I played basketball with some of the Chinese athletes that are living at the training center where the American throwers practice while here in Dalian. I was sitting on the bus waiting for everyone else to finish up their workouts, and there was a group of four girls shooting baskets. One of my other teammates got off the bus too and went to play with them.

 

We played this game where we divided the group into two teams, and you had to make a basket from every spot around the key. Every person on the team got a turn, and their turn lasted until they missed, and each team's turn lasted until each member of the team shot the ball. The goal was to be the first team to make it around the key and make 3 three-point shots. I needed a couple of shots to warm up, which they didn't allow me to have. It was okay, though, because after my first two turns, I was money (all the basketball players out there know what I mean). After each shot I hit, the boys that were watching were pretty into the game, and a crowd started to gather. Even our security, who I hadn't seen show any sort of emotion, were into the game - maybe because my team was down and they thought that we were going to lose, but it didn't end up that way.

 

My time here in Dalian is coming to an end, and I am very excited. Not that I haven't had fun here in Dalian, but I am ready to head back to Beijing. I have had fun here interacting with all the people that I have met here. The Team USA staff has been great, the other athletes here are fun to be around, and our interpreters have been really great. Training has been picking up, and I feel pretty good about where I am at the moment and am looking forward to what is to come in Beijing.