Rio Olympics: Taking Flight

Erick Kynard (USA) easily cleared the bar when it was set at 2.33 meters but was unable to make it up to the winning height of 2.38 meters.  That honor went to the Canadian Derek Drouin. It should be noted that the bar is almost two feet higher than Kynard is tall.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2838485-140-226051/PaintingTaking%20Flight%20Rio140-Greig-Leach.html#.V7RyAJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: With Ease

Sam Kendricks (USA) was able to clear this 18' 1/2" bar height with ease on his way to winning a Bronze Medal in the Pole Vault.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2838069-131-226051/PaintingWith%20Ease%20Rio131-Greig-Leach.html#.V7NAWpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Truly Hard

Admittedly, all of the sports in the Olympics are hard.  That is part of the reason we enjoy watching them so much.  For the Americans Devin McEwan and Casey Erchfeld it was hard in more than one interpretation of the word.  The duo made it into the medal run only to have a truly tough run, racking up eight penalties (for touching the gate markers).  While they posted the first best time, it was only because they were the first team to take on the 24 gate course in the white water course.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836448-77-226051/PaintingTruly%20Hard%20Rio77-Greig-Leach.html#.V63d1pgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Approaching the Dismount

Chris Brooks (USA) was brilliant on the Parallel Bars.  His dismount was nothing short of amazing, and yes he did "stick it."  However his performance was not enough to carry him to the podium, or even the top ten for that matter.  He still has the opportunity of competing in the individual apparatus competitions later in the Games.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Rio Olympics: Hanging Around

Oleg Vernyayev (Ukraine) could hardly be accused of hanging out.  The amount of work and discipline it takes to be an elite gymnast is almost unfathomable.  So it is unthinkable that he could just hang out.  So putting the pun aside, Vernyayev's performance on the rings is part of how he won the Silver Medal in the Men's All-Around.  Chapeau!

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836051-74-226051/PaintingHanging%20Around%20Rio74-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yzQJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Over the Horse

Max Whitlock (Great Britain) put in a near flawless Pommel Horse routine on his way to claiming the Bronze Medal in the Men's All-Around competition.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836042-73-226051/PaintingOver%20the%20Horse%20Rio73-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yxQpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Sticking the Landing

Its the phrase the announcers just can't leave alone.  Every routine, every time "They have got to stick the landing."  Or some version there of.  And that is just what Kohei Uchimura (Japan) did in the floor exercise on his way to this second consecutive Gold Medal in the Gymnastics Individual All Around competition.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Rio Olympics: Golden Celebration

Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, the   Women's Team USA took their 4 x 200 Meter Freestyle Relay as well.  The team anchored by Katie Ledecky and led off by Allison Schmitt maintained a lead throughout every leg of the race.  And they seemed to have a great time doing it, complete with selfies (lots of them) in the ready room before the race.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Rio Olympics: Pure Speed, Spartacus

Spartacus showed how to win an Olympic Time Trial! Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) had left the Tour de France ahead of the final Alpine stages in order to prepare for these Olympic Games.  Apparently it was the right decision.  He smoked up the wet roads of Rio on his way to taking Gold in this his last Olympic appearance.  Chapeau, Fabulous Fabian!

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835915-70-226051/PaintingPure%20Speed,%20Spartacus%20Rio70-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yeXZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Posting Great Splits

Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands) was storming around the men's individual time trial course.  Every time check showed him with the new best time.  Apparently, he had carried the form that allowed him to win one of the two ITTs in this year's Tour de France.  Unfortunately for Dumoulin, Fabian Cancellara was a few riders back, and posted new best times all the way to the finish line.  So Dumoulin will have to consul himself with Olympic Silver instead of Gold.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Rio Olympics: Quick Change Artist

Australian Rohan Dennis followed on the bad luck of his teammate Richie Porte from the Men's Road Race.  Dennis managed to break the aero bars of his time trial bike.  Naturally, he couldn't finish his race on that machine, so he had no choice but to stop for a new bike.  His team mechanic was already out of the team car and unlocking the spare bike before either Dennis or the car came to a stop.  The bike change only took ten seconds, but it was enough time to push the Australian off of the medal stand.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835912-68-226051/PaintingQuick%20Change%20Artist%20Rio68-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yal5grLIU

Rio Olympics: Say What?

Either Chris Froom (Great Britain) was having trouble hearing his Director Sportif on the radio, or he couldn't believe the information he was getting.  As he crossed the second intermediate time check, he learned he was slipping behind the times of those who had gone before.  Froome is the highest placed rider from the 2012 Olympics taking place in these games, so he had the honor of being the last man to leave the start house.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835761-67-226051/PaintingSay%20What?%20Rio67-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yW8JgrLIV

Rio Olympics: Shaving Seconds

The time trial is all about saving as many seconds as possible.  Riders wear "skin suits" to reduce drag.  Their bikes are designed to slice through the wind with specialized handlebars, solid rear wheels and aerodynamic helmets.  Then there is how you ride the course.  Rohan Dennis (Australia) was cutting the corners as tight as possible, almost brushing his shoulders up against the barrier fencing.  Dennis was setting all of the best time splits as he went around the roughly 55 kilometer course.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835759-66-226051/PaintingShaving%20Seconds%20Rio66-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vqcpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Off He Goes

Clearly this will be Fabian Cancellara's (Switzerland) last Olympic Time Trial.  He is retiring from the sport at the end of this season, so this may be his last race of truth for Spartacus.  I am sure he would have preferred better conditions, but you have to go with what you get in cycling. Cancellara is a four time World Champion in this discipline and a former Olympic Gold Medalists as well.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835757-65-226051/PaintingOff%20He%20Goes%20Rio65-Greig-Leach.html#.V6voLJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Rough Road - Rough Start

Team USA should have taken Brent Brookwalter's first 200 meters as a sign.  As the American turned into the first corner, cutting across the wet cobble stones, his front wheel slid out from under him.  He scooted across the slippery road before getting back on to his TT machine.  It had to rattle his cage, and I am sure it contributed to his being outside of the top 15 finishers.  It is so tough that an athlete only gets one shot at the Olympics.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Rio Olympics: Confirming Her Time

or

Her first words after crossing the line in the Women's Individual Time Trial, "Did I win?"  Kristin Armstrong (USA) was told that yes, she had won the Gold Medal in the ITT.  And she has done it for the third time in a row!  The icing on the cake is that tomorrow (8/11/16) she turns 43 years old.  As NBC felt it was necessary to point out, she is no relation to Lance Armstrong.  Or perhaps more accurately, he is no relation to her (both in blood or in class).

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835752-63-226051/PaintingConfirming%20Her%20Time%20Rio63-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vcq5grLIU

Rio Olympics: All the Way In

In the Individual Time Trial the coach, along with the mechanic follow in the team car behind.  The coach will either use a megaphone, or a two way radio to encourage, chide, or relay split times to the athlete racing as hard as they can.  Anna Van Der Breggen (Netherlands) had her coach pushing her all of the way to the line.  The Dutch woman had already taken the Gold Medal in the Road Race, and now she can add a Bronze Medal in the Individual Time Trial.  Chapeau!

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835745-62-226051/PaintingAll%20of%20the%20Way%20In%20Rio62-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vZypgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Catching All of Those Ahead

Even though Evelyn Stevens (USA) had started a minute and a half ahead of Olga Zabelinskaya (Russia) almost caught her before they both crossed the finish line.  Stevens ended the day in tenth, but it is Zabelinskaya claiming the lead at this point.  There are some rather big names yet to finish.  Spoiler alert, she finished with the Silver Medal for her efforts on the roads south of Rio.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835741-61-226051/PaintingCatching%20All%20of%20Those%20Ahead%20Rio61-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vXRpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Coming Home Fast!

The wet roads didn't slow down anyone, including Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy).  She came storming into the final meters of the Women's Time Trial course, pushing all of the way to the line.  Longo Borghini managed to finish fifth on the day, but she did spend some time in the hot seats before going off to get a warm shower.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835737-60-226051/PaintingComing%20Home%20Fast!%20Rio60-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vVQpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Her Kind of Weather

Ellen Van Dijk (Netherlands) had raced a very strong road race in support of her teammates, Anna Van Der Breggen, who won Gold, and Anika Van Vleuten who crashed out while certainly on her way to Gold.  Van Dijk held all three of the podium spots until the last rider came across the finish line today.  She was left in fourth place, just outside of the medals in the Women's Individual Time Trial in Rio.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835735-59-226051/PaintingHer%20Kind%20of%20Weather%20Rio59-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vTeZgrLIU