Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics

by Cindi SutterFounder of The Spirited Table® - Vocabulary definitions by visualthesaurus.com

Thinkmap's Visual Thesaurus is my greatest writing tool. Today they define the vocabulary of these Olympic games and set you up for some TV watching success!

Our Spirited Table® adventures take us many places surrounded by a kaleidoscope of traditions. But I believe "watching the Olympics" with friends and family serves up one of our cultures greatest traditions. I had the great fortune to attend 2 Summer Olympics - Los Angeles 1984 & Atlanta 1996. The experiences were vastly different and yet spectacularly the same; love of country, history of each sport, pin trading (which for me took on a new level of craziness in Atlanta), the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. 

My favorite part was following the athletes journey, their personal back stories of success-failure-financial struggles-family support and in the end if not a medal victory, a personal victory of overcoming the odds of even competing for your country. 

After all in the end they made it to the games, they competed to the best of their ability, they forged new friendships and created memories for a lifetime. So let these games inspire you to embrace your own new journey, wherever it may take you.

Our new gold minted Final Five inspire us to dream big, work hard and expect to medal. 

By Vocabulary.com (NY) 

The 2016 Olympic Games are in full swing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Learn this list of 28 words so you can keep up with each sport from start to finish.

contestant

But he passed only four contestants down the lane of the 1 1/4-mile course for his poorest placement in seven starts. 

Los Angeles Times (Jun 25, 2016)

nationality

Married to an Albanian woman, he acquired Albanian nationality last year. 

Washington Times (Jun 20, 2016)

participant

He went to the club to for a meet and greet with some of the 336 participants at the outing. 

Washington Times (Jun 27, 2016)

preliminary

The 18-time Olympic champion advanced to the semifinals of the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. swimming trials Tuesday with the fastest time in the preliminaries

US News (Jun 28, 2016)

spectator

Despite bad weather, 263,500 spectators attended the race weekend. 

Wall Street Journal (Jun 19, 2016)

sponsor

Now, she's a professional athlete, albeit still oozing charisma, and sponsors are betting big bucks on her to succeed again. 

US News (Jun 29, 2016)

sportsmanship

The players are indulging in a handshake of sportsmanship, which will, of course, ensure impeccable behaviours. 

The Guardian (May 8, 2016)

stamina

Rugby is far more satisfying and fun, and it takes a lot more stamina

New York Times (Jun 17, 2016)

endurance

In recent history, when the Finals end with a for-it-all final showdown, the games are more battles of endurance than thrilling, free-flowing basketball. 

Washington Post (Jun 19, 2016)

standing

Here’s the latest standings on who’s in and who’s out. 

The Guardian (Jun 27, 2016)

substitute

He was then dropped against Albania, coming on as a substitute in the second half. 

Washington Times (Jun 20, 2016)

venue

The performance transformed the sold-out venue into a deafening celebration. 

Los Angeles Times (Jun 27, 2016)

victory

The 18-time Olympic champion can punch his ticket to Rio on Wednesday with a victory in the 200 fly final. 

Reuters (Jun 29, 2016)

decathlon

Events for the decathlon are part of the first two days, while the heptathlon events are set for Friday and Saturday. 

Washington Times (Jun 8, 2016)

hurdle

Sport: track and field

Instead, she ran the 60-meter hurdles and won, at which point someone leaked her test results to the press. 

New York Times (Jun 28, 2016)

archery

There will be lake fishing, kayaking, archery and shooting sports, guided by expert instructors. 

Washington Times (Jun 3, 2016)

opponent

Put another way, how could such groups find so many people willing to die for their causes, while their opponents found so few? 

Salon (Jun 29, 2016)

vault

Sport: gymnastics; track and field

Then she felt a twinge in her knee while landing a vault during practice in early April. 

Washington Times (Jun 23, 2016)

equestrian

When horseback riding was the dominant mode of transportation, equestrian shops were as common as fresh-pressed juice bars are today. 

New York Times (May 20, 2016)

synchronized

In the summer, there is synchronized swimming. In the winter, there is synchronized ice skating.

And he delivered, doing some synchronized moves with several pros that really did make an impression. 

Los Angeles Times (Apr 12, 2016)

repechage

True, the loser will have another chance to qualify, in a repechage event next year. 

The Guardian (May 18, 2015)

competitor

In the “weight over the bar” event, competitors can use only one hand to toss a 56-pound weight over a horizontal bar. 

Seattle Times (Jun 28, 2016)

referee

“I thought he touched it with his hand. It was a difficult decision for the referee.” 

Seattle Times (Jun 25, 2016)

disqualification

Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Contest. 

The Guardian (Jun 16, 2016)

pommel

Jesse won gold in parallel bars, rings, vaulting table and pommel horse, silver in the high bar and bronze in floor exercise. 

Washington Times (Jun 12, 2016)

en garde

"So! En garde!" said his antagonist, throwing off his hat and putting up his weapon. 

Munro, Neil

riposte

It was the perfect riposte to anyone doubting his technique against the short ball and set the tone for a magnificent attacking century. 

BBC (Nov 23, 2013)

somersault

She tucked into a roll, turned the impact into a somersault, and came up standing. 

The Son of Neptune