McKayla Maroney Talks About Michael Phelps Face

McKayla Maroney Vaults (August 15, 2013)

Amid all the triumph of the Olympics, all the joys and wonders forged in the sandy fires of Rio, there is, of course, a sense of loss. Dreams quickly rot into disappointment. Favorites fall, nations stumble. And, of course, torches are passedhow fitting for the Olympicsfrom one generation to the next. (These torches are not always passed willingly, of course. Sometimes they must be yanked out of muscled hands.) Just such an event happened last night. Thoughand this is rarethis was an inter-sport transfer. From gymnastics to swimming. From one gold medalist to another.

Travel with me, if you will, back to late early August of 2012. President Obama was involved in a bitter presidential race with handsome horseman Mitt Romney. The Dark Knight Rises was No. 1 at the box office, while Step Up Revolution performed decently in sixth place. We were all four years youngermaybe we had more hair, maybe the baby hadnt been born yet, the dog was still alive, we lived in Seattle then. Lives were different, is what Im saying. So different, in fact, that the Olympics were not being held in Rio de Janeiro at all. No, they were in London. The Foggy Bottom! Or whatever London is called.

The point is, the London Olympics were happening and the American womens-gymnastics team won gold in the team event. Then, they competed in the individual events, also performing well. A young American gymnast, all of 16 years old then, named McKayla Maroney won silver in the vault event, which she was favored to win. Her somewhat peeved reaction during the medal ceremony, an endearing and slightly wicked little sideways frown, became a viral sensation: McKayla Maroney Is Not Impressed. This wasnt just a viral sensation, though. It was the viral sensation of the 2012 Olympic games.

The planet has twirled swiftly around the sun four times since then. The baby came, the dog went, we moved to St. Louis. Life happened. And yet still, McKaylas not impressed face remained the official meme of the Olympics. Because nothing had come along to replace it. Until last night, August 8.

In the lead-up to a swimming semi-final race, gold-plated American swimmer Michael Phelpsan athlete so decorated that when the medals have their own Olympics, they win Michael Phelpseswas trying to get his head into the swim zone while rival swimmer, South African speedboat Chad le Clos, preened and stretched right in front of him. Phelps, hood up and face twisted into an angry knot, was psyching himself up for the race so intensely that an NBC camera couldnt help but linger on his scowl, while commentators Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gainesstars of the Olympics greatest love storyriffed about Phelpss funny face. It was a lighthearted, fun moment, and Twitter went nuts for it. A meme bloomed into being, unstoppable and instantly ubiquitous.

And thus, like some powerful spell being broken, McKayla Maroney was free. She is no longer meme queen of the Olympics. The torch, as all torches must someday be, has been passed. And that is, in a way, a kind of loss. Though, Maroney seems relieved. TMZ did a little FaceTime interview with Maroney, now 20, today, and she told them, I looked at his pictures and was like, YES! Go, Michael, take it away, please! So shes glad for it. I suppose we cant blame her.

Now the great Olympic wheel turns on. Were only four days into these Rio games, meaning a whole new meme could pop up and unsettle Mr. Phelpss short time on the throne. (Hes not very used to that happening.) Maybe gymnast Laurie Hernandez will make some silly face, or swimmer Ryan Lochte will moon the pool or something. Who knows! Anything could happen, which is the tense magic of these games. But right now, Michael Phelps is Olympic-meme champion. McKayla Maroneys name will forever hang from the rafters, but she is no longer number one in the world. That era has ended. Phelps reigns, and Maroney starts out on a music career. All part of the churn and drama of this great and epic dance we call sport.

XVenus Williams, Tennis

AGE: 35. HOMETOWN: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012. FAVORITE OLYMPICS MOMENT: Yikesall, even the ones I watched as a child. TRAINING SECRET: Mental training and visualization. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL? No, thank G*d. FAVORITE FAN: Serena. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN/WARM UP TO: All Mixed Up, by 311. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Doughnuts. TOUGHEST LOSS: All of them, but losses make you better! MOST THRILLING WIN: Any Olympic doubles with my sis!

Photograph by Sam Jones. Nathan Adrian, Swimming

AGE: 27. HOMETOWN: Bremerton, Washington. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2008, 2012. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Deep-dish pizza. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Space Jam.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Gabby Douglas, Gymnastics

AGE: 20. HOMETOWN: Virginia Beach, Virginia. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Being confident. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL? Praying, reading Scripture. FAVORITE FAN: John (my brother). TOUGHEST LOSS: 2012 Visa Championships. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2012 American Cup.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Jenny Arthur, Weight Lifting

AGE: 22. HOMETOWN: Gainesville, Georgia. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Yes. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL? Prayer. FAVORITE FANS: My parents and siblings. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: G*d in Me, by Mary Mary. MOST THRILLING WIN: Junior Worlds in 2013, silver medal.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Natalie Coughlin, Swimming

AGE: 33. HOMETOWN: Vallejo, California. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2004, 2008,2012. TRAINING SECRETS: Recovery, great diet. PRE-COMPETITIONRITUAL: Coffee and yoga/Pilates. FAVORITE FAN: My husband. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Shoop, by Salt-N-Pepa. FAVORITETRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Bratwurst with the fixings. FAVORITESPORTS MOVIE: The Replacements. TOUGHEST LOSS: Not sure. MOSTTHRILLING WIN: Defending gold at Beijing.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Carlin Isles and Madison Hughes, Rugby

AGE: 26 & 23. HOMETOWN: Isles: Massillon, Ohio. Hughes: Lancaster, Massachusetts, and London. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Isles: Yes. Hughes: Yes. TRAINING SECRET: Isles: Seeing past what the eye can see. FAVORITE FAN: Hughes: Mom.FAVORITE BOOSTER: Isles: The Lord, Jesus Christ. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Isles:Tell Me, by Bobby Valentino. Hughes: Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen. TOUGHEST LOSS: Isles: All of them. Hughes: Losing to Canada in Glasgow last year. MOST THRILLING WIN: Isles: All of them. Hughes: Olympic qualifier.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Ryan Lochte, Swimming

AGE: 31. HOMETOWN: Daytona Beach, Florida. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2004, 2008, 2012. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO:The Sky Is the Limit, by Lil Wayne. TOUGHEST LOSS: All of them. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2008, winning the 200-meter backstroke.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Connor Fields, Cycling BMX

AGE:23. HOMETOWN: Las Vegas. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Lift heavy, pedal fast. FAVORITE FAN: Mom and Dad. FAVORITE ALBUM TO TRAIN TO: Watch the Throne, by Jay Z and Kanye West. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Doughnuts. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Coach Carter. TOUGHEST LOSS: The Olympics in London. MOST THRILLING WIN: Olympic trials in 2012.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Jake Dalton and John Orozco, Gymnastics

AGE: 24 & 23. HOMETOWN: Dalton: Sparks, Nevada. Orozco: Bronx, New York. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Dalton: 2012. Orozco: 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Dalton: Consistency. Orozco: Pizzaonly after practice. GOOD-LUCK CHARM: Dalton: My necklace, Shields of Strength. Orozco: White Rosary. FAVORITE FANS: Dalton: Family, wife. Orozco: My parents. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Dalton: Headstrong, by Trapt. Orozco: The Fighter, by Gym Class Heroes. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Dalton: Doughnuts. TOUGHEST LOSS: Dalton: Falling in 2009 Worlds. Orozco: Olympic-teamfinals in 2012. MOST THRILLING WIN: Dalton: Bronzes at team Worlds in 2011 and 2014. Orozco: 2012 National Championships.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Sam Mikulak, Gymnastics

AGE: 23. HOMETOWN: Newport Beach, California. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2012. TRAINING SECRET: MatBros and mindfulness. FAVORITE FANS: Mom, Dad, and Team Sam. TOUGHEST LOSS: 2012 Olympic-team finals. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2014 N.C.A.A. team championships.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Simone Biles, Gymnastics

AGE: 19. HOMETOWN: Spring, Texas. FIRST OLYMPICS? Yes. TRAINING SECRET: No secrethave fun. GOOD-LUCK CHARM: Saint Sebastian. FAVORITE SINGER TO TRAIN TO: Justin Bieber. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Pizza. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2013 World Championships.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Mariel Zagunis, FENCING

AGE: 31. HOMETOWN: Beaverton, Oregon. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2004, 2008, 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Perseverance and resilience. EARLIEST OLYMPICS MEMORY: Learning about my parents Olympic experiences[rowing, 1976]. MOST THRILLING WIN: Repeating gold in Beijing.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Daryl Homer, FENCING

AGE: 25. HOMETOWN: Bronx, New York. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2012. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL: Long showers. FAVORITE FAN: My mom. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Fruit snacks. TOUGHEST LOSS: Last Olympics loss. MOST THRILLING WIN: Semi-final, 2015 World Championships.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Allyson Felix, TRACK AND FIELD

AGE: 30. HOMETOWN: Los Angeles. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2004, 2008, 2012. GOOD-LUCK CHARM: Diamond necklace. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Diva, by Beyonc. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Ice cream. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Cool Runnings. TOUGHEST LOSS: 2008 BeijingOlympics 200 meters. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2012 London Olympics 200meters.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Jordan Burroughs and Andy Bisek, WRESTLING

AGE: 27 & 29. HOMETOWN: Burroughs: Sicklerville, New Jersey. Bisek: Chaska, Minnesota. CURRENT RESIDENCE: Bisek: Colorado Springs, Colorado. FIRST OLYMPICS? Bisek: Yes. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Burroughs: 2012. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL: Burroughs: Prayer. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Burroughs: Doughnuts. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Burroughs: The Sandlot. Bisek: Secretariat.

Photograph by Sam Jones. Dawn Harper-Nelson, Track And Field

AGE: 32. HOMETOWN: East St. Louis, Illinois. TRAINING SECRET: Always get to practice early. GOOD-LUCK CHARM: Cross earrings and necklace. FAVORITE FAN:Mom. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Headlines, by Drake. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Strawberry ice cream. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Any Given Sunday. TOUGHEST LOSS: 2009 and 2015 World Championships. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2008 Olympics gold medal.

Photograph by Sam Jones. John Mann and Tony Azevedo, WATER POLO

AGE: 30 & 34. HOMETOWN: Mann: Newport Beach, California. Azevedo: Long Beach, California. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Mann: 2012. Azevedo: 2000,2004, 2008, 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Mann: Hard work all day every day. Azevedo: Eat right. FAVORITE GROUP TO TRAIN TO: Azevedo: Man. FAVORITE FAN: Mann: Mysister. PRE-COMPETITIONRITUAL: Azevedo: Espresso and a newspaper. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Mann: Burger. Azevedo: Red-velvet cupcake. TOUGHEST LOSS: Mann: Olympic quarterfinals. Azevedo: Olympics gold-medal game, 2008. MOST THRILLING WIN: Mann: Too many!!! 2016gold! Azevedo: Semis versus Serbia, 2008.

Photograph by Sam Jones.

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