Don't those marks on Michael Phelps body look awful. I had to Google to see what they were.  Guess they are like glass Suction cups that does something to the Blood going to the Muscles . Never use to see such bodies that these swimmers now have. swimmers use to be thin. Now like wrestlers. Girls about the same. Gymnastics got Muscles now also. Use to be the cheated and took Steroids to get the build. Get caught now.

I don't like VolleyBall. Can't understand why they go into those Group hugs every few minutes.

Marilyne, the 2017 America's Cup will be held in one of the most beautiful places I've been to.....Bermuda.  Here is a link to the schedule, if you are interested.

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2015/08/09/americas-cup-program-revealed-for-2017-in-bermuda/

phyllis - Both my husband and son love sailing and sailboats, so I'm sure they'll be following the 2017 America's Cup, from Bermuda.  We're disappointed that Olympic sailing is not being covered, as we had hoped.  Caleb, came in 7th in the qualifying event for the Finn class of sailboats.  This was yesterday, in a group of about fifteen boats, so I guess he will be sailing in the finals??  Unfortunately, we haven't been able to watch or even find any of the races on TV, but we've been following the results online. 

Marilyne, can you "stream" NBCOlympics.com?  Think you could probably find some sailing there.   The Events Schedule in my paper indicates Sailing runs from August 8-18 though no specific  times listed.

Tome - thanks for the streaming suggestion, but now looks like we'll finally be able to see some sailing events starting tomorrow morning, (Thursday), between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, PDT. Too bad the scheduling isn't more specific on the class of sailboat, but it will be fun to watch, whatever it is.

Tonight I'm looking forward to the Women's Beach Volleyball, with Kerry Walsh-Jennings and partner. It's raining in Rio, so looks like it will probably be wet and wild, on the outdoor sand vollyball court!

Some interesting news from my cousin on the Finn sailing event. Caleb came in 4th in the first race, but then the sailor from Bosnia, accused Caleb of "cutting him off".  (Whatever that means?)  So Caleb was disqualified, but immediately filed a complaint.  The Olympic Sailing Committee looked at all the media/camera coverage, which showed that Caleb wasn't sailing anywhere near the Bosnia boat, and couldn't possibly have interfered in any way.  So Caleb was reinstated and got his #4 position, which he still holds. There is a possibility he could do even better in the final race, and maybe even get a bronze medal.  Of course we are all rooting for him!

Marilyn, rooting for your cousin also. I was happy to see we got a metal in golf yesterday. that is what I watched.

Marilyne, I thought you might be interested in these articles, if you haven't already seen them.

http://www.ussailing.org/rio-2016-sailing-team-usa-battles-the-conditions-on-day-2/

http://www.ussailing.org/rio-2016-sailing-team-usa-clinches-finn-and-nacra-17-medal-race-berths-470s-stay-consistent/

Caleb is a very accomplished sailor.  I'm wishing him luck in the finals of the Finn sailing class race.  It looks like they will be sailing the finals tomorrow, 8/16/16.  Wish I could see it on TV but can't find a schedule for it.....at least, not yet.

Marilyn.  Seems like they are getting quite a few of the Eastern Europeans complaining about things in a few of the Meets going on. Such as Russians. etc. hate to not win in anything they do.  Their Gov. sponsor them all I think and most probable not to happy with them if they don't come in for one of the medals. Years ago some of the young ones always seemed like they were scared if they lost.

phyllis - Thank you SO MUCH, for the links to the sailing web sites! Good information and beautiful photos! I'm sending them on to all family members who are having a hard time finding anything online.  So, the race for Silver and Bronze will be tomorrow, and looks like Caleb has a chance at one or the other. It also looks like the Croatian sailor is a few points ahead.

JeanneP - Yes, I have heard that Russia and other Eastern European  countries, are under a lot of political pressure to win every event they enter.  That is likely why so many teams take a chance with "doping", as they did again this year. I feel sorry for the athletes, because they have to follow orders from their coaches, even when it's something illegal.

Hurrah, Caleb!

Marilyne.  Who I bet he is feeling so good.  Now is that it, no more races in this Olympics ?.

Marilyne, I'm so pleased for Caleb and for his family and friends.  I had to be out all day yesterday and couldn't look for the sailing results so thank you letting us know the results.  Our American Olympians are doing so well.  Making us all proud.

phyll, Tome and Jeanne . . . thanks for following the sailboat races and cheering for Caleb! He has been preparing for this event since he was a young teen, and now that it has finally happened, he will finish college, and he and Lindsay, my cousin's granddaughter, plan to be married sometime next year.  They are both 27 years old now. I will keep you all posted on what happens in the future.  The entire family is thrilled to have an Olympic winner in our midst!

Hope he carries  on with his sailing. Enters more challenges.

.

Marilyne, that is really exciting!

I'm still following some of the Olympic events, but I have to admit I'm beginning to get slightly burnt out on many of them.  Seems that the things I want to see are only shown in short snippets, or not at all.  I'm totally tired of the track and field races, and would like to see more of the Decathlon, but they only show a short segment of one person, doing one thing. (like pole vault, etc.) then it's back to the races! 

Another thing I love to watch is an event called Rhythmic Gymnastics.  The women dance and do gymnastic moves to music, while twirling a long ribbon or a hoop or large ball.  The idea is to keep the hoop, ribbon or ball moving in time to the dance, never allowing it to touch the ground.  The girls are dressed in attractive outfits, kind of like what the figure skaters wear.  It's beautiful to watch, and almost kind of hypnotic!  I'm hoping to see it again this year, but just a few days left and I haven't seen or heard any mention of it?

Marilyne, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Aug. 19th-21st. There you go!

I never could find the "Sailing"  on any of my channels, so missed out.  There's supposed to be some coverage today, the 18th, but who knows what channel.  I go thru all of them, NBCSN, MSNBC, NBC, USA Network, CNBC, Bravo did Tennis, and Golf Channel did the golf.  I realize that the TV networks want to focus on the USA Teams but, truthfully I like to see other countries given some more attention, i.e. Jamaica.  They do focus on China's competitors during swimming/diving.   I missed all the Archery, which I like pretty well, and the Shooting, which occurred first week. I wish someone would put out an information booklet about the "bones" of the Olympic format:  Who and how is it determined "when" each event is to occur?  How many athletes can each team have? So many questions occur to me, and no answers at my fingertips.  Guess I could Google all that, but it would take up a lot of time.

Our athletes have been terrific this year but am disappointed with this year's TV coverage.  I love the diving and could only find one short segment.  The swimming was well covered but I don't care to see any more volley ball any time in the near future.  NBC expects you to download their app and stream it, I suppose, to see what you're interested in.  I'm not that interested.

FlaJean - Although I do like both beach and indoor volleyball, I'm tired of it too.  Mostly tired of the endless track and field races.  I don't think it's fair that our professional basketball players, are allowed to make up the USA team. Of course there are no countries that can possibly measure up, so I don't bother watching it at all.  Even if it's true that the American players are "taking it easy" on the other teams, there is still no real contest.

Tome - Thanks for the info on the Rhythmic Gymnastics.  Now I know the dates, but unfortunately, that doesn't mean they will show the event on  any of the channels.  I agree that it would be nice to see some of the sports like Archery, Equestrian, and of course I was disappointed not to see the Finn sailing. (Nor did they show the medal ceremony). My husband likes the shooting events, especially the one where the competitors run a certain number of laps around the track, and then pick up the rifle and shoot at five targets?  I think it's called a biathlon?   So far he hasn't been able to find it.

I saw the equestrian finals.   France took gold, US took Silver.  I think Germany took  bronze.  I did enjoy that.

FlaJean.  Now I was wanting to see them. Which station have you been watching.?

I guess I'm one of the few who like track-and-field.  I really only like the events that are measured by time, distance, or score.  I like regular gymnastics, but not so much the others that are judged on style or concept or opinions of judges.  I'd watch more of things like discus, high jump, long jump, etc.  Obviously, I'm in the minority since those events are rarely seen. 

maryz - I would love to see more of the Decathlon competition, but they only showed a couple of the American finalists competing at the very end of the event. The young man who won the Gold in shot-put, was incredible!  I also like the long jump and especially the pole vault!  Too bad they didn't show all of the competitors. 

The Women's Gymnastics, used to be my favorite, but I haven't cared for it as much in recent years.  I'm drawn to the Rhythmic Gymnastics, because I now prefer that artistic, elegant, graceful style compared to the tough, jolting, flipping style of regular gymnastics. Also, like you, I don't care for the scoring by seated judges. (Same in figure skating.)

What do you all think about the Ryan Lochte scandal??

Super-charged, super-stressed, high-level athletes - suddenly released from the pressure - lets down, drinks too much, and lies after getting into trouble.  Stupid, stupid!  Criminal, no.

JeanneP, I don't remember but must have been CNBC or MSNBC.

maryz - I agree with you on the Ryan Lockne situation. An incredibly stupid thing for him to do, but certainly not a criminal action. It's really kind of sad for him, I think. He's been swimming in the shadow of Michael Phelps for the past four Olympic games, and he's good, but never as good as Phelps, and apparently has never received the media coverage for his accomplishments that he wanted. 

He has done some bizarre things to get the attention of the press! I remember at the London Games, he had some sort of braces applied to his front teeth that sparkled, and I think they were red, white & blue?  This Olympics he appeared with his hair dyed that strange white/gray color. Harmless attention getting stuff . . . but it looks like he went too far in embellishing the story of what actually happened at the Rio gas station, and is now trying to blame it on the "language barrier", and the fact that he had had too much to drink.   Regardless of how it turns out, he will lose his sponsors and endorsements, and will likely be barred from any more competitive swim meets. 

It seems to me that destruction of someone else's property is considered a criminal act.  He should certainly be required to fully repair the damage.  He is an example of the "ugly American" tourist.  He and his companions do not set a good example for the young people who look up to them.

He not only shamed himself and his Olympic participation but, worst of all, in my opinion, he shamed his country.  Really stupid and adolescent behavior.