A Crazy First Day

Michael Phelps seemed to be the only happy person waiting for the bus Saturday afternoon in downtown Beijing. Maybe it's because he swam a great race that morning in the 400-meter individual medley.

Saturday was a crazy day. I finished up sending opening ceremony pictures at about 2:30 a.m. Beijing time, and I was back on the bus at 8 a.m. to cover the road race at Tiananmen Square.

Above, Tom Fox of the Dallas Morning News transmits photos from our bus on the way back from the road race.

After that, I jumped back on the bus and went to grab a quick bite and a nap before I was off to find Gary Russell Jr., the local boxer who collapsed while trying to make weight.

I found Russell and got the pictures, and then took another bus back to the media center. On the way back, we heard about the Americans who were attacked in the Drum Tower. So I caught a cab back there and then finally finished the day at women's fencing.

The Americans swept the event, with Mariel Zagunis winning gold, Sada Jacobson getting the silver and Becca Ward pulling in the bronze.

Wow. This was the first day. It's fun, but I hope they all aren't like this.

By Jonathan Newton  |  August 9, 2008; 7:33 PM ET
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