Fourth-Place Medal, a Yahoo! Sports blog covering the Summer Olympics in Beijing

Fourth-Place Medal

Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:01 am EDT

The curse of "A Shot at Glory"

By Maggie Hendricks

Before the Olympics began, the HD television station Mojo ran a miniseries, "A Shot at Glory," which told the stories of eleven American Olympians. I enjoyed the series, but looking back, things did not go well for the athletes profiled. Consider:

- Wrestler Daniel Cormier had to drop out of the games after he was hospitalized just hours after weigh-in with kidney failure and other physical problems from cutting weight.

- Wallace Spearmon ran the finals in the 200m, but was disqualified for crossing into a competitor's lane.

- Boxer Gary Russell Jr., a medal threat for the United States, dropped out of the games when he passed out while trying to make weight.

- Gymnast Samantha Peszek sprained her ankle minutes before the women's qualification round, relegating her to one performance on the uneven parallel bars.

- Runner Tyson Gay injured his leg at the Olympic trials and didn't qualify for the 200m. He then didn't make the finals for the 100m, a race he was expected to medal in.

- Swimmer Kate Ziegler did not make the finals in any of her events, though she was expected to medal.

That's a pretty frightening record. To future Olympians, if you are approached to participate in this series, you might want to think twice.

Photo via Getty Images 

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  1. WeEatzDogzInVA
    1. Posted by WeEatzDogzInVA Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    I guess this is the "madden curse" for the Olympics!!
  2. David M
    2. Posted by David M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    We put too much emphasis on "projections." Remember the last 2 elections? I think we should just let these athletes compete without all of the hype. But, that's the media for you. They just have to have a story and be the very first to tell it.
  3. theREV
    3. Posted by theREV Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    Tyson Gay, while a outstanding talent, should not have been on the relay team. He did not practice with the team until a few days ago. He did not attend the early training sessions with the US team a few weeks before the start of the games.
  4. CHRISTOPHER R
    4. Posted by CHRISTOPHER R Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    SIMPLE. The USA track and field athletes are choke artist. Hurdles sprints, relays. They choke when they can't just see themselves blowing away the field and actually have to work for it.
  5. Blue Eyed Italian
    5. Posted by Blue Eyed Italian Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    it is the olympics these athletes are going up against the best in the world under high pressure, plus just making it there is a great accomplishment, but the us can't win every event. it is kind of unny to how the author calls it a freightening record cause a few olympians for the us did not medal yet we have the most medals and will most likely break 100 total medals i would call that a pretty good sucsess at these games
  6. lattiger
    6. Posted by lattiger Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    Big deal. He will get over it, that is if he can see around his oversized ego.
  7. Superman
    7. Posted by Superman Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    It is amazing how some players or athelets makes mistakes after all the time and dedication they put in,
    To achieve thier goals, It makes you think, the pressure that they go through during the competition, 4 years or more of practice, "Not to make those mistakes" and still happens. The worst thing is "you start celebrating and after a few minutes you learned that ,You are disqualified, I'm very sorry to see that, There goes 4 years down the drain. But then again YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES, try and try again.
  8. akilekk
    8. Posted by akilekk Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    Projections and posts do not win races or games. Determination - Determination - Determination - work - hard work and more hard work win the contest. Then take NOTHING FOR GRANTED. All you can expect is an edge and sometimes that edge will be the final determinant - that small edge can be the difference between victory and LOSS - not defeat but loss. Anyone walking and breathing is a winner. But to win the contest you train for is determined by how much effort you put forth.
    Sometimes natural skills get in the way. Sometimes being too dominant makes you rusty and slop when you need traction. It's the lessons we learn from losses that make us improve and strive for perfection.
  9. redreturn 08
    9. Posted by redreturn 08 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

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    Track runners will make mistakes- but they should really be focusing at that moment in the race that is so crucial, such as the handoff. It leads me to wonder about the coaches and the team discipline. They have been coming up short, literally, on most of their races when they should be really vying for a gold. Oh, and I wonder if any inside injuries have hampered their performances.
  10. Brian S (brianguy)
    10. Posted by Brian S (brianguy) Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    ummmm... Mojo?? never heard of it!
    wow finally a sports channel even more obscure than Versus!
  11. Coley
    11. Posted by Coley Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    No one person is to be blamed for this sad situation its a team...the guy behind Tyson should've made sure he place the baton in his hand and Tyson should've made sure he had it before he started the sprint.. but anyway they wouldn't have won the gold the USA team falling out of the competition just made it easier for the JAMAICANS i honestly feel bad for the USA team and Tyson Gay who's leaving without any medal at all when he could've gotten the silver in the relay... well good luck next time and practice becomes perfect... JAMAICA ALL THE WAY
  12. pittbull1109
    12. Posted by pittbull1109 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:13 pm EDT

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    the americans been doing so poorly, I guess because no on is sick with any ailments such as heart or chest or such delight to be taking anything. So nobody not taking any st......ssss? GO JAMAICA!! YUH BROADER DAN BROADWAY!!!
  13. killjoy
    13. Posted by killjoy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

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    There is a big difference between getting injured before your event, and going into the games with an injury. Tyson Gay does not appear to have been ready to compete. It is hard to believe he gave th eteam the best chance. The weight problems for the boxing and wrestling teams--more than the two noted above--suggest the need for major personnel changes in the coaching/management staff as well as a different approach to making weight in the future.
  14. Peter B
    14. Posted by Peter B Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:13 pm EDT

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    Okay Maggie how does this fit into your whiny "real medal count."
  15. xxx
    15. Posted by xxx Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

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    Disaster: U.S. relay teams drop batons
    http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Disaster-U-S-relay-teams-drop-batons?urn=oly,102446
  16. jono64
    16. Posted by jono64 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    Dissappointed the USA team dropped the baton and did not finish the race. Would really like to see the showdown between the Stars and Stripes and the Black, Green And GOLD.... And sure enough I would be rooting for the 'GOLD"!!
  17. gar0404
    17. Posted by gar0404 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    I think the USA team needs to come down out of the clouds and stop tring to be rock stars with the sunglasses and jewelery and thier dances before the races. They have the best of everything than the other countries and we have so much talent, stop getting swelled heads and use your talent. The showing that the USA had should be a good lesson to some!! Congrats to those of you who did take your head out of the clouds and performed to your abilities. I will be your biggest fan, to those of you who did not WAKE UP!!
  18. jd
    18. Posted by jd Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    This has to be the saddest USA Track and Field team ever assembled...full of chokers and pretenders! Tripping over hurdles, dropping batons, failing to even place....very sad! These so called superstars of track in name only, showed their true colors, almost if they took bribes to fix races....as ludicrous to even think about it...way too many events where this sort of thing happened, can't help but think about something like this...1-2 maybe even 3 occurences but this many....mind boggling....the Track & Field gurus heading this team MUST be fired and never allowed to coach at this level...WE ARE A PROUD COUNTRY WITH A WEALTH OF TRADITION, TO HAVE IT TORN APART LIKE THIS IS NOT EVEN HUMBLING---ALL OUT EMBARASSING TO ALLOW A COUNTRY WITH THE POPULATON OF PHILADEPHIA BEATS AT OUR BEST EVENTS IS---EMBARASSING.....this is what you get when you load up this team with huge egos, boasting and trying to intimidate with their custom made running suits and custom made sponsored shoes...they drowned in their own inflated egos....TIME FOR NEW BLOOD....GET RID OF THE CANCER THAT MADE UP THIS TEAM AND LET'S MOVE ON.....I would of felt better sending High School athletes than to endure watching these pathetic egos parading in front of the TV screens....
  19. jd
    19. Posted by jd Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    fan of runners..I echo your views...it was pathetic to watch these inflated egos parade and pretend they were there representing the USA....what a farce...they can sell those custom made running suits along with those custom made "sponsored" shoes of which are "all" free....to buy their own plane ticket back home...they are NOT worthy to sit on a plane full of much worthier athletes we sent who did give it their all and represented our country in the true spirit....those reading this post, don't make more than what it is...don't even go the race route either, this isn't about race, it's about integrity and pride which is what we all are in the USA....go flaunt your jewelry and hardware somewhere else not at the expense of the real american people....
  20. jd
    20. Posted by jd Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Drug test in order for this Jamaican team??? remember Ben Johnson (Jamaican but raced for Canada)....just wondering how in a matter of one year, how this guy Bolt who couldn't beat these guys in international competition and even lost at collegiate tournaments is now top dog....shaving a ludicrous .15 to .25 off his best times in a matter of weeks....this guy had a hard time cracking 9.75-.9.79....in this sport people....these are huge improvements..not so far fetched....if he were running in high altitude you could say okay,,,it;s the thin air...Like in Mexico City where records fell at an outstanding rate because of the altitude...but Bejing...sea level, high humidity hummmmm......
  21. petal
    21. Posted by petal Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    sorry for you lost but if it is gods will we will see you next FOUR(4) years time.
  22. JUPITER
    22. Posted by JUPITER Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    Why Beijing 2008 is sooo significant???...........Cos it saw the End of American supremacy in the Olympics
  23. JUst askin'
    23. Posted by JUst askin' Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:17 pm EDT

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    Where are all the white US athletes? "Redeem Team" is all Black. Why are none of the great white NBA players representing the US?
  24. ......
    24. Posted by ...... Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:03 pm EDT

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    you need a life. stop trying to bring the Chinese gymnists each time they win a gold medal. what? Chinese people aren't good enough to win any? Each time they win one they're "cheating"? But when USA wins its fair. And the judges aren't dissed then? If the judges were standing on the Chinese side this entire time...USA would never have won any gold medals! So quit saying all these negative things about the Chinese people. Your comments are so bias! How the hell did you even become a reporter? A reporter is supposed to be fair.
  25. Gabriel M
    25. Posted by Gabriel M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    To the Yahoo Sports team:
    Please correct the information about Venezuela - The largest city in Venezuela is CARACAS!!!! Not MARACAIBO - Caracas is the largest in area and population - Please get your facts straight before posting your information -
    Thank you

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