August 7, 2008

The Olympics: how hard can it be?

To mark the opening of the Beijing Olympics, Guardian writers have visited training centres around China to find out how difficult Olympic events are and what athletes' training and lifestyles are like

G2 Olympics Patrick Barkham shot put — Patrick Barkham, shot put Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

G2 Olympics Patrick Barkham shot put — "Hole in the sky, hole in the sky. I twizzle for my final throw. It is hardly a moment of transcendence but for a brief second the shot sails skywards" Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

G2 Olympics Hannah Pool gymnastics — Hannah Pool, gymnastics Photograph: Frank Baron/Guardian

G2 Olympics Hannah Pool gymnastics — "I take a deep breath, swing my arms to get momentum, and go for it. The next thing I know, I’m sitting on a mat on the floor, looking up at the end of the beam thinking 'wow, I did it'" Photograph: Frank Baron/Guardian

G2 Olympics Aida Edemariam swimming — Aida Edemariam, front crawl Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

G2 Olympics Aida Edemariam swimming — "Slowing my stroke down, kicking quicker, pushing off harder, even a butterfly kick underwater — all of that is more or less OK. But breathing on both sides? My spluttering attempts cause peals of laughter" Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

G2 Olympics Jon Henley rowing — Jon Henley, rowing Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

G2 Olympics Jon Henley rowing — "The slightest movement sends its insanely skinny hull skidding straight out from under you; essay even half a gentle stroke and unless your blades enter and leave the water at exactly the same moment, precisely the right angle, you’ll be over" Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

G2 Olympics Laura Barton fencing — Laura Barton, fencing Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/Guardian

G2 Olympics Laura Barton fencing — "The first time another blade strikes yours is rather terrifying, but after a short while you begin to learn the tricks: protecting your head, angling the blade, double bluffing" Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/Guardian

G2 Olympics Homa Khaleeli high jump — Homa Khaleeli, high jump Photograph: David Sillitoe/Guardian

G2 Olympics Homa Khaleeli high jump — "Trying to remember which leg to jump off on, how close to the bar to jump and all the while concentrating on getting my arms in the air and bringing my right knee up to propel me into the air is so confusing that all I manage is a little hop" Photograph: David Sillitoe/Guardian

G2 Olympics Sarfraz Manzoor BMX — Sarfraz Manzoor, BMX Photograph: Frank Baron/Guardian

G2 Olympics Sarfraz Manzoor BMX — "I push forward, standing on the pedals as the bike bounces along the first three jumps. Then I slam on the brakes. 'You don’t really expect me to go down that do you?'" Photograph: Frank Baron/Guardian

G2 Olympics Emine Saner steeplechase — Emine Saner, steeplechase Photograph: Henry Browne/Guardian

G2 Olympics Emine Saner steeplechase — "I take my first run up to the bar. It is terrifying but I manage to jump up on to it with one foot..." Photograph: Henry Browne/Guardian

G2 Olympics Emine Saner steeplechase — "...I land in the water, fall over and swallow a mouthful of steeplechase stew. A film of dead insects floats on the surface" Photograph: Henry Browne/Guardian

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