The Stuff Epic Movies are Made of: Olympic Glory & Love

Was Cool Runnings one of your favorite movies growing up? Me too. There are few cinematic elements I love more than Olympic glory.

Strangely enough, though, I haven't been that into the actual Olympics in a long time. I guess the whole "Is Communist China going to survive hosting the games without any major incidents" element from the '08 Summer Games was semi-intriguing, and Subway's 2nd Favorite Hero, Michael Phelps,' domination was definitely impressive, but I haven't gotten caught up in the magic like I did last night.

Off and on all weekend I got sucked into more Olympic viewing than I have in the past decade combined. I forgot how much I loved watching downhill skiing, moguls, and figure skating.

Not being what you would call "coordinated" or "graceful," I never had any aspirations to break into the world of ice dancing. But it's really fun to watch/arm chair QB judge without any actual idea of qualifications. "Oh man they're so in synch," "That outfit is ugly," "They fell; they're dunzo," is about all I can grasp in terms of the performance critique.

But, boy oh boy, did last night's finale of pairs figure skating end with the trifecta of Olympic Glory perfection:

1) A older, married couple, who were twice as old as their competitors, coming out of retirement for a chance to win the elusive Gold Medal after a devastating injury doused their hopes years ago

2) The first Gold in the sport for their country (China), and first ever non-European couple to win the event! Trend-setters.

3) A victory over long-time champion Russia (it's not my fault Russians get a bad rap, but after witnessing the bitchiness of the tiny Russian coach toward her Japanese-turned-Russo skater who F'd it up, it seemed semi- deserved)

Seriously, mark my words, in a few years, there WILL be a movie based on last night's victory from China's Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao. And I will totally cry during the montage, because you know there will be a good one.

Photo credit: AFP

Sigh. That story will get me through the rest of the week. Thanks to The BFF for keeping me up to watch it.

UPDATE (thanks, Lauren):

Happy couple
At the 2007 Worlds, Shen and Zhao won their third world title with a commanding performance. At the conclusion of their free skate, Zhao dropped to one knee and proposed, but Shen didn't know what the Western gesture meant so she dropped to her knees as well. It was not until later that she said yes, and in May 2007 the pair was officially married, though they did not hold their ceremony until 2008.

Even more adorable.

I leave you with this inspiration:

Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, its bobsled time!