I'm in the American Airlines Admiral's Club at SFO, getting ready to head out to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Traveling with me are 11-time Olympic swimming medalist Natalie Coughlin's parents, sister and husband. We've all been very fortunate, with a combination of miles and upgrades, to fly to London Heathrow in business or first class.
After arriving at Heathrow at 1130 Tuesday, we'll work our way to Kings Cross station in London and head right up to Edinburgh, Scotland, for 3 nights. The train trip is 4.5 hours long but a lot better than a bus which would be 8 hours (did that once before and swore I would never do it again). We have 4 day rail passes and intend to get our money's worth out of them. It will be a return trip to Scotland for me, but for everyone else in the traveling party it will be their first visit.
Back down to London day of opening ceremonies.
Natalie is only scheduled to swim one event this Olympics, and it will be the morning prelims of the 100 freestyle relay on Saturday. It's important that the U.S. make it into the top 8 teams so they can move on to finals that night (no semi-finals in this event). Those that swim in prelims do get a medal with relay events, so Natalie could bring home #12 here which would tie her with Dara Torres and Jenny Thompson for the most medals ever won by a U.S. female Olympian.
Some recent media coverage:
Today Show with Natalie at Cal:
http://todayinlondonblog.today.msnbc...uch-wiser?lite
Bleacher Report: Olympic Swimming 2012: 10 Things You Need to Know about Natalie Coughlin (click on the slideshow):
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...talie-coughlin
ESPN Sports Center commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOGHHvgMNVQ
For those that have not been to a summer Olympics before, I do have my photos on line still:
2004 Olympics Games Athens
http://tom911.smugmug.com/2004-Olympic-Games-Athens
2008 Olympic Games Beijing
http://tom911.smugmug.com/2008-Olympic-Games-Beijing
