Welcome to my Beijing Blog!

My name is Lindsey Carmichael, and at the time when I wrote in this blog, I was 23 years old and attending the University of Texas at Austin. I am a writer as well as a world-class archer, and I felt compelled to keep a record of my days in Beijing. I hope you enjoy reading!

A few notes about that. My blog is about fifty posts long, and is organized so that the most recent posts are at the top. That means the easiest way to navigate is to use the calendar at the left side of the page to look at previous months or look at a list of my subject headlines.

To make it easier, I’m going to link the entries I find most pertinent to my Olympic story. The links below by no means constitute my entire experience, but you'll get an idea. (The one in bold with stars is the one of which I am most proud. It was written on September 13th, has a very unassuming name, and it is the one that has been most quoted by others.) Once you click on the link, it will take you to that particular entry, and you can use the “previous / next” links at the bottom of those entries to take you forward and backwards in my writing.

AUGUST 2008

Welcome--Introductory Post!

Four Years… Four Weeks

The Last Practice


SEPTEMBER 2008

Inspiration, and a Final Goodbye

Travel Drama!

At the Village!

Rough Practice, and Opening Ceremonies

Beijing Paralympic Opening Ceremonies

First Day of Scoring

YouTube Videos!

First Match!

Oh the DRAMA! (Or, Lindsey's 1/8th Elimination Match)

Quarter-Finals, a photo, and two videos from yesterday!

VICTORY!!! A BRONZE!!!!

**Details on Semis and Bronze Medal Match**

Quick Update + an essay about the Paras from 2004

Closing Ceremonies… Last update from China…?

Final trip home – and a couple surprises!


OCTOBER 2008

A Wonderful Week, and More Events to Come!

Two Articles!

Going to the White House for a Visit

Recap of Washington Visit

What’s Next?


Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a comment on any of the entries, send me a message if you'd like to get in touch, or just poke around as much as you'd like. If you quote me in any way, please remember that all this work is copyright 2008 Lindsey Carmichael.

Enjoy!

I think the time has finally come for me to put the finishing touches on this blog. I’ve been home from Beijing for over two months, now. I’ve made inroads into my motivational speaking circuit. I’ve written over 31,000 words in a novel about a Paralympian, and I’m still going strong. By December I hope to have something readable, something worth editing and sending off to a publisher’s. By mid-January I start classes again, and continue shooting archery recreationally with the University of Texas Archery Club again. We have just instituted a Competition program, Team Texas, which will help our more competitive members stay focused and shoot better at the tournaments we attend.

I’m looking forward to finishing my English and History degrees in a couple of years. By that time, I hope to have made some serious progress with my Juice Plus business. I hope to have my Master Level Reiki third degree by then. And I hope to have a novel in the works of some publishing company, ready to hit shelves in a bookstore near you. I have a goal to meet, you know. I want to be on the NY Times Best-Seller List by 2020, and it would be absolutely wonderful to see a book about a Paralympian taking center stage in the literary world.

I’ve had a friend tell me that there’s no way I can make a living from novel writing, and that I ought to get a steady job. This same person has been skeptical about the fact that one can support oneself and one’s family just through Juice Plus. And I won’t deny that these things will take some effort… but if I care about nutrition, and care about seeing my friends a little bit healthier, then Juice Plus is a business I want to be involved with. And if I care about sharing my experiences with the world, and helping to inspire others with the same dreams that I’ve had, then writing is a business that I want to be involved with, too.

The journal that I’m using for this November is something cheap and simple from Barnes & Nobles. But emblazoned across the front of this modest notebook are words written in golden capital letters:

“IN THE MIDST OF OUR LIVES,
WE MUST FIND THE MAGIC
THAT MAKES OUR SOULS SOAR.”

I could not agree more. My friend is probably right on some level. I probably ought to settle down with an easy 9-5 job and try to get my writing done whenever I can. And who knows? Perhaps I will. But I’m not ever going to give up the things that truly drive my life, that bring joy and purpose and magic into my days.

I may try for London 2012. I may not. I want to see if I can get to the point where archery itself is bringing happiness into my life. If I can see it through to that day, perhaps I will try for another Olympiad. Heck, I might even try for both the Olympics and the Paras again. But whatever I do, you can rest assured that I’ll be looking for the magic in my days. Beijing was incredible. It was so amazing that I still feel as if it were a dream. But there are so many other ways to find magic in our days. I hope I never stop looking for it.


Thank you once more for reading. I may post again here and there, might reorganize a bit, but for the most part this blog is a closed book. My story is told, and it's time to make new stories. May we meet again soon!

Hey everyone!

To celebrate the fact that today is the 15th of November and therefore the halfway point of this wonderful National Novel Writing Month, I have decided to share with you the passage I wrote this morning. At the moment, I'm hovering at about 24,440 words (from the total goal of 50,000 this month), with eight chapters and a prologue.

Not that it matters to you, really, but this piece was written into Chapter 3. I realized last night that chronologically, I needed my main character Marianne to make the Paralympic Team before my secondary character Casey went through the second Olympic Trials event.

This is fictional and not an autobiographical story, but I am using a lot of my own experiences. I have created these characters, not copied them from real people. Also, I have changed a few dates, as well as the location of the Games, as you might notice near the end of the excerpt. In real life, I was officially named to the Team while staying with the rest of the disabled archers at the Olympic Training Center for a quick training camp, and the coaches were there with us to deliver the official news, which we all knew was coming anyway. In this scene, Marianne has been living as a Resident at the OTC for months, and knows she will make the Team because of prior events at the World Championships. Even so, it's still an incredible feeling.

I chose this excerpt because I wrote it today, and because posting it would give away nothing about the book / characters / plot that wouldn't already be assumed by the reader. I am also fairly proud of it as a writer. It's not a stellar scene, but it's good. It's solid. And it also happens to capture the way I felt when I found out last March. I remember that it was the Spring Equinox, and chilly. I can remember standing outside Athlete Check-in after the meeting, and calling my great Uncle Norm. He was fast asleep in Massachusetts, but I left a message on his voicemail, breathless and excited. He still has it saved, and told me recently that he listens to it often. So here, I'd like to share with you Marianne's fictional (though no less realistic) experience.

( Excerpt from PASSING THE TORCH... )


24,440 currently / 25,000 today's goal / 50,000 ultimate goal / 15 days left!

As many of you know, I'm a student at the University of Texas at Austin. I was in the process of researching classes to take next semester (UT registration is coming up very soon!) when I saw this lovely blurb on the English Department website. To be honest, I'd actually forgotten that I'd sent the info to one of my favorite professors. What a great job the department did!

Click here for the original page, or read on below:

Junior English major Lindsey Carmichael recently returned from the Paralympic Games in Beijing as a bronze-medal winner in women’s archery. A resident of Lago Vista, Texas, Carmichael is an avid student of literature and an excellent writer. Those who followed her summer blog—appropriately titled “Rings and Arrows: The Adventures of an American Archer Dreaming in Beijing”—recognize Carmichael’s literary talents. As Professor Douglas Bruster observed: “It’s rare to find someone with both a special athletic ability and the means to describe athletic experience in such engaging prose. Lindsey possesses real gifts, and has only started to discover what she can do with them.” Carmichael will resume her studies at UT in the spring.

I've heard this question so many times in the past few weeks that I'm having flashbacks to high school graduation. Most Olympians are warned in goalsetting workshops or by sports psychologists that they need to have plans already in motion by the time they come home from the Games, or they'll come home feeling empty or lost without something to keep pushing them. For some, that means turning around and starting a new training schedule for the upcoming quadrennium (four year period). I'm lucky. I was never just an archer. I have so many other interests that it seems unlikely I'll ever get truly bored in life. I'm also lucky in that I've known for years what I want to do with my life, with or without archery. I want to write.

My usual explanation for this strange desire to don a beret, sip espresso, and generally just starve myself into the role of existential-writer-extraordinaire goes something like, "Well, I like to write and people seem to like to read what I write. Works out well for everyone in the end!" And as simple an equation as that is, I'm actually banking on it. I don't really want to go into journalism. I know I don't want to be an English teacher. But I would be the happiest woman for miles around if I could write, edit, and publish books that people would like to read. If I could publish even one book that moved someone, that inspired them, that made them look differently at the world, then I would be over the moon.

Of course, I have to pay the bills somehow--and just writing something inspirational doesn't always cut it. I need not only to write my books, not only to get them published, but also to make sure they find their way into people's hands. My next truly big goal is for one of my books to make it onto the NY Times Best-Seller List by 2020. I don't care if I've got a slip novelette registering as a blip on the screen for half a day, or a record-setting new series that stays glued to the top. It would be nice to overshoot my mark and have several on the list at one time. I'll take what I can get, though. It's a worthy goal, and I'm already planning a few strategies on how to achieve that. In the meantime, though... let's just focus on getting something written, shall we?

So THAT is my next project, aside from finishing my degrees. Novel writing. This November will be my third year competing in National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short. It's sort of like a nationwide (actually, worldwide these days) writing marathon in which normal people sit down at their computers and type like crazy for the entire month of November. The goal is for each writer to have a short novel by the end of it: 50,000 words in 30 days. Before you start looking into having me committed, let me explain. This is actually a very worthwhile way to spend three weeks (and I don't mean the part about being holed up in my living room for days on end, surrounded by old Starbucks cups and empty ramen packages). It's the perfect writing exercise because the thrill of the deadline actually pushes you harder than you've ever pushed before, creatively speaking. "It's the end of the 'someday' novelist," proclaims my favorite NaNo flyer. And it's true. Instead of going through life saying I'll get around to penning that fabulous masterpiece of mine someday, you actually have an excuse to hang a DO NOT DISTURB UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES (unless you have more coffee) sign on your door and finally get down to business, once and for all.

I won't bore you with the details, all of which can be found on the NaNoWriMo website or in Chris Baty's wonderful little book, No Plot? No Problem! A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days. Suffice it to say that I have learned through being a competitive athlete that goals and deadlines make for very good motivators in life. NaNo is just another form of competition--although the only way to "win" is to beat your own best word count every day and to cross that finish line in time, waving your manuscript like it's God's gift to mankind. Which it probably isn't--not without some serious editing work. But still, you get the idea.

Now, before you all die of suspense waiting to ask me the next question on the list (but what are you going to write ABOUT??) I shall let you in on a secret. I'm a fantasy writer for fun, and I'd like to write historical fiction for a living. (That's why I'm double-majoring in English & History at the University of Texas right now.) But this year I am doing something that for me, is rather unprecedented. I am going to write about the Olympics and Paralympics. Strictly fiction, of course--though don't be surprised if you see a heavily edited version of that story you shouldn't have told me, deep in your drinks at the hotel in Washington. I've heard far too many wonderful stories in my two Games not to want to use some of them. The Olympics were MADE for drama! Anyway, this project is a kind of shot in the dark for me, and I have no idea how it will turn out, only that I need to follow through with it to see if it will work. I've never even read any sports fiction, so this is an entirely new endeavor for me. (Then again, J.K. Rowling never read much fantasy before she wrote Harry Potter, so really this is quite a good sign. Uh. Yeah.) Very exciting!

Here's the very, very rough synopsis:

Two friends and competitive archers are both headed for the Olympics, but they are in a car wreck and one comes out of it with a spinal injury. She goes through years of therapy to regain her strength and ability. The book opens as she discovers she's made the Team to the Paralympics--at the same time that the other friend makes it to the Olympics. The book will be an exploration of the different experiences each athlete must face and how that strains their relationship, ultimately bringing them closer together and showing them what it really means to be an Olympian.

Possible titles include: Passing the Torch, A Shot in the Dark, Slings and Arrows.
(I'm positively awful at names and titles... do you have any ideas?)

At any rate, I'll probably post an excerpt or two here sometime in November. Thank you all for reading! Oh, and if any of you happen to know a compassionate, well-connected literary agent or fabulously successful publishing company with the freedom to take a chance on a small-time novelist, drop me a line? I'd be forever in your debt. (And you'd probably merit a dedication in my book, no kidding!)

Well, I just got back from talking to a few classes full of third-graders about the awesomeness of archery. I had so much fun that I wanted to share with you some of the stories I told the kids, and it reminded me of this. A friend just recently made me aware of this featured profile of me on Disaboom.com, a website encouraging active lifestyles for people with disabilities. I barely remember writing these responses, but it turned out really well!


Paralympic Athlete in the Spotlight: Lindsey Carmichael

Excerpt from Disaboom.com, Posted: 9/4/2008 at 11:49 PM :

What is your favorite aspect of archery?

I love that just about anyone in the world can shoot archery. Male or female. Six years old or eighty-six. You can shoot if you are short, tall, or skinny as a rail. You can shoot from a wheelchair. You can shoot if you are missing an arm. You can even shoot if you are blind! That, to me, is the greatest testament to the level playing field of archery: in a sport assumed to be incredibly visual, we have archers who can shoot by feel alone. How amazing is that? And even within the able-bodied side of the sport, archery has the tendency to level the field between genders in a way that few other sports can. Because both sexes shoot at the same distance during Olympic competition, the scores of each division can be compared--and the archers who come out on top aren't necessarily the strongest or the most cunning. You see, all it really takes to be the best archer in the world is mental acuity and willpower. When I heard that the last few World Record holders in archery were all women, I have to admit I was totally hooked.

Here we go again, wrapping up another Olympiad. The trip to Washington was wonderful, and bittersweet. Since we had so little time, a lot of the athletes stayed out all night, taking turns buying each other drink after drink, toasting their accomplishments, and pretty much just having a great time. It was surreal to see everyone in the same place, in a relaxed environment. I actually checked in at registration with the Men's Gymnastics Team, and while they were shorter than I expected, they were also every bit as toned and muscled as you'd expect. That sort of thing was true for about 90% of the 800+ people there. Just incredible.

Then there's the recognition thing. It happens a lot on campus to me, where I'll pass someone on the street and try to place their face. But after years of classes, who knows where you've seen them, or if you've met them, or if you've spent hours together in study groups? The same thing applies to such a crazy event as this. Do I know that athlete personally, from Athens? Beijing? Or did I just watch them on TV? Maybe I've talked with them before. Maybe I should be remembering a name right now. Maybe they won't notice if I just smile and keep walking...?

I stayed out with some rugby and equestrian athletes most of the night after the amazing banquet. The banquet was one of the best catered events I've seen, mostly because they served fillet mignon and Chilean sea bass. WOW. The food was incredible, and they kept the speeches to a minimum, although they played a couple recap videos from Beijing that were inspiring. (Mostly featuring the Olympian side of the audience, but hey I guess we can't be picky, right?)

It was cool to be able to talk with the Olympic Archers, who we all know from tournaments. Vic Wunderle, Khatuna Lorig, and Jenny Nichols were all there, as well as Olympic coach Don Rabska, who also happens to be my personal coach. How wonderful to see him!

The visit to the White House wasn't as cool as the one I remember from four years ago, but I can't put my finger on anything specific. It was a gorgeous day, with bright blue skies and a chill in the early morning air. The Marine Band was arranged on the White House Lawn, playing exquisite music. The cameramen were perched on some scaffolding behind the spectators. And the athletes were pushed up against the White House itself, in a hodgepodge of red and blue jackets around a platform with a podium in the middle. (Red jackets for men, blue for ladies, which I thought looked sloppy. Last time we all matched, and it looked great!) Last minute, they snuck Michael Phelps into the middle of the crowd, although I didn't see him until later.

President Bush's speech went just fine. He spent plenty of time on the experience he and his wife had, visiting the Olympics. He profiled many of the Olympic athletes they met, spending a lot of time on each little story about the two gymnast friends and rivals who had to share a room while competing for the gold, joking with Misty Mae, or meeting the Softball Team or the Men's Volleyball Team. When he finally got around to mentioning the Paralympics, he just gave as a quick congratulations and then segued right into the fifteen veterans on our (200+) team. He talked about Melissa Stockwell, the Paralympic Swimmer who lost her leg in Iraq. He smiled for us, and then moved on.

I guess nothing's perfect. At least he didn't accidentally call us Special Olympians, which would have been an absolute disaster.

This might sound obvious, but there's a big difference between seeing someone on TV and seeing them in real life. You pick up on things you'd never notice on the television, like how the President had aged considerably. It's nothing you could really put your finger on, but to me he looked like he was smiling over a bone-deep exhaustion. During the speech, he was incredibly focused, as if he was trying so hard that he might snap the podium with one of those seemingly relaxed politician gestures. When he made it through the speech, he looked a little relieved, proud of himself in a way he didn't want people to notice. Maybe I was just looking for something like that, I can't know for sure. It's just that, sitting eight feet away from him, I felt as if I could see his eight years of office written all over him. Regardless of whether or not you believe the US President is the leader of the free world or not... I would bet good money that the President himself has to believe that, and worry about it, and think of it constantly day and night for four or eight years. For President Bush, it may not register on TV as more than a few gray hairs, slightly slumped shoulders. But in real life, it's hard to not notice how hard this term has been for him.

I felt the same sort of surreal feeling when seeing Michael Phelps give interviews with another swimmer at the back of the White House. Poor guy looked like he was stuck under those cameras like a bug under a pin. He smiled and talked his way through it, but the whole time it was hard not to understand how real he was, and how exhausting this must be. Just a regular guy who maybe didn't know what he was getting himself into when he signed his life away for publicity's sake. Also, he doesn't look as goofy as he does on camera--or maybe it's just that in the past few months he's had to mature beyond his years. Shawn Johnson doesn't look as young, in real life--although with her height and blonde hair, she was continually mistaken for our star Paralympic swimmer, a little person named Erin Popovitch. I find that wonderful, to be honest.

Well, I have to go get ready to give a talk and a demonstration in front of a large group of third-graders in Marble Falls. Before the Games, these kids each made me good luck cards. I have stacks of them, still. I have no idea what to do with them!

I'll try and write again soon. Thanks for reading!

Monday morning I fly out early to Washington, D.C. for a very quick meet-and-greet with the rest of the 2008 US Olympic and Paralympic Team, and of course, the President.

This sort of thing is entirely optional, and I'd say more than half of the people who went to Beijing want to, or are able to come. Still, I went in 2004 after Athens and had a blast. So I couldn't say no this time around.

As many of you know, I am very liberal in my political persuasion. Still, no matter who is in office, no matter the political climate, it is an honor to walk the grounds of the White House and be in the presence of the Office of the President. Last time, I was amazed to discover how charismatic President Bush is, especially in a fine tailored suit, surrounded by his entourage with his smiling wife at his side. You hear about it, how you feel drawn to invite him to dinner or go have a drink with him, and I'll tell you the stories are entirely true. In fact, when he approached our side of the White House Lawn and began shaking hands, I was surprised to find my own hand reaching out. He shook my hand and I blurted, "Mr. President, I'm from Austin, Texas." He smiled, said "Welcome to Washington!" And that was that.

I don't expect anything different to happen this time, although it was a rare chance for me to be able to shake his hand four years ago. I'm happy just to be able to go on this trip, in part because it's like a quick reunion tour with all the friends and athletes I met in Beijing. I might even get to see Michael Phelps. You know, from a distance, since he'll be surrounded by screaming fans. But I'll also get to chat with the Olympic archers, who I know from various tournaments. Pretty soon, everyone will put Beijing behind them, filed away with all the other amazing, fun, and successful Olympiads. They'll start looking ahead to London 2012. That's as it should be, but I'm still glad we get one last hurrah together.

Updates to follow!

As I mentioned before, I've had some interviews with a couple different newspapers. Here are the articles they wrote for me, both of which ran yesterday, Thursday October 2nd. (Lindsey Carmichael Appreciation Day, indeed!) I am happiest with the first one, printed here in our little hometown newspaper. Such wonderful writing! Mike Parker really captured the heart of my story.

Carmichael Brings Bronze Medal Home
by Mike Parker
North Lake Travis Log, 10/2/08
**Loads as a 3.6mb PDF file, may take a while.


Lago Vista Archer Relishes Paralympic Bronze
by Mike Leggett
Austin American Statesman, 10/2/08


As a side note, I feel it necessary to mention that the Statesman article took a quotation of mine out of context and used it in a way that made me uncomfortable. I emailed the reporter to see if they might edit the online version of the article a tiny bit, but he dismissed me with a quick apology and so far I've not heard back from the Sports Editor. I am still getting asked about it, so I'd like to ( clear the record. )

What a wonderful week this has been!

This past Saturday I had an absolutely fabulous Chinese-themed party for a wide assortment of friends. There were paper lanterns, delicious dumplings, Tsingtao beer, Chinese straw hats, and of course lots of good people. I am continually amazed by how many wonderful friends I have. Thank you all for coming and making that such a wonderful evening.

Since then, I've been to speak at the local school again. I've had lunch with several friends. I've been to a few long-postponed doctor's appointments, worked a few shifts (I have a part-time job as a wine tasting representative), and started in on my Juice Plus business. I've also been interviewed by a couple reporters, and have been corresponding with several people about other publicity events. Next week I even go to the White House with the rest of the Olympic and Paralympic Teams for a couple of days. See what I mean, when I say things have been crazy? :)

If you can believe it, yesterday the City Council of Lago Vista declared October 2nd, 2008 to be Lindsey Carmichael Appreciation Day. I won't type up the framed proclamation they gave me, but it was a huge surprise and an honor to be picked for such a thing. I couldn't stop beaming like an idiot after the mayor handed me the proclamation.

Our elderly neighbors, Kitty and Delbert, threw a big party for me as well, and such an event probably hasn't been seen since Jackie O left the White House. What a welcome! What a spread! More guests than any of us knew what to do with, incredible champagne, lots of toasting, more food than I've seen at most Thanksgiving Dinners, not to mention each bite more delicious than the last! She even baked a special Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with the pineapple slices in a design of the Olympic Rings! All I can say is wow. Goodness knows I have plenty of family already, each of whom I love seeing and visiting, but I've always felt as if Kitty and Delbert were like local grandparents. Always smiling and dropping off fresh cut flowers from their garden, or a few extra cookies from a big day of baking. They were always quick to loan me their golf cart so I could train on my own without having to walk back and forth from 70m all the time. It's amazing how the smallest of favors can contribute so much to other people's lives.

This weekend, I'll be dropping by the Austin JOAD Club to meet up with my old coaches. (JOAD stands for Junior Olympic Archery Development) They have graciously invited me to shoot in their Family Fun Tournament, but I have another party scheduled for later that afternoon, so I will only be able to come by and give a quick talk for the kids and their parents. Considering this is the same group that gave me my first shot at archery, I feel very indebted to them. Who knows? Maybe one of the other kids will take a look at my bronze medal and want one of his or her own. That would be so amazing.

For those in the area who are interested, here's the information on events this weekend.


3rd Quarterly Family Shooting Party
hosted by Austin JOAD Archers

2pm on Saturday, October 4th
4407 Monterey Oaks Blvd., Austin, 78748
(Click link for registration and more info!)



Lago Vista Bronze Celebration Party
hosted by Bam's Roadhouse Grill, Home of the Stuffed Burger

5-8pm on Saturday, October 4th
6115 Lohman's Ford Road, Lago Vista TX
(Very casual event, drop by anytime to say hi!)

I have been a very busy little Paralympian! I've got interviews scheduled with the North Lake Travis Log, as well as the more widely known Austin American Statesman. It sounds as if the next issue of Archery Focus has a big section on me in it, which is exciting. Apparently that article will be focusing on the fact that I'm the first American woman in 20 or 30 years to bring home any medal in archery. (That floored me, when I realized it. WOW.) Seriously, though. Talk about busy. I've been around to a few classes up at my old highschool, giving talks. It's kind of cool to be ambushed by strangers in my hometown, asking to see if I have the medal handy. Still, it's all very surreal.

It's good to remember where all of this came from, and why I have this thing at all. Four years of hard work went into it. And a heck of a lot of good fortune. I thank my lucky stars (and everyone who sent me positive, happy thoughts, of course!) that I was having such a great day in China a week and a half ago. Who knows what might have happened, if things had been different? Ah, well. You do the best that you can with what you have. I am happier than I have been in years, and it's not just because of the medal. Not just because I received my Level II Reiki certification yesterday. Not just because I am home and have lots of friends happy to see me. I am happy because I am finally finding some peace in my life. How wonderful and rare is that?

Click HERE for Boston.com's amazing photograph montage of the Paras. There's an amazing photo of my teammate Eric Bennett, a compound shooter who uses a shoulder harness and an adapted mechanism from a camera shutter to complete his shot. The sun is shining off his SureLoc sight in a really cool way. Great photo, Eric! There are also cool photos of the man who lit the torch by hauling himself and his wheelchair hand over hand to the top of the stadium. One of my favorite pics from this series is of two wheelchair basketball players, one Australian and one British, reaching out to lift up a fallen Brit, wheelchair and all. A great moment of sportsmanship.


The USA Archery Ezine just came out, with a lovely little mention in it:

Carmichael & Fabry Lookin' GREAT in Bronze!
CONGRATULATIONS times two for Lindsey and Jeff too!

"Lindsey Carmichael rebounded from a very difficult loss of her
semifinal match (losing by 1 point during a 1-arrow shoot off after a
101-101 tie), by increasing her final matchplay score to the highest
12-arrow pass score of the day by any female recurve - a 105 to her
Polish opponent's 101, claiming the bronze medal. Lindsey acquired the
first medal for USA Archery of the 2008 Olympiad.

"Jeff Fabry pulled off the performance of his life in the quarterfinals
breaking both the world record and Paralympic record on Friday,
September 12. Fabry dominated his Italian opponent, Luca Fabio
Azzolini from the start and beat him with a margin of 113-97 points.
Jeff hit the bull's-eye five times (earning him 10 points each) and
outscored his opponent in all four ends. Fabry breached the earlier
world record of 111 points which belonged to Finlander Osmo Kinnunen
and the Paralympic record of 107 points which was held by Luca Fabio
Azzolini."


"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."

-Wooden

I might have mentioned that my Chinese friend and rival, Gao Fangxia, nicknamed me "Lin-Yi" while we were in England shooting together. It's a good nickname, and I'm glad, because I've never had one stick before.

But I've just had another revelation, from the same lady who helped us have such a wonderful time at Mutianyu near the Great Wall. Her name is Julie, and she's a friend of the family, who majored in Chinese and moved there to open up a western-style restaurant and glassblowing workshop. She's a beautiful, incredible woman, and I'm very privileged to have met her. More about her soon in a post about the Great Wall!

For now, an interesting snippet from an email she sent my mother, in regards to amazing revelations about my name in Chinese characters:

"YES! Lindsey's characters are exactly as I thought.
Very nicely done by who ever gave her the name.

The first character is pronounced lin (second tone) and means "beautiful jade".
the second character is pronounced sai (fourth tone) and means "competition".

She won the competition for the beautiful jade (medal)!
And when pronounced, it sounds likes Lindsey's actual name "lin sai".

Couldn't have been a more perfect name for Lindsey!"

Thanks again, Julie! You were such a wonderful hostess and friend!

When I came into my hometown of Lago Vista yesterday, I was clinging to my last few inches of sanity. My parents' van had been acting strangely, and the air conditioner was on the fritz, so my poor cat Eddie had to endure the twists and turns of FM 1431 with the windows down and the radio on high (to help keep me awake). Naturally, he kept time with the rhythm of the music by yowling at the top of his lungs every ten seconds. We were baking in the heat and I was close to (but not really) swerving with sleep deprivation.

So you can imagine how wonderfully uplifting it was to take the turn onto Lago Vista's main road and see several signs along the side of the road declaring that "Lago Luvs Lindsey" and "Congrats Beijing Bronze!" among other wonderful tidbits. I found them all along the route home, and it warmed my heart like you wouldn't believe.

As soon as I pulled into the driveway and began glaring at the mountain of luggage to be moved upstairs (as if glaring would possibly make it all hop-to-it, Fantasia style), my mother's co-worker and a friend of the family came belting down the road behind me. This lovely lady, whom I like to call Miss Joyce, leapt from her car and came over to give me a gigantic hug. "Did you see the signs? Did you see them??" she cried. "We had to get the city to waive the sign ordinance for a few days!" What a sweetheart! She was so enthusiastic, and gave me the story of how she and another co-worker had been keeping tabs on each of my matches by going online at one in the morning and calling each other to cheer me on. They even asked their boss to clear the firewall so they could access LiveJournal from work, can you believe that? When I showed Miss Joyce my medal ("Is it handy, by any chance?" she had asked, like a kid asking to see a Christmas gift early in December) she started tearing up, and it was all I could do not to keep hugging her again and again.

Then, angel that she is, she helped me carry all the luggage upstairs! When I walked in the door, I saw that JoEllen, another friend of the family, (the very same lady who introduced us to Juice Plus) had carefully arranged a beautiful gift basket full of fresh fruit--bananas, pears, apples, grapes, cantaloupe, even a gorgeous avocado. Beneath the basket lay a tremendous sign that read "You Made Us Proud!!!" which, like the Congratulations card in the basket, was signed by her family.

Once Miss Joyce had left, and I had the place to myself, I hardly knew what to do. I've been surrounded by people 24/7 for the last few weeks, and the solitude of our lake house was almost too much to handle, even if I'd been dreaming of the peace and quiet. I turned on the water heaters and after waiting a reasonable amount of time, took a long, hot shower. Then, already bored, and verging on an absurd loneliness, I called my local BFF Adrienne. She zipped over, we ordered pizza, and then we did what we do best--talk. We talked for hours until my already sore throat (TX allergies, anyone?) had gone a little hoarse. Then I started digging out some of my purchases from Ya-Show Market, and we talked some more.

It made me wish I'd done the same thing for Holly, my host from the night before. And Jenn, who took me to lunch yesterday at Trudy's for a true Tex Mex feast of queso and chicken enchiladas. I have had such a wonderful time with these girls, all of whom I would have to classify as best friends. I only have one more lady I'm absolutely dying to see, Laurel, and that unfortunately won't happen until tomorrow. (We're going to swim in her apartment pool, sunbathe, and rent Blades of Glory or maybe Cool Runnings. I am SO looking forward to seeing her, and especially her new kittens, which she discovered in the bumper of a bus right before hurricane Gustav hit.

I have to get ready to go into town this morning to pick up my parents, who tell me they have just landed in DFW from their two-day layover in Nerita, Japan. I have already forgotten how to say goodbye in Chinese, so it's "Sayonara" for now!

~

Coming soon:

How to Bargain Like A True Chinese
The Toboggan Ride of Doom at the Great Wall of China
The Mysteries of Mu Tian Yu
An Overview of Chinese Cuisine: the Scary and the Scrumptious

I'm back in Texas! *tremendous sigh of relief*

Before I tell you about the trip back, I just want to mention that I'll keep updating this blog for at least the next couple of weeks. There are dozens of videos I want to upload and share, as well as (probably) several thousand photos. Also, the IPC Blogging Guidelines cease to be in effect three days after Closing Ceremonies, so starting tomorrow I'll be able to speak more candidly about certain things. So check back for more posts, videos, photos, fun, mischief, etc. :)

I'm currently ensconced at Epoch's, one of those wonderfully American places, a trendy college coffee shop with comfy chairs, good drinks, and all the free wi-fi a person can handle. Nowhere else in my travels have I encountered all those elements together in one place, except in America. Easy free internet is such a luxury! It's so good to be able to get back on LiveJournal again, too.

The trip home wasn't so bad as the one over, although I did have an unbelievably frustrating time at San Fransisco airport. I lost track of the total travel duration, but I think I was awake roughly 26 hours--only a fraction of the hallucinatory 65-hour travel-binge I endured on the way over to China! My good friend Holly lives five minutes away from the airport and put me up for the night on her comfy red couch. So now I am well rested and capable of facing the hour drive home. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I woke up around 6 and was ready to leave by 7:30. Because all of our luggage had been packed and sent on the day before, anything else we traded or bought on the last day had to be combined into a carry-on and one personal item. Which honestly is kind of a joke. The last day of any Olympic of Paralympic Games is spent in trading away all the undesirable parts of our uniforms for cool stuff from other countries. I got all kinds of stuff, from one of those sweet blue-white swirly volunteer shirts to a deep green Brasil basketball jersey. We also had to carry back our Closing Ceremonies attire, complete with no-longer-white Ralph Lauren deck shoes and barely-still-white driving cap. My two bags were crammed, stuffed, overpacked to within an inch of their lives. A camera dangled from the strap of one. I also picked up another bag of stuff from the airport, last minute souvenirs I probably didn't need but couldn't resist. Panda hand puppets! I mean, really, could you pass those up? Neither could I. ;)

Let's just say I was pretty weighted down, since I was in my wheelchair with my crutches hooked over one shoulder. We had our last taste of Chinese Supreme Harmonious Efficiency, as the small army of airline workers loaded on all the wheelchair passengers in record time. The flight lasted roughly 12 hours and even though I couldn't sleep more than half an hour (as usual, dangit) the time managed to pass fairly easily. No demon monkey child this time, that helped. I was also in the same row with an Austin rugby player and his friendly girlfriend, which helped. I watched Kung-Fu Panda and used my Kindle to read a couple of books from Rachel Caine's excellent Weather Warden series. The food was edible, nothing to write home about. There was a flight attendant who kept referring to me a "Special" person, which was just about as hilarious as it was annoying. He meant well, I am sure.

We left China around noon on Thursday and arrived in San Fransisco at 8am on Thursday. Gotta love that new time machine technology! We made it through Customs without too much trouble and left the International Terminal, shuffling through a long "express line" of wheelchairs through security. We all met up at the other end, shook hands, hugged, said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. I went in search of Gate 96, which proved to be at least as elusive as J.K. Rowling's Platform Nine & Three-Quarters. Finally, some aged gentlemen at the Information Desk directed me to--where else?--the International Terminal. "We know it's crazy, they had to redirect the plane. Just go out that door and hop on a bus," they said. I went to the appropriate door, to be told by a short (and rather heartless, though perhaps my experience with her skewed my judgment) Puertoricena in an officious-looking uniform that the bus could only be reached by stairs. And that NO, I could not hobble down them and ask someone to carry my chair for me. I'd have to go the long way around the airport and go through the International Terminal Security. When I asked her to call a wheelchair attendant to help me, she looked at my ticket, told me I didn't have the time to wait for one to be called, and could I please move along? Por favor, miss? She didn't even smile in apology.

Dios mio! It was a long haul, but at least I worked out most of my frustration pushing backwards with one leg up the wramps back into the International Terminal. Not a single person offered to help, either. Ah, home sweet home America. Let's just say that pretty darn quickly I started to miss those super-friendly 40,000 Chinese volunteers. I made it through security again after a miniature eternity, and made my way to the gate. Which turned out to be directly across the hall from the gate which took us to China. Go figure, eh? The Universe Works in Mysterious Ways.

I did manage to sleep on the 3-hr flight to Austin, though I woke up with a killer dehydration and a crick in my neck (having accidentally left my dorky inflatable neck pillow behind on the plane from Beijing).

When I arrived, I was greeted not by just Holly, but also five members of the University of Texas Archery Team, who gave me tons of hugs, patted me on my giggly-sleep-deprived head, and cheerfully carried my mountain of luggage to the curb. We took lots of photos and managed to get my parents' van from long-term parking without too much trouble. Then Holly led me back to her apartment, with one important detour for a small Taco Cabana feast of quesadillas, tacos, tortillas, queso, guacamole, and mini chimis. I was in heaven, and after the most wonderful shower of my life, I managed to pass out in a borrowed nighshirt by half past eight. Holly's cat Figgy kept me company all night and even if I kept waking up randomly, I feel incredibly rested.

I am so glad to be home! I have a whopping case of Central Texas allergies, but it's SO worth it. I've been setting up lunch and dinner dates left and right, and I'm planning some sort of house party for next weekend, though the details are very, very sketchy. I'll keep everyone updated!

Thanks again. :)

"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat."
Malcolm S. Forbes


Tonight I come to the close of the most amazing and rewarding event of my
entire life. I'm fairly certain I can say that without any shadow of a
doubt. Working four years to get here... Shooting in tournaments across the
world... Making the team... Overcoming physical and mental issues every step
of the way... And finally Beijing. Not only did China put together the most
incredible sporting spectacle since the Olympics were introduced in Greece
in 776 B.C. Not only did I meet my goals of shooting well and finishing
strong no matter what happened... Not only did I win some matches and feel
proud of myself... But I walked away a medalist, and I will have that
accomplishment all my life. Somehow I don't think this would be as
awe-inspiring, soul-stirring, etc, if it weren't for that circular hunk of
bronze and jade. Nevertheless, if I had walked away fourth place, I'd like
to think I'd still be proud of myself for shooting my shot and finishing
with the confidence of a champion. To know that I actually got the official
seal of approval is pretty cool. And to know that I did it at such
incredible odds makes it even better.

We leave for the airport at 8 something... I forget. Should probably check
on that, huh? Anyway, our luggage is long since packed and shipped off
independently of us, so hopefully it will be waiting for me and the rugby
players when I arrive in Austin. If I recall correctly, it took roughly 24
hours from the time we boarded the bus in Colorado Springs to the time we
arrived in the Village in Beijing. I wonder how long this trip home will
take? I honestly don't care, since I'm without a doubt getting to go HOME. I
am a big fan of that place. You wouldn't think so, with all the traveling I
do, but the more often I'm away, the more I love it. I can't wait to see my
familiar friends, my cat Eddie, my parents' house by the lake. I am even
looking forward to the drive down the twisty rural road. Oh, Texas. I know I
complain about the heat, and the humidity, and everything else... but all I
really want to see right now is a big plate of enchiladas being served by a
lady in cowboy boots. We've all got our quirks, I guess.

Must run, I'm now officially late once more! Thanks again to any and all who
have sent me congratulations or good wishes. To quote a friend who says this
often...

I love you all.
Lindsey

Well, these past couple of days have been absolutely great. I've done more
shopping than I can possibly believe, and tomorrow we are off to the Great
Wall! The other night we had a Peking duck feast, and today some sort
of absolutely divine steamed pork dumplings. It's nice to finally be able to
eat outside the Village, without worries about drug testing. I've also
watched several other sports, like swimming and athletics--I can't say much
about any of the athletes, or the scores, or anything... but I will say that
the Canada v. US wheelchair rugby game was totally amazing. For those of you
who don't know why that was a significant match, who don't have a clue why
rugby is amazing, please go rent Murderball from your local video
store as soon as possible. You will understand. I am surprised that I have a
voice left at all today, after all the screaming.

I didn't grab everything on my list, but I have a few extra incredible finds
from Ya-Show Market, including a gigantic framed silk-stitch rendering of a
Chinese city scene, circa 12th century. That was their official gift to any
medalists who sign their Paralympic memory book. I have a gazillion trinkets
and scrolls and fans and chopsticks and and and... stuff. Can' ruin all the
surprises, now can I? ;) My parents and I are all having suits tailor-made
for us, at absolutely INCREDIBLE prices with all custom the fabrics and
styles. I also got some cool scrolls hand-painted ("while you now watch!")
as special gifts for sponsors & etc.

They are kicking us out of the computer lab now, so I have to run. But I
wanted to leave you all with more photos, at LindseyCarmichael.com, the site my dad
has been organizing for me for years. One of these days I swear I'll tidy it
up and give it a professional sheen, but for now it serves its purpose.
Among other things, on this site you will find an essay I wrote a few months
after Athens. It's a little bright-eyed and naive at times, but the writing
is pretty good and the heart of the piece is still with me. It's titled, "The
Severely Inconvenienced" and I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you all again fifty times over for anyone who has sent emails or
Facebook messages. I can't say how much I appreciate every note!

(And yes, I will probably be throwing a party of some kind when I get back
to Texas, very likely after the weekend of the 21st. No idea about locations
yet, but there have been lots of requests, so I'll see if I can get a place
lined up. Updates to follow! ;)

And now for the short and pretty post. I'm not breaking any rules by posting
these photos, since they are from official or independent news media sites.
And the video is posted through the official ParalympicSport.TV YouTube
channel, so I've done all I can do. Check it out!



Here is an article
about me over at US Paralympics.



Video of semi-final shootoff:








Video of bronze match:





*****************

PLEASE NOTE:
Most of the following photos were taken by my friend André Gegg, a brilliant European photographer and absolute gentleman. You can find more of his photos at the German online archery magazine, www.bogensport.de

*****************


Bronze Match Action Photo!





Victory photo!





Group Medal Photo!





Single Medal Photo!

What words can I possibly share with you, to convey the absolute madness and
melodrama of today's two matches? The crushing self-defeat at the end of my
semi-finals shootoff. The emotional 180 I had to pull in order to compete
well in the bronze match. The sublime moment of victory. The reeling
out-of-body experience of the medal ceremonies. The constant high that I've
been on ever since.



It is well past two in the morning and I'm still wired. It's strange to
think that at the beginning of this very long day, I did not have a clue
what pain and pride awaited me. I did not have a medal. And that perhaps is
the strangest part—this thing that I'm still wearing around my neck, it has
a weight to it, a gravity of its own. I have grown so attached to it in the
hours since it was put around my neck, that I find it easy to imagine that
I've had it all along.



To begin with, I was well rested. Practice shots felt really good, really
focused.. My first match against the top-ranked Korean archer began with an
unusual calm in the pit of my stomach, which I can scarcely account for. I
was nervous all right, but it was easier to control with some steady
breathing routines. To be perfectly honest, I don't remember much of the
match. I wish I could give you a play-by-play, but all I really remember was
that I was adjusting my sight a lot without much change to show for it, very
frustrating. By the time the match came to a close, I was down a few points,
and trying to finish strong. My opponent had a weak shot at the end, which
opened the door for me. We tied with scores of 101.



In archery, ties are decided by up to three shootoffs. Ours was determined
fairly quickly. The Korean lady faltered again, shooting a seven. I can
remember thinking, "The door is wide open! Just shoot a strong shot and
you've got this!" I waited for my 10-second comfort zone, drew back, and…
well, I don't really know what caused me to letdown with mere seconds left
on the clock. Perhaps it was nerves. Perhaps it was confusion. Perhaps it
was abject terror.



Well, whatever the cause, the result was pretty heartbreaking. I did make
the shot, in roughly four seconds. Unfortunately, I shot a completely
inadequate six. Tears leapt to my eyes and I felt my throat close up
immediately, as if a tiger had attacked my jugular. I couldn't move for a
few moments, couldn't do anything but stand there stunned with my hopes half
shattered at my feet and knowing it was my fault they were broken.



Naturally, because life is mad and sport is cruel, within mere minutes of
this drama, I was escorted off Court B, and to the other side of the venue
to Court A for the bronze medal match.



If nothing else, I am incredibly proud of my recovery today. I went
from absolte self-dejection to focused and ready to shoot to win a medal,
all within the space of minutes. As soon as I came off that field, I felt my
face crumple into sobs. As we entered the back tunnel, I forced them out in
quick succession, drawing out my tears as if I were squeezing a lemon with a
hand full of cuts. It hurt, but it was what I needed to do. Sort of like a
field dressing is a quick and dirty job of something that ought to be done
in a hospital by a professional? I crammed an hour-long therapy session into
the space of minutes, without asking our sports psychologist to help talk me
through it. When I came out of the other end, I had composed myself and
wiped away the tears. I locked up the memory of the letdown and subsequent
crushing defeat, and stuffed it into the back of my head with a "no touchie"
sign on it. With the bad emotions drained off, I knew some measure of
calmness. Even as I felt a fuzzy emptiness creep through me, I desperately
stuffed myself full of determination. No time for stupid thoughts about what
I didn't do—don't think about it, just focus, just keep focusing on the here
and the now and the incredible arrows I'm about to shoot. I need to win this
medal. I can't let up. I have to bring it back.



All this took the space of minutes. By the time I set foot on the
crowd-packed Court A, I was able to invoke a genuinely-felt winning smile
and a few waves for the crowd. I even made eye-contact with some friends and
family, instead of hanging my head in shame or making sheepish gestures.



I am so proud of that turn-around. Our sports psychologist told me later
that he'd never witnessed anything like it. Which I am going to take as a
compliment to my recovery ability, and not a consideration of the amount of
drama I always manage to bring about.



I did really well on the bronze medal match. It gives me shivers to think
about it, and I don't even remember details, just that I kept my focus and
shot well. The only part I really remember was the final arrow. I'd been
keeping my eyes on my clock, and my friendly little dot. This was fine,
except that the clocks had been changed, and moved off to the sides. So now
when I glanced at my timer, my eyes happened to graze across the bottom of
the electronic scoreboard, which helpfully read "5 to win," meaning that I
needed to score a measly five or higher in order to walk away with my first
medal ever.



So, yeah. No pressure.



I really wish I'd finished with a ten, but I shot a nice, boring eight. I
even gave a small shrug, it was so anticlimactic. Then the whistle blew and
it hit me like a bucket of happy-water, drenching me from the top of my head
to the tip of my toes. Holy COW, I won a medal! Me! Little Miss ranked
12thin the Qualifier. Little Miss "I've had target panic so bad that
for the
past few years I've had to convince myself repeatedly that the target isn't
going to bite me." Little Miss "I had to lay out all last summer because my
back hurt so much to shoot that I couldn't get more than a dozen arrows off
in a single practice." Me! I had a medal! Did the sky turn green? Did they
get the wrong person? How is this possible?



I raised the bow up to acknowledge my victory, and the moment of exultation
I felt was just as sublime as the moment at Opening Ceremonies. It took me
the better part of five or ten minutes to truly understand what had
happened, and my coaches actually had to order me to sit down before I fell
down. I think if our head coach hadn't been reminding me to breathe, I might
have forgotten that part, as well.



I had about ten or fifteen minutes to change and touch up my makeup. The
medal ceremony took a while to prepare, and while we were waiting, I was
just buzzing along like a bee in a poppy field—absolutely bouncing with
giddiness.



The medal ceremony itself went off without a hitch, although there was a
moment when I first stepped up to my podium that I could have sworn I was
about to pass out. I got very light-headed and lost orientation for a few
scary-exhilarating seconds, but I managed to not faint or fall over, so I
think I did well overall. I even remembered to put my hand on my heart, even
though they weren't playing the US National Anthem. I don't even remember
what Korea's song sounds like, I was so busy trying to assimilate the new
addition to my jewelry collection.



I am so proud to be here, representing my sport and my country to the best
of my ability. I truly cannot put into words what this medal means to me.
One thing is for sure, though. It's not leaving my side for a week or two.
Mine, no touchie! ;)



I won't say that I don't feel a small regret at that six during the
shootoff. I could have a silver or a gold right now, if it weren't for that
shot. I know I am capable of far greater things than a six.



But maybe that's enough. Bronze is the hardest medal to win, the one that is
the most earned. I worked hard for this thing, and I don't think I would
trade it for anything else. Besides, I really had to fight for this. That
always makes it better, in the end. Is there anything truly worth having, if
you don't sacrifice some part of yourself to obtain it? I gave up so much, I
fought hard, and here it is.



And yes, it is shiny!



~



A few sport quotes that I felt were appropriate at different points of
today:



"It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired -
you quit when the gorilla is tired."

Robert Strauss



"Concentration is the ability to think about absolutely nothing when it is
absolutely necessary."

Ray Knight



"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it."

George Halas

I WON A BRONZE MEDAL TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*dies of happiness*

I don't have time for much more than this at the moment, since today was the
day for my parents' Guest Pass into the Paralympic Village. We're gonna go
do a quick tour and meet Kevin and his family for dinner at good old McD's.
Believe you me, I will be wide awake half the night writing an amazing
detail-rich blog, catching up on the mountain of email I have, and calling
each and every one of you amazing people who helped me get to where I am
today.

OMG SRSLY I CAN HAS A MEDAL!!!!!!

*dies again of absolute joy*

I won AGAIN! I don't know how I did it, since I was having a day of stellar
shots and awful ones, all mixed together. Go figure. I was shooting down to
the wire again, in many ways, and apparently if I hadn't shot a nine on the
last arrow, I would have tied or lost. Gee... good thing I shot a nine, huh?
They've started calling me Little Miss Drama Queen, cos I give everyone
heartattacks every time I turn around. ;)

Gotta make this quick and simple, unfortunately. I am very tired and a
little sore, and I need to make it to the dining hall and back for
electro-stem and icing and then to bed early. I have to get up much earlier
than has been my routine for the past three days, since I have to shoot in
the morning at 10am in Court B. (That's 9pm, TX time for those of you who
want to send more of those fabulously helpful good, happy, focused,
grounding vibes...)

OK. My first match tomorrow is the semifinals. There are two of them.
The winners go on to compete in the Gold Medal match, and the losers go on
to compete for the Bronze Medal.

So, needless to say, I REALLY want to win my match tomorrow against a
top-ranked Korean lady, because then no matter what I'll be assured a medal.
Not going to be easy. But either way, it's going to be incredibly exciting.
After the semis, I'll be shooting at either 10:20 (bronze) or 10:35 (gold)
for my medal.

I cannot believe how far I have come in these past few months. Who would
have thought I'd be getting my Podium uniform ready for tomorrow? "Wow" is
all I can say. I am going to stay focused as can be tomorrow, but I could
use all the help I can get! Thanks to everyone who helped make this journey
possible!

And because I can't give you any more details right now, I will leave you
with a photo from my first match (red shirt) and the video from yesterday,
where I missed my first shot, and another video of my last shot to win the
match. Enjoy!



<http://www.arcarmichael.com/beijing/day4/index2.html>



video of missed shot


video of yesterday's last shot