Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Track Cycling Keirin Semi Finals: Winding Up

Coming from road cycling, this is a rather rare site (except just before a rider gets disqualified).  The Keirin starts with a specific order of riders following the Demy around for the first three laps as it slowly increases it speed.  After the second laps riders are free to change their order behind the Demy.  After the third lap the motorbike pulls off and the race is on!  As they speed up it is Matilda Gros (France) followed in turn by Katie Marchant (Great Britain) and Emma Hinze (Germany).  Alas, the Frenchwoman did not make it through to the finals, yet both the German and the Brit are through to vie for another medal to add to the ones they have already have in the team track cycling events.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Winding Up PO24-82" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Track Cycling Omnium Tempo Race: Chasing the Italian

In the second event in the Men's Omnium is the Tempo Race.  The riders amass points by either winning lap sprints (1 point) or by lapping the peloton (20 points).  Whomever amasses the most points by the end of the 40 laps of the velodrome wins the race, however the points they win do not carry over into the Omnium points total.  With just a lap or two to go, Elia Viviani (Italy) decided he should earn at least one point, meaning he should hold eighth by the end of the second event.  Chasing the Italian is another road cyclist, Ethan Hayter (Great Britain).  He finished one place behind Viviani.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Chasing the Italian PO24-81" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Track and Field Men's Javelin Throw: Outta Here

The Javelin Throw is such a very specific Olympic discipline.  I can see it being vital when the Games began in ancient Greece, but now... not so much.  Regardless, having faulted in his first throw, Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan) let fly with a huge throw of almost 95 meters.  For those unversed in metric, that is over the length of an American football field.  He didn't throw that far again in his ensuing attempts, but it was more than enough for the Gold Medal.  It was the first and thus far only medal for Pakistan.  

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Outta Here PO24-80" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Track and Field Men's 200 Meters: Running for Mom

Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) was running not only with his legs, but with his heart also.  His mother had passed away this year and it was her dream to see him race in the Olympics.  Clearly that wouldn't be possible, but he did run with her name and birthdate on his shoes.  Equally clear was that he had that extra lift to outsprint a field of great athletes to take the only Gold Medal (or any medal for that matter) for his country.  And the only Gold for his continent in the men's 200 ever.  Rounding out the podium are Kenneth Bednarek (USA) taking Silver - he is at the bottom of the frame - and Noah Lyles (USA) for the Bronze running in the lane just inside of Tebogo.  Lyles had hoped to do the double Gold in both of the men's sprints, but Tebogo's mother intervened.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Running for Mom PO24-79" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Track and Field Men's 110 M Hurdles: Leaps and Bounds

It was Grant Halloway (USA) who was literally leaps and bounds, or I guess bounds and leaps ahead of the rest of the field in the Men's 110 Hurdles.  He was over the final hurdle before either of the other two medalists had even started their leaps.  In the land next to him was Rasheed Broadbell (Jamaica) who took Bronze.  Ruining next to the Jamaican is the second of three Americans in the final, Daniel Roberts (USA) who just eked out the Silver Medal giving the Americans the top two spots on the podium.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Leaps and Bounds PO24-78" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024. Women's Track Cycling Team Sprint: Finishing It Off

In the team sprint, each woman takes a single lap and then swings off in hopes of getting the anchor woman to the line faster than the other team on the track.  Team Germany started with Pauline Grabosch who is now dropped away.  As Emma Hinze is just swinging wide Lea Freidrich revs up to make the final dash to the finish line.  She was able to outsprint her opponent in the Bronze Medal race to claim the Bronze Medal for Germany.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Finishing It Off PO24-76" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Track Cycling Team Pursuit: Just Seconds to Go

Team Australia was in a real tight battle with Team Great Britain in the Gold Medal race in the men's team pursuit.  The Brits had started out with the lead, but the Aussies came back.  As they hit the bell lap the Brits were closing back in, but had one of there riders touch wheels and get stuck off of his seat on the crossbar.  I'm not saying that Australia wouldn't have won regardless, but it would have been even closer.  Kell O'Brien (Australia) is circling the inner track having swung off having done his part to set the pace for his fellow teammates, Sam Welsford, Oliver Bleddyn, and Connor Leahy.  The foursome took the Gold Medal, the first for down under since 2004.  The only other gold in this event was way back in 1984.  I am sure they would like to increase the frequency of Gold otherwise they will be waiting until 2044.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Just Seconds to Go PO24-76" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Track Cycling Team Pursuit: Split Times

The British quartet of Elinor Barker, Josie Knight, Anna Morris, and Jessica Roberts got off to a bit of a slower start in their Bronze Medal race against Team Italia.  They did manage to keep building up (or Italy began to waiver) as the laps progressed.  You can just see the British coach giving them their split times as they fly past at roughly forty miles an hour.  Bear in mind that they are riding a single speed fixed gear bike with a huge gear ration.  They did come back to take the Bronze medal continuing their streak of medaling in every Olympic game in this event since its introduction into the Summer Olympics.  Sadly, despite their great start, Italy will continue to be the bridesmaid and never the bride in this track cycling contest.  The country only has two medals in track cycling total.  I guess they will leave their prowess to road cycling.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Split Times PO24-75" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Track Cycling Team Pursuit: Looking Smooth

The women of Team USA were looking really smooth, and really fast in the Team Pursuit Gold Medal Race.  The quartet of Chloe Dygert on the front followed by the road cycling Gold Medalist, Kristen Faulkner and in turn by Lily Williams - just swinging off with her job done is Jennifer Valente - were up against the powerful New Zealand team.  Both Dygert and Faulkner have already competed in the road cycling, in fact Dygert has already done the time trial as well.  They were so smooth and fast that they claimed the win for the Gold Medal in Team Pursuit.  That does mean that Faulkner now has two Olympic Gold Medals, and Dygert has the medal that crashes prevented her from winning last week.  Their Gold is part of why the USA now has the most total Olympic Medals and the most Gold Medals in these games.  It makes you wonder what the next games in the United States will look like in the medal count.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Looking Smooth PO24-74" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Surfing: The Perfect Wave

It was Caroline Marks (USA) who had the Gold Medal winning ride in the unique waves off the coast of Tahiti.  It was the pile of skulls at Teahupo'o provided the perfect and consistantly similar waves for these Olympics.  They almost seemed man made in their uniformity.  The Olympics next move to the United States in Los Angles.  I guess we will be looking at some California surfing, or perhaps they will take a page out of the French playbook and go to Hawaii for the surfing competition.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Perfect Wave PO24-73" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Surfing: Turning Out Gold

Not only is Kauli Vaast and French citizen, he is a resident of Tahiti, the very beach where the Olympic surfing events were held.  It may be the local knowledge, or it may be a life surrounded by the sea, but whatever it was it gave him the ability to win Gold in Men's Surfing.  At this point he is turning out of the wave after his gold medal winning ride.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Turning Out Gold PO24-72" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Skateboarding: Drop It

Watching Arisa Trew (Australia) was just awesome!  And that is a word I use as sparingly as it should be.  Her tricks were stunning, and her fluidity was seamless. Wow!  Clearly, she was the gold medalist even before the remaining skaters had their turn.  None were able to outscore her final run.  So, an Olympic Gold Medal it is!

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Drop In PO24-71" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Equestrian Individual Jumping: Jumping Eiffel's Tower

From the start of the Opening Ceremonies to what I am sure will be a fabulous Closing, I have been very impressed with the French sense of design in these Olympics.  Even the jumps in the equestrian events have been both beautiful and a bit tongue-in-cheek.  During the event one of the jumps is the base of the Eiffel Tower.  I was not aware that there is such a thing as a "jump-off" in equestrian competition, but that is what it came down to for the medals in the men's individual jumping event.  Only one of the three put in a perfect run, and unfortunately for Maikel Van Der Vleuten (Netherlands) his one fault and slightly slower ride than his British rival, he will take the Bronze Medal after finishing the regular time with a perfect run.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Jumping Eiffel's Tower PO24-70" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Greco-Roman Wrestling: Powering to Gold

The Gold Medal Match in Women's Greco-Roman Wrestling pitted the young American Amit Elor (USA) against Meerim Zhumanazarova (Kyrgyzstan).  Kyrgyzstan has never won a gold medal in this event, so I am sure she felt the pressure to perform.  Elor got the early two points for a take down and then towards the end of the first round she got another point for Meerim's inactivity.  That was all of the points scored which gave the Gold Medal to Elor and the Silver to Zhumanzsarova.  It was fun to watch the American gambol around the mat waving the American flag behind her like a cape.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Powering to Gold PO24-69" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Hammer Throw: A Silver Medal Throw!

I got a bit overwhelmed with painting the Olympics, so after the Men's and Women's road races, I've decided to paint from various high lights in hopes of not burning myself out.  That being said, it is back into the Track & Field for the newly minted American Annette Nneka Echikumwoke (USA) and her medal winning hammer throw.  She has recently gained US citizenship coming from Ethiopia.  Her first of three throws was enough to put her in medal contention, but she was out thrown in the end by her Canadian competitor.  Still, an Olympic Silver Medal is quite the achievement.  Welcome to the USA, Annette.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"A Silver Medal Throw PO24-68" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Golden Upset

I think Kristen Faulkner (USA) might have been so surprised that her gamble for victory was so successful that she may not have believed that she had actually won the Gold Medal by fifty-eight seconds that she didn't even give a victory salute.  Once she had caught the two leaders, Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) towing Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) along she knew that she had to try to go on her own.  She got the surprise jump on some of the best women in cycling.  Instead of immediately jumping on the American's wheel, they each looked at the other wondering who was going to make the effort.  While they dithered, the gold medal rode up the avenue.  Faulkner returned the Gold Medal to the United States last won in the first Olympic Women's Road Race in 1984.  Chapeau!

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Golden Upset PO24-67" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Almost There

Kristen Faulkner (USA) has been chasing hard with little help from the race favorite Lotte Kopecky (Belgium).  Kopecky may be excused she worked very hard to bridge up to the chasers after getting caught behind the crash on the first circuit through the streets of Paris.  As the two chasers rode through the grounds of the Louvre they could see the two leaders riding out through the gates on the other side.  It was looking like it would be a four woman race for the three medals available at the Eiffel Tower.  Not at all what both Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) were hoping to see.  Since this is the last painting of the four women, I'll tell you that one slipped off the front.  The other three sprinted for the two remaining medals, with Vos just getting the better of Kopecky for Silver and Bronze respectfully.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Almost There PO24-66" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Chasing the Chasers

It was the crash of Chloe Dygart (USA) that broke the peloton apart as they started up the Montmartre climb.  Once she got back up and underway, she spent a great deal of time chasing down those ahead of her on the road.  By this point she had dropped the third group on the road, enough so that her team car has been able to slide in behind her.  She chased for the rest of the day, almost catching the chase group as they finished the race in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.  She finished the day in 15th just over three and a half minutes behind the new Olympic Gold Medalist.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Chasing the Chasers PO24-65" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Vos and Vas

I admit that part of the reason I painted this was just to get to use the title.  That and the fact that Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) were off the front of the race with a twenty-five second gap and a mere eighteen kilometers to go.  Vas was the one who launched on the Montmartre climb with only Vos able to hold the Hungarian's wheel.  As they went back down the other side from Sacre Coeur, the two built on their lead over their erstwhile companions.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Vos and Vas PO24-64" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Time to Chase!

Caught behind the earlier crash and the medals going up the road, it was time to chase.  Behind by 49 seconds with only twenty-eight kilometers left to ride, it was Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland) who used the Montmartre climb to try to set her race to rights.  She was followed by Carolin Andersson (Sweden) and Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands).  Wiebes was in a bit of a tough spot, it was her teammate up the road so she wasn't going to help in the chase, but then again, she needed to be there if the leaders were caught.  Conversely, it was a very strong group that she was trying to chase down.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Time to Chase! PO24-63" (Original art by Greig Leach)