What a Win!

The women’s volleyball team beat Italy last night in an intense comeback that has propelled them into the medal rounds! It was do-or-die – a loss would have meant their swan song – but instead they rallied from a 1-2 deficit to win 3-2 against a team they hadn’t beaten in nearly 8 years!


It was so thrilling to watch. The team really found their momentum and looked invincible once they got on a role. The energy was incredible! It’s now down to USA vs. Cuba and Brazil vs. China fighting it out for the medals. USA’s only loss so far these Games was to Cuba 3-0, but they played poorly and weren’t in their current groove. The teams are pretty evenly matched, so it will be a battle! The game is at 12:30 pm Beijing time Thursday afternoon / 11:30 pm Central Wednesday night.

Yes, there are Chinese cheerleaders, and they change outfits between every set!

Some other photos from Olympic land…

Within 6 hours of the Opening Ceremony, this full-wall photo of our delegation marching in was up at USA House, our business and hospitality center.

You have to love the little diva posing in front of this statue, with the Bird’s Nest and Olympic flame in the background.

What a view! This is what the athletes see as they march out for the Opening Ceremony, as well as the track athletes as they enter for their events. See the gray blur? Those are packed seats!

The inside of the stadium during track & field.

These fountains, right outside the Water Cube, are set to classical music and are so much fun to watch on nice days with an ice cream in-hand :).

Everyone seems to carry umbrellas in China, particularly on sunny days.

Michael Phelps: large and in charge.

At the silk market, this woman was literally pulling silk worms out of their cocoons as we watched, balling up the silk cocoon material, and stretching it over this wire contraption to dry. There was a bowl of silk worms piled high as she continued working!

The U.S. women’s soccer team after going up 2-1 over Japan in the semi-finals. They ended up winning 4-2 in front of a rowdy crowd of 50,000.