What they're saying

By Compiled by Times staff writer

On Australians' love of swimming

Day after day, event after event, the world's best swimmers walk onto the pool deck ... and are greeted with a huge roar from the mostly Australian crowd. Many of the competitors have a look of, "Who, me?" on their faces.

Imagine this is how professional bowlers feel whenever the tour stops in Milwaukee, the kegling capital of the world. You're just a swallow most of the year, but in Capistrano for the holidays, you're somebody.

Swimmers have come here from all over to be loved by a populace that believes the sport is a spiritual journey and not something to do between sun-block applications.

Rick Morrissey, Chicago Tribune

On Jenny Thompson

The Olympic spotlight can bask an athlete in a lifetime's worth of warmth.

But it can scald, too.

Do you know how big a weight that can be?

The world watching your work?

It can drown a dream, that kind of weight.

It is heavy enough to take the most golden female swimmer in our country's history (Jenny Thompson) and make her look like she's sinking to the bottom of the pool.

But that's why they're Olympians.

The champions are supposed to be able to carry that kind of weight.

Dan Lebatard, Miami Herald

On Australian cultur

It was a mailbox

Tom Cushman, San Diego Union-Tribune

On Sydney Harbor Bridge

When I was in Sydney a year ago with the Broncos, my companion suggested we do the "bridge climb." I'd have rather danced with a demented dingo.

But jet-lagged and fortified by kangaroo filets -- kangaroo does not taste like chicken -- I did it today, which is yesterday in Denver.

Why? Because it is there. My wretched life is fulfilled now.

Woody Paige, Denver Post

On the Opening Ceremonie

I thought they were telling us about themselves with those Australia Tourism Commission commercials in the States that had Paul ("Crocodile Dundee") Hogan saying "G'day" as he put another shrimp on the barbie. But apparently that was a joke on us, because although many Australians do have barbies and do cook shrimp (prawns, actually) on them, we must be pretty stupid if we don't think that life here is much more complex than that

Randy Harvey, Los Angeles Times

How to reach us

Have a question or a comment about the Olympics? We'll publish comments and answers to readers' periodically questions during the Games. Contact us by mail at Olympics, St. Petersburg Times sports, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731; by fax at (727) 893-8782 or by e-mail at sptsnews@sptimes.com.

On television

TODAY'S COVERAGE: 10 a.m.-noon, 7 p.m.-midnight, 12:40-2:10 a.m., Ch. 8; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., MSNBC; 5-9 p.m., CNBC.

HIGHLIGHTS: On Ch. 8 in prime time, look for the women's gymnastics team finals, the U.S. men's volleyball team against Russia and swimming finals in the 800-meter freestyle relay with Australia seeking to better its world record and the 200 butterfly with American Tom Malchow favored. MSNBC features the U.S. men's soccer team against Kuwait and women's archery. CNBC has boxing, tennis and cycling.