Steeplechase

Listen, i admitted going into the Olympics (here) that i was at best indifferent, with the exception of soccer. And so far, in that same article, my prediction is still holding up with the Men's soccer team eliminated and the Women in the quarterfinals. But that's neither here nor there.

After one week, i admit i am completely captivated by the Olympics. I have watched every one of Michal Phelps 17 swims and was jumping and screaming during his finals. I have rooted Men's water polo to victory against the heavily favored Croatians and into the Medal round with a defeat of Germany. I have watched the USA basketball team absolutely destroy any and all comers.

I watched Usain Bolt obliterate the 100m world record. I complained about the scoring system in boxing and watched China dominate the synchronized diving competitions. I cheered for Shawn Johnson (an Iowa girl) and Nastia Liukin to win all-around medals, and was disappointed when they finished 2nd in the team competition.

I've watched sports i've never seen before, and ones i've never even heard of. I watched a points race in bicycling, totally baffled at what was going on but enthralled. I knew archery was a competition but actually watched it this year. I didn't know you could get a medal for Trampoline, but i watched those finals as well. I watched some equestrian thing earlier. Hell, i'm watching synchronized swimming as i write.

But there is nothing, and i do mean NOTHING, as completely and utterly bizarre as the Steeplechase. I knew what the steeplechase was going in, have even watched a race or two in my day, but watching the final tonight... I mean, have you watched this? It's like they took the most random elements possible and combined them! It makes no sense!

It's a race around a track, with some hurdles. That i can handle. But then, inexplicably, there is another hurdle with a water hazard behind it. A water hazard! In the middle of a race!

I just can't for the life of me wrap my mind around the concept of where this race originated from. How did this come about? Who came up with it? How did it evolve? Who was the guy who said 'Let's make them run a hurdles race, but then once a lap put a pool of water behind one hurdle'? Did he make a fortune off this idea? He had to have, right? Right?!

It's just the most bizarre, random, inexplicable, crazy thing you could possibly imagine. And somehow you get an Olympic medal for it...