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, 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 Gymnastics Team All Around: Redeemed!

It was such a moment of joy when Simone Biles (USA) finished her final routine in the team's final rotation on the Floor Exercise.  After hugging, high-fiving, and jumping in each other's arms, the team climbed up on the stage to chants of "USA! USA! USA!"  They unfolded the American flag and held it aloft prior to the classic pose for the cameras.  I caught this image as Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera looked up at the flag of the country they represent having just won the Gold Medal in the Team Finals.  The title refers back to their defining this year as their 'Redemption Tour.'  Clearly winning the team title by over five points counts as redemption, not that they needed it.

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.

"Redeemed! PO24-36" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Team All Around: Stick in Like Butter

I owe this title to Jordan Chiles' (USA) father Timothy.  As she finished her uneven bars routine he could be heard just before she ended her routine telling her to "stick it like butter!"  I'm sure it wasn't the first time he had said it, but it was the first time I had ever heard it.  The announcer and I both enjoyed it.  I also love that as she sticks the final landing of her Floor Exercise routine, her head coach Cecile Caquete-Landi and the rest of her team celebrate her performance.  As she finished, it was clear to them all that the team had won the Gold Medal.  In their minds that had finished the goal of the "Redemption Tour" coming back from their disappointment of taking silver rather than gold in Tokyo.  

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.

"Stick It Like Butter PO24-35" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Rio Olympics: Building the Foundation

Setting up the anchor of a relay is all about building up a lead in the previous legs, a solid foundation of the win.  Phyllis Francis (USA) did just that for her countrywomen.  Francis was able to extend the lead over Team Jamaica that she had been handed at the first baton pass.  Team USA and Team Jamaica made it look like they were the only two teams on the track such was their lead over the rest of the field.  The Americans were able to carry their lead all of the way to the end for the Gold Medal, with  the Jamaicans taking the Silver.  For all I know, we are still waiting for the Bronze medalist to finish.

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/2840489-202-226051/PaintingBuilding%20the%20Foundation%20Rio202-Greig-Leach.html#.V7nMRZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Around the Final Turn

The American Matthew Centrowitz had led the entire back around the oval lap after lap after lap.   The question was, would he still be leading when it mattered?  Happily the answer is yes.  It was fun to watch his father in the stands going nuts with delight at his son's achievement.  Centrowitz is the first American to win the 1,500 M race since 1908.  That is a one hundred and eight year drought.  Taqufik Makhloufi (Algeria) is making his move on the outside.  A move that won him the Silver.  Tucked in about mid pack is Nicholas Willis (New Zealand) who negotiated the traffic to take 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/2840486-200-226051/PaintingAround%20the%20Final%20Turn%20Rio200-Greig-Leach.html#.V7nF0pgrLIU