23/07/2012
With less than a week to the start of the Games, athletes are super-focused on final preparations..
But some don’t know how they should feel. British rower Zac Purchase received an email from London 2012 asking: “Just one week to go, we're ready, are you?” Bewildered, he asked his Twitter followers: “what shall I reply?!?”
US wrestler Jordan Burroughs similarly asked his fans: “Is it time to start getting nervous yet?”
Some female athletes have more pressing issues on their minds – their nails: “1 wk to go! Training hard. Serious question right now is what should i get on my nails [sic],” tweeted slalom kayaker Jess Fox before a free manicure in the Athletes’ village.
“green&gold or aus flag? ” wondered Fox, a former YOG athlete and, at 17, the youngest member of the Australian team.
British gymnast Lynne Hutchison and US sprinter Sanya Richards Ross, both posted pictures of their newly manicured nails. Hutchison opted for a golden Union Jack pattern, while Richards Ross showed off stars and stripes in traditional red, white and blue.
US shooter Amanda Furrer had her nails with the American flag, but insisted on a compromise only a shooter would understand. “[M]ake sure to shorten those two nails so I can pick up my bullets,” she demanded.
Even before the Games, there’s mounting excitement about one of the acts performing at the Closing Ceremony – the Spice Girls.
25-year-old US swimmer Jessica Hardy, who saw the 1990s’ girl band 14 years ago, tweeted that their reunion was going to be “EXCITING!!!” Australian “Hockeyroo” Anna Flanagan also claimed to be “beyond excited.”
To follow these and more Olympic athletes online, check out the Athletes’ Hub on Olympic.org