Don’t neglect the Olympic ladies

When you are watching the Olympics this month, do yourself a favour, and don’t neglect the ladies. I plan on keeping a keen eye on two in particular, pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and high jumper Blanka Vlasic. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why would anyone want to watch a pole vault competition. The whole sport seems rather ridiculous. Back in the day, presumably, the pole vault was a useful skill for clearing castle walls. It seems a little dated now, what with the ladder being invented and all, but it is still a treat to watch. Especially Yelena Isinbayeva. The 26-year-old Russian is clearly the best female pole vaulter in history. She won gold at the 2004 Olympics with a new world record, has gone unbeaten since, and is already an eight-time Olympic and world champion. Watching Yelena clear the bar is like watching poetry in motion. She has, literally, raised the bar to new levels when it comes to competition, and shows no sign of letting up. She recently cleared the five metre barrier with a vault in Monaco, earning her 23rd world record. What makes Isinbayeva so much fun to watch, is the fact she appears to be having so much fun. She often poses for photographers, and has said it is “important that there are women who bring glamour to sport.” Enter Blanka Vlasic. Most people, when they say the word Vlasic, conjure up images of a jar of pickles. Nothing could be farther from young Blanka, one of the most entertaining elite athletes competing on the track and field stage today. Named after the city of Casablanca, the 25-year-old Croatian is the world’s top-ranked female high jumper and current world champion. She is also on an unbeaten streak of 34 competitions. Vlasic first competed at the Olympics at age 16, and she will be at her best this month in China. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why would anyone want to watch a high jump competition. The whole sport seems rather ridiculous. The high jump might have been a useful skill for clearing fences, and does seem a little dated now, but it is still a treat to watch. Blanka Vlasic and her fellow jumpers know how to put on a show. Like Isinbayeva, Vlasic is another athlete who loves the camera, and a little attention. She is becoming well known for striking a pose or doing a cute little dance each time she successfully clears the bar, which is often. That alone makes the Olympic Games worth watching. Do yourself another favour, and watch the women in the pool. You can’t go wrong there, and the Canadian team will be fun to cheer this year. If you’re really feeling brave, and want to listen to some interesting commentary along with it, check out the female weightlifters. Yikes. All in all, the Olympics are the single greatest sporting event the world has to offer. Don’t be lured into watching any nonsense about politics, culture, or controversy; and don’t be lured into watching any American coverage of the Games. Stick with the CBC, and with Isinbayeva and Vlasic, and let the Games of the XXIX Olympiad begin!