Man, am I beat! It has been a grueling 17 days of Olympic competition and now it's over. The time difference has taken its toll, the sleep deprivation is apparent, and yet I'd be willing to go through it all over again just for the chance to win...um...to watch America win gold.

Oh, give me a break! You feel the same way too. Based on all the conversations I've heard in the malls, at work, and at church, you'd think we were competing in the Olympics. It has been fun though, hasn't it? But let's face it, the vast majority of us really have no idea what these athletes go through and how it must feel for it to be over for them.

I guess the only real complaint that I have, besides the time difference which has been manageable, is that the coverage for the canoe/kayak and rowing events was scarce to say the least. Oh, well, what can you do? I guess we'll have to wait until the 2012 London Games to have this much paddling and rowing packed into two weeks again.

The last of the Olympic canoe/kayak events were finished on Friday and Saturday. As the results and pictures were coming in, it really made me think about how we practice the sports of canoeing and kayaking.

To most people, canoeing is a sport that evokes visions of beautiful scenery, relaxation, and the freedom of being on the water. Tell that to the competitive flatwater canoeists out there. These athletes use so many different muscle groups coupled with highly conditioned cardiovascular superiority that by the end of their races they are so spent that many of them can barely move. It is not uncommon for these athletes to pass out and even puke at the end of a race.

Well, these Beijing Olympics were no exception. There were reports of various canoeists who threw up, passed out, and needed assistance at the end of their respective races. In the photo above you can see one such case where gold medalist Maxim Opalev of Russia comes to the aid of bronze medalist Iurii Cheban of the Ukraine at the conclusion of the C-1 500m finals.

Don't get me wrong, I have no desire to paddle 'til I puke but I'll definitely remember this guy and the efforts that I witnessed out of all the competitors the next time I'm out on the water.

Photo © by Nick Laham/Getty Images

It's hard to believe that there are only two days left of the 2008 Olympic Games. All of the Slalom Canoe/Kayak (whitewater) events have long been over. The Rowing events are also no more. But there is no reason to fret. The Flatwater Canoe/Kayak events are entering their last 2 days of competition as their finals will commence on Friday and Saturday. Of course, there are no Americans in the finals but that is no reason not to watch. The competition for gold, silver, and bronze in the world of flatwater canoe/kayak are must watch events as these athletes will surely push themselves past their bodies abilities just for the possibility of capturing the prize.

Michal Martikan has firmly established himself as one of the best C-1 paddlers of all time. Competing in four Olympics starting in 1996, Martikan has earned either a gold or silver medal in each of his Olympic appearances. In the 1996 Olympics Martikan earned the gold medal. While trying to defend in 2000, he lost to France's Tony Estanguet. The 2004 Athens games would prove to extend the rivalry. At first it had appeared that Martikan had regained the gold, but upon further review he was assessed 2 second penalty on his final run. He would have to settle for yet another silver as Estanguet successfully defended his gold medal.

These Beijing Games were hoped to be an epic showdown between Tony Estanguet and Michal Martikan in the C-1 Event. Well, Estanguet failed to qualify for the finals, giving up his spot to American Ben Fraker who would finish fifth overall. This left the door wide open for Martikan who regained his gold medal after eight years, this time by less than a half of a second.

In the end, the C-1 Slalom finals had Michal Martikan of Slovakia winning the gold, David Florence of Great Britain taking the silver, and Robin Bell of Australia earning the bronze.

See the Past Olympic Canoe/Kayak Medalists

Photo © by Adam Pretty/ Getty Images