Hurdling Over Obstacles

Dayron Robles of Cuba ran a new world record of 12.87 seconds for the 110 meter hurdle race at the IAAF Grand Pri. The previous record holder was Liu Xiang of China who will be competing alongside Robles during the Beijing Olympics. Xiang’s record was 12.88 seconds and had been the world record between July 11, 2006 and June 12, 2008 when Robles broke it.

I started running hurdles 3 years ago at my school during track season. The first time I had to jump over a hurdle I was a little scared because it looked really high and I didn’t want to hit it and fall. Even though I was afraid that I might get hurt, I decided to give it a try because it looked really exciting and fun. I’m really glad I decided to try it because now I love hurdling and I don’t find it scary anymore. Sometimes I do hit the hurdle and fall but it is part of the sport and it doesn’t discourage me.

Have you ever tried a sport that seemed scary to you? Comment below and tell me a time when you overcame any difficulties while playing a sport.

The Fastest Man On Earth? Maybe.

American sprinter Tyson Gay may be the best in the world. We’ll find that out this August. For now, all we can do is watch as the blazing 100-meter dasher knocks down record after record.

On Saturday, Gay, who grew up in Kansas and ran college track for Arkansas, shattered the American record in the 100-meter dash, running the race in 9.77 seconds, which ties the world record set by Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell. Then, he followed it up with another exciting race on Sunday that he finished in 9.68 seconds.

For a fleeting instant, all eyes in the stadium flew to the giant clock and anticipation roared through the crowd. Had Tyson Gay set the new world record—in the Olympic trials—by .09 seconds? That’s a huge margin by which to break a sprinting record.

But the roar faded to just a standing ovation as the speed of the wind was measured 4.1 meters per second. For Gay’s time to be a record, the wind has to be slower than 2 meters per second or else it gives him too much of a push from behind. It didn’t matter; the performance stole the show. Gay took a victory lap around the track, knowing that he is on his way to Bejing as America’s top sprinter.

What’s your favorite Olympic sport and who will you be watching this summer? Tell us all about it so we can tune in too!

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps became a professional swimmer at the age of 16 and has been breaking records ever since. He currently holds world records in the 200 freestyle, 200 butterfly, and the 200 and 400 individual medley.

Phelps had a stellar performance at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens where he received 8 medals. He hopes to replicate his past successes during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, he has not yet decided which events he will be competing in because the order of the events at the Olympics will play a factor in his decision and that information has not yet been disclosed.

It is projected that many swimming records will be broken during the 2008 Olympic Games due in part to the high-tech racing suits manufactured by TYR Sport and Speedo. These suits have special features and are being worn by many of the contenders in this year's Olympic Games. Infact, Speedo's LZR racer has been worn for 38 of the 42 world records that have broken since mid-February when the suit first appeared.

What do you think about these new swimsuits? What do you know about Michael Phelps? Do you expect him to perform as well during the Beijing Olympics as he has in the past?

Dodgers get more wins than hits on Saturday

Technically, it wasn't a no-hitter. But that's only because the Los Angeles Dodgers did not get to bat in the bottom of the ninth. They had already made bigger problems for the Los Angeles Angels because they were winning, 1-0.

That's right. You're eyes aren't playing tricks on you. The Dodgers did not get a single hit off the Angels' Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo and still won the game. It's only the fifth time since 1990 that the team with no hits has ended up the winner.

The Dodgers pushed their lone run across on a sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp, who skied a pitch with two runners on from walks in the bottom of the fifth. When Dodger pitcher Takaishi Saito slung the final pitch past the Angels' Reggie Willits, Dodger fans let out a deafening-and relieved-cheer through Dodger Stadium.

Sports is full of funky trivia and wacky occurrences. Seen a funny play or game yourself? Tell us about by posting to this blog!

Olympic Basketball Team

The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team was decided without tryouts and is made up of NBA all-stars and some of the biggest names in U.S. basketball.

The team involves Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight howard, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams.

The U.S. basketball team has had mixed results in past Olympic and International play. In the 2000 Olympic Games, the U.S. basketball team won first place. At the 2004 Olympic Games the all-star U.S. team finished in an unexpected third place and in 2002 the world championship team finished sixth. However, fans are hopeful that this team will redeem the U.S. and get the gold at the Beijing Olympics.

The team will play an exhibition game against Canada and then play four more once it gets to Asia. The team will then play in its first Olympic game against China on August 10.

What do you think about this all star team? How do you think it is going to do in the Olympics?

NBA Teams Take on New Talent

OK, now we know the Celtics are the champs. This week we found out which guys may be the next dominating forces in the NBA future.

One of the biggest moves of the draft came before the draft even began, as the Minnesota Timberwolves traded the rights to third-picked USC guard O.J. Mayo to the Memphis Grizzlies for fifth-picked UCLA forward Kevin Love. Minnesota also got Mike Miller, Jason Collins and Brian Cardinal, sending to the Grizzlies Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner.

The Chicago Bulls (who finished 38-49 in 2007-08 season) took Dennis Rose (at right), the 6-foot-3-inch guard from Memphis University, with the first pick. The 20-year-old Rose was a Third Team All-American and First Team Conference USA, while also leading the Memphis team in assists and being second in scoring. Draft experts say that Rose is one of the rare great point guards and one that the Bulls desperately need in the next year.

Finally, the champion Celtics took University of New Mexico guard J.R. Giddens. Giddens really got a second chance at New Mexico after transferring from the University of Kansas due to off-the-court problems. Coaches said he worked really hard and, by putting total effort in becoming a better scorer, Giddens impressed scouts from the champion squad.

Who did your team pick in the draft? Click here to find out. Then tell us what you think about your team’s moves!

David Beckham and the LA Galaxy

David Beckham is a world famous soccer player who until recently played in England. He was made famous for his legendary set pieces (corner kicks and free kicks) and key role on the England National team. Then he became even more famous when he married star singer Posh Spice of the Spice Girls.

In early 2007 it was announced that Beckham would sign a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy and become the highest paid MLS player in history. In order to play for the Galaxy, Beckham moved his family to LA where they currently live.

When asked why he wanted to play for the Galaxy, Beckham said "I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own.” Do you think having such a big star in the United States will increase the sport’s popularity here?

Having such a big star on the team has boosted attendance at the Galaxy's games. In fact, many Beckham fans attend the games solely to see Beckham.

What do you think about the LA Galaxy's decision to recruit Beckham? Do you think they did it for publicity and so that more people will come to their games? Do you think some athletes are overpaid or overrated?

Rising Above the Floods

The waters in the flooded Midwest have finally stopped rising, but U.S. Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson certainly hasn't.

Shawn is 16 years old and is the reigning world champion in all-around gymnastics. She lives in West Des Moines, Iowa. When the Mississippi River overflowed its banks earlier this month, the gym where Johnson was going through her final practice flooded with about 12 inches of water. But with just a week to go before the Olympic trials started, Shawn rebounded quickly to stay on track.

Shawn got help from her coach, who told her that she could only do her best by keeping her spirits high. Then she trained in the gym at Iowa State University, almost 50 miles from her home, to keep in shape. Shawn says that, while at first she was scared, but that training in a place that wasn't hers actually made her stronger.

The champion's perseverance paid off-- big time. Johnson had the highest score of all the events combined in the Olympic trials with 127.65 points and made the team as part of the all-around squad. Team officials believe that when Johnson gets to Beijing, China in August, she'll play a big part in bringing the U.S.A a gold medal.

Twin Power - Paul and Morgan Hamm

At the 2000 Olympics, Paul and Morgan Hamm became the first set of twins to make the U.S. gymnastics team. Now they are both returning to compete for the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Paul and Morgan come from a family of athletes. Their older sister Betsy was a 1998 NCAA champion in balance beam and their father Sandy was a nationally ranked diver.

They grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and where their father helped them make a pommel horse and parallel bars out of material they already had in their house. They also hung rings in the attic and set up a trampoline in their barn so that they could practice at home. By the time they were 11 years old, they were both practicing 5 days a week and well on their way to becoming stars.

After the 2000 Olympics, the twins took a break from gymnastics to focus on their education. For their return to the Olympics this year the twins have emphasized that they were going to make a comeback together. Isn't it amazing how they have worked together to accomplish so much?

What do you think about the Hamm brothers' story? Can you imagine what it would be like to do so much with a sibling or twin (if you have one)?

Rays on a Roll!

What is up with the Tampa Bay Rays?

The south Florida baseball team that has never won more than 60 games in a 162-game season since it joined the league in 1998 is suddenly just one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East division.

The Rays started this year as one of change. They started by changing their name from the Devil Rays to just “Rays”. The team’s colors are different too; their now blue and gold over the old purple, teal and black from the team’s first decade.

But the real change seems to be in the team’s leaders, like closer Troy Percival, a veteran right-hander who has made 18 saves to turn the Rays bullpen—once considered one the worst—into one of the best in the league.

Troy, who is 39, is not only a skilled slinger, but he is also seen as a dose of maturity for a young team with many new players from the draft. He’s seen as the guy who settles clubhouse spats calmly as well as guiding his team through the ropes of the big leagues.

What do you think is helping the Rays? Is the team better skilled this year or are its greatest players lifting players up to the talent they’ve always had?

Summer Olympics 2008 - Pollution Problems

The Olympic Games take place once every four years. They are usually celebrated as a time when the world comes together to celebrate amazing athletes and compete in many events. This year, however, the Olympic Games will have to overcome pollution problems in Beijing, China.

The air pollution levels in Beijing went up drastically last month and some of the pollutants in Beijing’s air have been shown to cause lung damage. To prevent health risks to the participating athletes, the International Olympic Committee will cancel or postpone Olympic events if they believe the air quality is harmful to the athletes.

Some athletes have independently chosen not to take part in their events for health reasons. For example, Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie has asthma and has decided not to participate in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics to protect his health.

Beijing and the areas around Beijing are working to try and reduce pollution levels so that the Olympic Games can continue without problems. Beijing has gotten rid of many industrial plants and banned the use of unleaded fuel but even though Beijing has been trying to reduce pollution, it has not been successful so far. The many construction sites, the large number of cars in the city, coal mining, and power plants are all contributing to the pollution in Beijing.

Some doctors believe that world records and exceptional performance will not be seen in sports that require stamina during these Olympics because of the bad air quality and humid atmosphere of Beijing.

Other places with similar pollution problems have hosted the Olympics in the past. For example, the Olympic Games were held in 1984 in Los Angeles, which had smog problems. Because environmental awareness is rising, Beijing has to take more precautions than has been accepted in the past.

What is your opinion on the bad air quality in Beijing and how do you think it will affect the Olympic Games? What do you think should be done about it?

The Blade Runner

Think about what it’d be like to run with only artificial legs. Now imagine trying qualify for your country’s Olympic team in the 400-meter dash with those same legs. That’s exactly what Oscar Pistorius will try to do this summer.

Oscar is a man from South Africa who lost both of his real legs because they were missing a major bone, the fibula. He’s been winning championships and setting world records since 2004 in the 100, 200, and 400-meter dashes for special Olympics competitions and now wants to compete in the regular Olympics this August in China. But the man known around the track as “The Blade Runner” hasn’t gotten this far without some challenges.

Oscar runs his races using manmade legs made of J-shaped carbon and some scientists said that they helped Oscar run without getting tired as fast as other sprinters. In January, the IAAF, which manages all track and field competitions around the world, said Oscar’s legs were so unfair that he should not be allowed to run in the August Olympics.

Oscar fought back by running in several trials where scientists from the United States studied the energy he spent on running his races and how he dealt different conditions (like weather). They found that Oscar faced just as many challenges as anyone else, and in May of this year, the court that keeps track of all Olympic events around the world ruled that Oscar could run in the trials for the South African team.

The Blade Runner still has a lot of things to do. To make his country’s team, Oscar must run ¼ of a mile in 45.95 seconds, about ½ a second faster than his best time in the event, but the runner known as the “fastest man with no legs” is pretty confident.

What do you think? Do you think Oscar can make the South African team with his manmade legs? Even if he makes the team, should he be allowed to run? Are his legs cheating or just part of an amazing story?

Water Sports - swimming and diving

Summer is finally here! I love summer because I get to swim a lot and play with water games like slip n' slides and water balloons!

Swimming is a great way to cool off during really hot summers. It is also so much fun! Some people swim competitively and learn how to do many different types of strokes. I think that is really cool but I’m not very good at swimming fast so usually I just like to swim for fun. Diving is also a popular water sport and some people can do amazing dives of off really high platforms. Do you know how to dive? Have you ever seen a diver in person or on TV? This summer the Olympics are going on in Beijing, China so there will be lots of chances to watch people dive and swim on TV.

I seem to swim more during the summer months than I do during the rest of the year. How about you? Do you swim a lot during the year or mostly during summertime?

Summer is also a great time to play other games and sports with water. What sports and games do you like to play during the summer? What water sports do you like playing?

Dance

Sports are a lot of fun! You can meet new people through sports and make new friends. Sports are also a great way to get some exercise and participate in an activity that you love.

I love to dance, but not many people know about the dance that I do. It is called Bharatanatyam (I know, it can be a little hard to say) and it is a type of Indian classical dance. It is a very old style of dance and people have been dancing Bharatanatyam for hundreds of years. Even though it is a dance, I have to act a little bit because a lot of the pieces that I perform are stories that I tell through dance.

Where I live, only a few people know about Bharatanatyam. It can be hard to explain to other people what kind of dance Bharatanatyam is, so sometimes I invite my friends who have never heard of it to come and watch me perform. Performing in front of lots of people can be scary and it makes me nervous. Has anyone ever told you to pretend the audience is in their underwear to make you less nervous? That idea doesn't work for me! I just practice a lot and try my best!

I love playing sports, the ones that no one has heard about and also more popular ones. Have you ever heard of or played any sports that not many other people know about? What sports do you like to play or watch? What are your favorite things about sports?

Getting to know you

Hi, my name is Megha. Like Wes, I will also be a regular contributer and moderator for the sports blog at ZooKaZoo.

I am 16 years old and a junior (soon to be senior) at Palo Alto High School. I dance a type of Indian classical dance called Bharatanatyam, play soccer, and run track (hurdles). This summer I am really excited because I will be traveling to Hawaii for a soccer tournament with my team. I also plan to dance a lot in the coming months in preparation for a big dance performance at the end of the summer. At PALY I was a reporter for our school's online newspaper and next year I will be a podcast editor and the A&E editor.

I'm really excited to be working at ZooKaZoo this summer and I hope that I can make some valuable contributions.

Getting to Know You

Hi, my name is Wes Duplantier and I will be a regular contributor and moderator of the ZooKazoo sports club house and forums. I graduated from Palo Alto High School, where I was sports section editor of the school's online newspaper, the Paly Voice, last week. In August, I will attend the University of Missouri-Columbia, working toward a degree in journalism as a Mark Twain Scholar.

When I'm not writing, I love to run long distance. I ran track and cross country in high school and plan to run the Columbia (Mo.) Half-Marathon Challenge in October as a member of the Columbia Track Club.

Got a fun or inspiring sports story in mind? Let me know so we can post it for other kids!