We began our journey to the Winter Olympics in Beijing next month with this Dazzler of the Day, and today we continue on that ice-laden path with a joint Dazzler crowning for the US ice dancing team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who have been featured here before for previous Olympic glory. They are an exquisite pair to watch, and the ice dance competition is fierce, so they have their work cut out for them.
Hot off the blades of his 6th US Figure Skating Championship title, Nathan Chen kicks off this year’s Winter Olympic extravaganza with his first Dazzler of the Day crowning. He leads the hopes for US Gold at this winter’s Olympic Games. There’s a lot of pressure riding on that, yet he has the champion’s focus to deal with it in a way that I cannot even begin to fathom.
She very well may be the reigning star of this summer’s Olympic Games, adding to her medal count to trigger records right and left and all over the place thanks to her speed and consistency. This is Allyson Felix, who nimbly earns a Dazzler of the Day from her winning efforts at the Tokyo Olympics.
A year late, and populated only by empty arenas, this summer’s Olympic Games were dramatic, moving, and must-see-viewing, even more than usual. For some reason, watching the Olympics is a source of great comfort. Maybe it’s the fractured world in which we live, and the ever-widening divides among us, but seeing the nations of the world come together is especially moving to me these days.
It began with a sneak-peek of some of the events courtesy of the Jonas Brothers in short shorts and gymnastic glory. From there it was all up and downhill, with a cavalcade of athletic superstars giving the performance of their lives, and all the drama that ensued. Here’s the linky list of spotlights and Dazzlers who have put this little website back on the international radar.
It began with the epic anticipation and pre-game dazzling pair of Simone Biles and Tom Daley – both of whom had the Olympic experience of their lifetimes.
A little puff got her pulled from these Olympic Games (told you there was drama) but Sha’Carri Richardson was an early Dazzler of the Day here.
As Simone Biles pulled out of several events early on in the biggest shock of the games, Sunisa Lee stepped up to earn a gold medal.
Another early favorite who delivered was Caeleb Dressel, who swam like a shark and Dazzled like a star.
Other Dazzlers that were featured include Carlin Isles, Dalilah Muhammad, Katie Ledecky, Pita Taufatofua, Ben Percival, Brody Malone, Chase Kalisz, Yul Moldaeur, and Oksana Chusovitina.
Tom Daley and Matty Lee dove for gold and found it, making a super Speedo splash at the Olympic Games. I was equally impressed with Daley’s knitting in the stands too. That’s my kind of Olympic spirit.
More Olympic Spotlights and Dazzlers included the following:
Still more Olympic Spotlights and Dazzlers included:
A graduate of Harvard University, and working on her Master’s degree in epidemiology (I won’t even pretend to know what that is but I’m sure it’s more complicated than, say, a degree in English and American Literature), Gabby Thomas also just won an Olympic medal at the Tokyo Olympics. For all of those accomplishments, and the promise of so much more, Thomas easily earns this Dazzler of the Day. 
Shot-put Olympic medalist, and black and queer athletic icon Raven Saunders has made a historical splash at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. From the iconic hair to the indelible masks, Saunders has left an impression on the world stage, and I’m in awe of her grit and gumption, hence this Dazzler of the Day honor. Her inspiration has fittingly been the Hulk, and her stunning displays of power rightfully earned her an Olympic medal.
The highest I’ve ever likely jumped has been over one of those parking lot dividers. A far cry from the stunning heights that pole vaulters achieve, such as Olympic medalist Chris Nilson, who earns his first Dazzler of the Day thanks to his high-jumping prowess. (As for me, these days making it over a curb is the extent of my high-jumping.)
With a winning smile, and a winning track record, and double-entendres abounding, Noah Lyles swiftly earns another honor as Dazzler of the Day. He’s racing again tonight at the Olympics, where he currently reigns as the World Champion. Speed, agility, and affability, Lyles and his many attributes make for the ultimate Renaissance man.
The Olympic caliber wrestling on display in Tokyo this past week is nothing like the WWF nonsense that I knew as wrestling from my youth. There is a place for that frivolous piece of entertainment and fakery, and I’m all for it, but on this day we are celebrating the genuine athletic skill and refinement of Kyle Dake, who’s doing the real thing in Tokyo as we speak.
Hurdles. Life sometimes seems to only be about the hurdles. We have enough of them on our personal journeys, so I’ve never felt the need to put unnecessary ones in my way. Earning the gold medal in the Women’s 100 meter hurdle event, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn adds some gold to Puerto Rico’s medal map, and gets this Dazzler of the Day honor in the process.
If I was still crowning Hunks of the Day, Karsten Warholm would likely be a top contender. For now, he and his Track & Field prowess will have to make do with the Dazzler of the Day, as he speeds over hurdles in search of a gold medal for his home country of Norway.
The Summer Olympics in Tokyo are in full bloom, as evidenced by the plethora of Olympic posts here, and the Speedo shots of some favorite Olympians. The links alone are enough for this Monday morning recap, so go on and indulge. (Special kudos to Tom Daley and Matty Lee on their gold medal, and for sprucing up this post with their Speedo poses.) See more below…
The week kicked off with this Speedo-licious post of the aforementioned (and pictured) Tom Daley and Matty Lee.
Sandwich of the summer, in any variation you like.
A flower needing a new common name.
The lily that lasts but a day.
The Olympic Spotlight shone on Artur Dalaloyan, Shane Wiskus, Tyler Downs, Andrew Capobianco, Jordan Chiles, Daiki Hashimoto, Bobby Finke, and MyKayla Skinner.
Dazzlers of the Day included Tommy Dorfman, Oksana Chusovitina, Hidilyn Diaz, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Trayvon Bromell.
Widely billed as the world’s fastest man, Trayvon Bromell is, as of this writing, set to burn his way across the tracks of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. He specializes in the sprint, so keep an eye on him, if your eyes are that fast. For this post he gets crowned Dazzler of the Day, which is the very least I can give to anyone – but also the very most.
Having to unexpectedly step up into an Olympic competition must come with a crazy kind of pressure, but the US Women’s Gymnastic team has managed to do so upon the withdrawal of their anchor Simone Biles. We’ve already seen the great Sunisa Lee earn a medal, and now the stage is set for MyKayla Skinner to do similar work. Best of luck to this amazing team.
Trailing right up until the last leg of his race, Bobby Finke made a spectacular comeback from behind to win one of the gold medals in swimming for the American team. Everyone loves a good comeback.
