s greatest athlete.
Eaton did that and more Saturday at the U.S. track and field trials. Entering the final event – the 1,500-meter run – Eaton needed a personal best by two seconds to break the world record. He got that and more, striding across the finish line about four seconds ahead of his previous best to become one of the elite few who have topped 9,000 points under the new scoring system.
Eaton will enter the Olympics as one of the favorites, but gold medal or not, the look on his face – and the huge ovation from the crowd in Oregon – will be his to treasure forever.
• Curtis Beach, men’s track and field: Beach did not make the Olympic team. In fact, he finished 11th in the decathlon.
But Beach showed the best sportsmanship likely at any event all weekend. Leading the 1,500 in the decathlon with a shot at winning the event and salvaging a disappoint two days (decathlon is scored by points earned through times, distances and heights, not placings), Beach could tell Eaton was coming up behind him to finish.
Rather than win the final event of the decathlon, Beach instead stepped away from the center lane and slowed down to let Eaton pass him, cheering Eaton as he broke the world record and won the final event of the day.
Eaton may be going to the Olympics, but Beach will go down in history as one of the finest sportsmen you’ll ever see.
• Brittany Viola, diving: In 2004, Brittany Viola probably should have been heading to Athens in platform diving. She finished second at trials, which normally would have assured her a spot.
But that year, USA Diving put the emphasis on synchronized diving, and took only the winner in that event. The other platform spot went to one of the two synchronized divers.
In 2008, Viola struggled at trials and did not make the team.
Last weekend, there were no controversies, no question marks, no story. Just Viola diving at her best, and easily topping the competition.
When Viola finished her final dive and swam to the side of the pool, she stopped there, oblivious to the television camera that was filming her tears of relief. Her hands covering her face, Viola slowly moved them away to show a quiet, self-assured smile.
The Olympics at last. Could anything be better?
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