Scott Hamilton called figure skater Yu-Na Kim, after her long program, “a queen” and he said, “This was her coronation! Her program was perfect!”

How do our children learn the triple lutz and triple toe loop?

We don’t have an indoor ice rink for our queens and kings. We don’t have an indoor rink at all in Thousand Oaks.

Why?

Kim learned the quality of strength and sensuality through her skating and earned a Gold Medal for her perfect program and her understated elegance.

Canadian Joannie Rochette skated her programs after losing her mother the day before, and Scott said, “There’s no bigger stage than the Olympic games than to skate in the moment, which is much more than the competition.” Then, at the end of her program, she raised her arms up high to heaven as if to say, “You were always there for me, Mother, and you made all my dreams come true.”

Then she cried, and so did I.

Scott said, “Joannie’s courage and determination touched something in each of us.”

The Japanese woman Mao Asada really amazed me by making four turns in the air and on her jumps, a quad three times. She’s like a little butterfly.

This is the first time in 42 years there wasn’t an American woman on the podium.

I tried not to miss any venues, especially speed skating, curling, hockey, ice dancing and men’s figure skating. It was so exciting that I’d hold my breath before each jump, and I had the hiccups three times.

What fun to watch snow boarding.

I’m so proud of all the young adults, their perseverance, strength and especially their example of good sportsmanship. The USA won 37 medals, more than any other country and in any other Olympics they’ve participated in.

Last, but not least, Steve Holcolm’s U.S. four-man bobsled team won Gold. This hasn’t happened since 1948, 62 years ago.

Congratulations! I’m still chanting, “USA, USA, USA!
Kristal Watters
Thousand Oaks