Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Individual All Around: Full of Joy

In her post event interview Suni Lee (USA) was asked about her performance after winning the Bronze Medal.  She had some troubles in the early rotations, so her response was a lesson to us all.  "I was sure I had no chance for a medal, so I just went out and enjoyed myself."  It showed.  She has had many setbacks that I wrote about earlier, so I imagine that the possibility of not winning an individual medal was a big issue to her.  My hat is off to her to remain that cool, and to do it with that many cameras clicking and whirring away in the background.  Not to mention the TV cameras everywhere, the fans and celebrities filling the venue and all of us watching on various media outlets.  And all that, and she still came away with the Bronze.  Not too shabby.

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. 

"Full of Joy PO24-51" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Individual All Around: Catch and Release

I suppose I should title this "release and catch," but I was going for a play on the uneven bars skills and fishing action.  I know, it is a bit of a stretch, but I enjoy it.  I also enjoy watching Rebeca Andrade (Brazil) as a gymnast.  She has both athleticism and an infectious movement and joy in all that she does.  Her second rotation on this discipline was flawless and gave her the lead at the end of the second rotation.  She did drop at the end of the night, but that meant that she will be taking the Silver Medal back to her home in Rio.

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. 

"Catch and Release PO24-47" (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: Balance

The Italian Team was in the same rotation as the Americans and were being very supportive of their main rivals for an Olympic Medal. They would hug and congratulate each other as the other left the stage after their competition. Alice D'Amato (Italy) was on great form as she helped carrier her team to a Silver Medal in the Women's Gymnastics Team All Around competition on the Balance Beam. They just edged out Brazil for the honor, with the latter coming home with the Bronze.

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.

"Balance PO24-34" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Team All-Around: Angelic

I stand in awe of most Olympic athletes and most particularly gymnasts.  But Suni Lee's (USA) back story of a rare kidney disease just a year or so ago is amazing.  My wife suffers with PKD and has had a kidney transplant.  I know what kind of suffering it can bring!  She is doing well now, but nothing like being able to qualify for an Olympic team.  For Lee to be able to come back from that and be here in Paris is nothing short of amazing.  Then to nail her Uneven Bars routine so flawlessly, wow!  Just in case you weren't impressed enough, she had to step in and do the Floor Exercise tonight for a sick teammate.  After this routine, Team USA knew that they were almost guaranteed a gold medal in Paris.

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.

"Angelic PO24-32" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Team All-Around: Precisely

The American women's gymnastic team came to Paris with more than a goal to win Gold, they came to redeem themselves for Tokyo.  I don't quite understand why they feel they need redemption for winning a Silver Medal, but whatever motivates them.  Like the American men last night, they came out firing on all cylinders!  They stomped the Vault, and  Jordan Chiles (USA) opened up their rotation on the Uneven Parallel Bars with precision.  

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.

"Precisely PO24-31" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Qualifying: Flying High

Despite having hurt her calf in her floor exercise warm-ups, Simone Biles (USA) was still able to fly in Floor Exercise.  Reportedly, her feet are currently over ten feet in the air as she does one of three tumbling passes.  With her performance tonight, she will be competing in the Team All-Around, the Individual All-Around and for different individual apparatus competitions.  Hopefully, her injury will be much better by the time she returns to competition on Tuesday.

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. 

"Flying High PO24-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Qualifying: She's Back!

Simone Biles (USA) started her Olympics today on the Balance Beam.  Just from the attitude in this moment in her routine, you could tell she was fully back.  She did enough in this routine to help qualify Team USA for the team competition, herself for the all-around, and in this apparatus as well.  Clearly, she has put the demons from Tokyo to rest.

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. 

"She's Back! PO24-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Rio Olympics: Balanced Grace

From her unique entry to the beam all of the way through to the "unorthodox" dismount, Sanne Wevers (Netherlands) showed incredible grace and power.  Her multi-directional spins were a thing of beauty.  I have capture her mid way through a triple spin atop the four inch wide balance beam.  She won the first medal for Netherlands in this event since 1928 and this one was 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.  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/2838107-133-226051/PaintingBalanced%20Grace%20Rio133-Greig-Leach.html#.V7NEoJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Fly High, Stick the Landing

Theoretically, this is Gymnastics 101, Fly High, Stick the Landing.  Somehow, I think there is a lot more to it then that.  But if you have these two things in your favor, you are well on your way to an award winning performance.  Madison Kocian (USA) had all of it in spades, but came up just shy of the Gold Medal on the Uneven Bars.  Kocian will take home a Silver Medal to go with her Gold from the Team 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.  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/2837669-123-226051/PaintingFly%20High,%20Stick%20the%20Landing%20Rio123-Greig-Leach.html#.V7Ie35grLIU

Rio Olympics: Launching Herself

Simone Biles (USA) has launched herself in more ways than this with these Olympics.  Biles has claimed Gold in the team competition, the individual all-around competition and with this vault as well.  Biles is competing in two more individual events hoping to take 5 gold medals home with her by Sunday.  Not a bad Olympic debut.

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/2837657-122-226051/PaintingLaunching%20Herself%20Rio122-Greig-Leach.html#.V7IcJ5grLIU

Rio Olympics: For the Love of It

This is one of the Olympic stories that truly warms my heart.  Oksana Chusovitina (Uzbekistan) is old enough to be the mother of every woman she is competing against.  Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but she is 41 years old and still competing at an elite level.  When asked, she says she just loves gymnastics.  She hasn't ruled out going to Toyko in 2020.  She hasn't medal since 2004, but that hasn't deterred her from coming back over and over.

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/2837648-121-226051/PaintingFor%20the%20Love%20of%20It%20Rio121-Greig-Leach.html#.V7IZg5grLIU

Rio Olympics: Home Team Girl

Brazil did well to get one of their gymnasts into the Women's All Around competition.  Rebeca Andrade (Brazil) was naturally a crowd favorite.  Her floor exercise was spot on, rivaling those of most of the medal winners, but not her scores.  The patriotic crowd loudly boo-ed the score as it played across the stadium.  It must have rattle the next gymnast waiting to start her routine.  Her dance elements reminded me of the great Josephine Baker (although she was never a gymnast).

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/2836495-88-226051/PaintingHome%20Team%20Girl%20Rio88-Greig-Leach.html#.V639uJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Joy

Joy!  Team USA women gymnasts were beyond joyful after Simone Biles finished her floor exercise.  She only need a 7.1 score (incredibly low for gymnastics) but instead provided her teammates with a 15.3.  Her score and those of all of her teammates meant that Team USA repeated their Team Gold in Women's Gymnastics.  Congratulations to Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas and Laurie Hernandez!

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/2835393-57-226051/PaintingJoy%20Rio57-Greig-Leach.html#.V6rK4pgrLIU

Rio Olympics: A Balanced Beamer

Back to using puns for titles.  According to the NBC announcers, Aly Raisman's (USA) coach refers to her as a "beamer" so the title almost wrote itself.  This is her, the captain of the USA Women's Gymnastics team up on the balance beam.  Raisman and her teammates finished the balance beam with a strong lead in the team competition.  It has been a pleasure to watch such talented gymnasts also having so much fun competing.

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/2835388-56-226051/PaintingA%20Balanced%20Beamer%20Rio56-Greig-Leach.html#.V6rIkZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: From Bar to Bar

Madison Kocian (USA) continued the amazing performances of her teammates as they began their march towards the team gymnastics Gold 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835381-52-226051/PaintingFrom%20Bar%20to%20Bar%20Rio52-Greig-Leach.html#.V6q-TJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Flying from One to the Other

The USA Women's Gymnastics team took to the floor tonight to defend their Gold Medal performance in the London 2012 games.  From the very first routine by Simone Biles on the uneven bars, it was looking like they would be able to repeat the feat from London.

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/2835379-51-226051/PaintingFlying%20from%20One%20to%20the%20Other%20Rio51-Greig-Leach.html#.V6q8lJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Her Own Move

The tiny and powerful Simone Biles (USA) showed her signature move that she has self-titled as she hit the Olympic floor for the first time.  Today was team qualification, but at this point she is also leading her teammates in qualifying for the chance to compete in the all-around for Women's Gymnastics.

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/2834368-29-226051/PaintingHer%20Own%20Move%20Rio29-Greig-Leach.html#.V6ghpbgrLIU

Rio Olympics: A Leap of Faith

With power, grace and bizazz, Laurie Hernandez (USA) took to the floor exercise in the Olympic Gymnastics team qualifying round.  It was a leap of faith that she would make the all-around competition, a leap she did with aplomb!

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/2834365-28-226051/PaintingA%20Leap%20of%20Faith%20Rio28-Greig-Leach.html#.V6gfs7grLIU