after 11 days the olypics has started, i have give up even the slightest chance to catch a glimpse of Alexei Nemov. The team-event is not shown on tv because the australian team cannot make the cut into the final.. so, it only left to the men-horizantal bar for me to see champions..

how can he not be considered as champions.. 12 olympics medals in his name and i figured this is his last quest to add the tally to 13 since he's not getting younger anymore..

well, judging error has been quite a subject in gymnastic event since the gymnastic goverment body announced that the gold for men all around supposely belong to a Korean instead of Paul Hamm because of judging error.. so,the high bar routine that everybody wanted to see this night. The showdown, on the last event of the nine days of gymnastics, was supposed to be between Hamm and Yang Tae-young of South Korea, who won bronze in the all-around instead of gold last week because of a scoring error.

But Nemov changed all that.

SEXY isnt he? elegance, skill, and sex appeal all packaged in a finely sculpted frame. Earning the most medals by a single athlete at the Atlanta and Sydney Summer Olympics.

Flying like a circus acrobat, ``Sexy Alexei'' put together the most daring performance of the 10 men on the high bar. He did six -- count 'em, six -- release moves, four in a row and two more with somersaults as he flew backward over the bar.
To the untrained eye, it looked nearly perfect.

hmm, he surely did much better from the other contestant except the eventual winner from Italy.. but, something did happen... if you follow the scoring system in the gymnastic, the incompability of the judges seems a a little bit clear.. Those who go first endure lower scores, so the judges have room to grade upwards if the gymnasts who follow turn in a better routine. A gymnast's reputation often determines their placement and a judge's mistake can be difference between a gold medal winner and someone who never reaches the podium. This scoring practice has been around forever. But many are just starting to understand the things that transpire behind the scenes, and they are not happy about it.. and this time, it fall in the wrong person or can i say the wrong crowd. Nemov's draw landed him in the middle of pack and his score was kept low to leave room for the competitors to follow.

the judges give 9.725 (which is low based on what he displayed!) with another 7 contestant to go! The crowd booed and jeered the judges for a poor score that destroyed Nemov's chance of a 13th Olympics medal

Booing spectators halted the Olympic horizontal bar final for nearly 10 minutes here, expressing their frustration at what turned into the latest of several Games gymnastics judging controversies. In a surreal scene unlike anything gymnastics veterans had ever encountered, jeers and whistles of disgust cascaded upon judges.

As not-so-Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm (or can i say silver?) waited to follow, boos continued. Officials pleaded for silence with no avail and finally judges Teh Kin Kin of Malaysia (nad even my lovely country involve in this) and Chris Grabowecky of Canada changed scores so Nemov had a 9.762.

Nemov was still last. The crowd was still upset. The noise continued. and it takes a true champions to did what he did..

With the booing still going, Hamm paced, then sat, then talked to his brother and his coach. The public-address announcer came on and implored the crowd for silence. Twice. It didn't work either time. Nemov just sat there smiling, but minute by minute, the outburst became embarrassing.


Finally, Nemov came to the podium and asked for silence. The crowd finally relented. how sweet is that.. i was so overwhelmed and if it waited long enough, there probably tears in my eye (yeay, me, the crying chick!)... it was a class act.. what he did was in true olympic spirit!!!

and what he said aferward on the crowd that booed the judges after his score came up is make me started missing him in the gymnastic event already!

"I would like to thank all these people for what they did tonight. Everyone should have understood by now that you cannot fool the fans.Generally, I respect the judges and I only try to do my job well. I am very happy that I am leaving Athens with dignity and with the love of all these people who were here tonight and I thank them for doing so."

hmm... to see this happening in a gymnastic event is very exciting.. i even doesnt know it's gonna be on tv at the moment.. just went down to pick up my bag and just thought to switch on the tv.. and there it was, my Alexei, preparing to make the jump!

i've been watching this guy since Atlanta 96' and damn he is so sexy... apart from having the world title to his name, the other title under his belt is 'sexy Alexei/Nemov".. i dont care what score he get coz i know he always done the best and i'm too grateful to be finally catch a glimpse of him, but, i guest the spectator felt he deserve more..

hmm.. this olympic has been pretty interesting! it showed two things

1. my favourite/sexy/champions/cute one has bow down in quite dramatic way : Popov and Nemov and they still look a champion to me!

2. i'm too emotional and passionate when it came to any of my favourite guy.. GOSH!! i dont know if i ever felt like that for any of guys i known (met) in my life... it shows how pathetic am I.. but, at least, i'm happy with that even if the whole world think i'm a fool to be so emotional about this guy!

The truth is rarely pure and never simple

Oscar Wilde,
The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895, Act I

♥ ♥ ♥ aJLa I'm no angel.. and i manage to remain alive in my own quirky way

"Look at the stars, and not the reflection of the moon."

*having my wickest dream come true *hint* dvz *hint*
*not to kill anyone as a doctor
*a person who can swept me off my feet