Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Gymnastics Individual All Around: Not the Man They Were Expecting

When the defending Olympic Gold Medalist faltered it was his teammate Shinnosuke Oka (Japan) who rose to the occasion.  He had been posting excellent scores and was benefiting from others earlier misfortunes as well.  As he finished his final rotation on the Parallel Bars, he knew he had a medal.  Now he just has to wait for Zhang Boheng (China) to finish his High Bar routine to discover what color it would be.  I'll jump ahead to let you know that Zhang's score was not enough to overtake Oka, so it is Gold for Japan.  He is now a team gold medalist and an individual gold medalist in the men's gymnastics all around.

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. 

"Not the Man They Were Expecting PO24-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Beijing 2022: Making Sure

There are two disciplines in the Winter Olympics that strongly resemble all of the aspects of cycling.  Speed skating is one of those.  Many of its events are identical to track cycling.  Riding a velodrome is still one of the things on my cycling bucket list. Meanwhile, back at duscussing this painting... Irene Schouten (Netherlands) keeps a close eye on her main competitors; Gina Lollabridgida (Italy), Valerie Maltias (Canada) and the Japanese skater who's name I wasn't able to catch.  She crashed out of this semi-final heat and her name wasn't posted on the finish listing.

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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Winter-Olympics-2022/3868136-54-293321/Painting/making-sure-beijing-2022.html

Beijing 2022: The Pipe Has Been Passed

It is stunning to think that Ayumu Hirano (Japan) was less than a year old when his competitor, Shaun White (USA) won hisfirst Olympic medal.  Hirano laid down a near perfect run that included a triple corkscrew hit and yet only scored enough points to move irnto the Silver Medal.  Clearly that questionable scoring only hardened his will to have his final run leave no doubt that he is the best boarder in the half pipe today.  And this time the points posted, 96.00 honestly reflected the quality of the performance.  And yes, I went for another weak pun with the title.

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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Winter-Olympics-2022/3865976-20-293321/Painting/the-pipe-has-been-passed-beijing-2022.html

Olympics 2018: Final Corner

This was the women's mass start in speed skating, the first time this race has been an Olympic event.  It is based on a similar event in track cycling.  Riders gain points in three intermediate sprints during the race, and if a skater can lap the pack they will gain 20 points.  The final sprint earns the first across the line 60 points, so it still comes down to the finale.  Going into the final corner of the race in was Irene Schouten (Netherlands) on the front followed by Nan Takagi (Japan) with Bo-Reum Kim (Korea) on her wheel.  It was Takagi taking Gold, with Kim in for Silver, and Schouten for Bronze.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available by emailing me at greigsart@gmail.com.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  It is $75 plus shipping.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Bergen 2017, U23 Road Race, Wet & Hydrated

Today marked the end of the time trials and the first day of road racing.  It also marked the end of summer and the start of the cold, wet, dreary days of autumn.  While there as been some intermittant showers this week, today was the first day of sustained rain combined with temperatures in the mid 50's.  Awet Hastom Tekle (Eritrea) was making sure he had enough fluids in him, and with his rain coat he was also trying to keep the fluids off of himself as well.  Tekle was in the early break of the day along with Atsushi Oka (Japan), Gustav Hoog (Sweden) and Vasili Strokau (Belarus).  The quintet build up about a two minute lead on the peloton in the early going, but the fireworks were about to start behind, even though there was still another 168 kilometers to 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3037093-31-239826/PaintingWet-&-Hydrated--Bergen-31.html

Rio Olympics: The Last Pass

There are several different ways to look at this title, well, two anyway.  This is the last pass in the men's 4x100 relay, the last time the baton changes hands before the anchormen take the race to the finish line.  According to Usain Bolt's (Jamaica) own statements this is his last Olympic race, and therefore this is his last baton pass in the Olympics.  And boy oh boy did he make it count.  This time he left everyone behind despite being the third member of this group to get the aluminum rod from his teammate.  And he finished the race of in a new World Record.  Team Japan got the baton first, but finished in second winning the Silver.  The USA moved up to third, but then continuing the American women's 4x100 woes, were disqualified for a bad baton pass.  They didn't drop the baton like the women had done in qualifying, they passed too soon, out of the transition zone.  So it is Team Canada that gets to take home the Bronze Medal.

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/2840016-186-226051/PaintingThe%20Last%20Pass%20Rio186-Greig-Leach.html#.V7hwI5grLIU

Rio Olympics: Fighting the Dragon

According to the announcers on NBC, each of the teams have a theme to their performances, not that the judges nor audience are told what it is.  The Japanese team had center their routine on the idea of fighting the dragon.  Some of the movements were very much in keeping with ritual dragon dance moves.  And then their swimsuits were a very stylized dragon motif.  The Japanese were very thrilled to win the Bronze medal after their powerful and beautiful performance.

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/2839937-180-226051/PaintingFighting%20the%20Dragon%20Rio180-Greig-Leach.html#.V7f5pZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Not Done Yet

Yet again, there is a reason you actually play the match.  Saori Yoshida (Japan) had only lost two matches in the last fourteen years and she was going up against a young American, Helen Louise Maroulis.  Maroulis went into the final couple of minutes with a couple of points lead, but early Japanese matches had been won in the final seconds of the final round.  So while Yoshida was behind, the match wasn't over yet.  But instead of the star of Japan getting a take down, it was the American Maroulis who scored with just two or three seconds left.  With that, all she had to do was dance away until the final bell and the Gold Medal would be hers.  The first Gold for the United States in Olympics women's wrestling.  Yoshida did get the Silver, but she cried throughout the Medal Ceremony.

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/2839250-167-226051/PaintingNot%20Done%20Yet%20Rio167-Greig-Leach.html#.V7acipgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Leverage

The Azerbaijani woman, Mariya Stednik seemed to have the Gold Medal match in hand.  With just 45 seconds left, she had a one point advantage on the defending Gold Medalist Eri Tosaka (Japan).  Then Tosaka showed her stuff, getting a take down and its two points to take the match with just seconds left.  Stednik look stunned as well as exhausted as she won Silver.  However Tosaka had enough left to carry her much large coach on her shoulders as he waved the Japanese flag over his head.

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/2838929-159-226051/PaintingLeverage%20Rio159-Greig-Leach.html#.V7XEkJgrLIU

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836039-72-226051/PaintingSticking%20the%20Landing-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yvgJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Paddling Upstream

The red gates in the Canoe/Kayak slalom must be gone through by paddling upstream (green gates are down stream gates.  Takuya Haneda (Japan) powered his way through this gate on his way to what eventually became a Bronze Medal in the C-1 Slalom.

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/2835257-47-226051/PaintingPaddling%20Upstream%20Rio47-Greig-Leach.html#.V6phmZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Almost There

Finishing the 400 meter Individual Medley with the free style stroke, American Chase Kalisz was unable to catch Kosuke Hagino (Japan) as the pair approached the wall. Kalisz claimed the Silver and Hagino took 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2833977-14-226051/PaintingAlmost%20There%20Rio14-Greig-Leach.html#.V6a1orgrLIU