Friday Five: Olympic Showjumps (Yes; There's a Lot More Than Five)

Another of those sports I don't usually watch but which grips me during the Olympics is the horsey-stuff, or equestrian as I believe it's known. I've become temporarily obssessed with the showjumping. I know it will have passed by next week, but for now comments such as, 'You need to slow down and think if you're a horse' are fascinating me. 

At the Palace of Versailles, the jumps themselves represent a variety of themes from literature, history and geography. Here are a selection, with notes from the official programme.

OOGG 1900

The first to be held in Paris, the Olympic Games of 1900 was noted for its long duration (14 May - 28 October) and its diversity of sports, which included not only traditional disciplines such as athletics and cycling, but also 'peculiar' events such as cricket, croquet, golf, and 'pelota vasca'. In addition, it was the first time that women participated in the Olympic Games, with the victory of British tennis player Charlotte Cooper standing out.

Mascote

Boules de neige

Parisian tourism plays an important part in the city's economy and identity. Paris is recognised worldwide for its rich history, impressive architecture and artistic and cultural contribution. Emblematic monuments such as Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Chateau de Montmatre are cornerstones of this tourist attraction. 

Colonnes Morris

Colonnes Morris/ Morris Columns are the pointy-topped advertising structures, seen all over Paris and usually covered with flyers promoting shows, films and other events and products. They're named for Gabriel Morris, a French painter and typographer who introduced them in 1868.

Braille

Braille is a tactile writing system in which every letter, every number and even every musical, mathematical and scientific symbol is represented by a combination of six raised dots. The Braille system was invented by Louis Braille, who was born in 1890 in Coupvray, France. 

The Metropolitan

The Paris Metro has played a crucial role in the life of the French capital since its inauguration in 1900 during the Universal Exhibition (World Fair). Between 1900 and 1912, 141 entrances designed by Hector Guimard, a pioneer of the Art Noveau aesthetic, were installed and he transferred that aesthetic and elegance to the entrances, reintegrating organic forms in cast iron into functional objects, characterised by their 'dragonfly wings' and other ornaments such as the Dervaux lampost.

Ambiance Parisienne

The Parisian ambiance encapsulates the unique and distinctive essence of Paris. Parisian cafés are known for their cosy atmosphere and classic aesthetic, with wicker chairs and pavement tables that invite you to enjoy a coffee while watching life go by. Bistros, on the other hand, are small, informal restaurants that serve homemade French cuisine. These places are known for offering traditional dishes such as cassoulet, coq au vin and bouillabaisse in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. 

The origin of the bistro's name lies in the invasion of the Place du Terte in Montmatre by the Cossacks in 1814, who came running to the establishments asking for alcohol. As they were not allowed to drink, they urged the waiter saying, 'bistro, bistro', which means 'quick, quick' in Russian, as they did not want to be caught by the officers with 'their elbows out' during service hours. 

The furniture is iconic, with the tables having a central black iron leg and a round marble top. The classic Thonet No. 14 or 'bistro chair' is made of a rattan grill back combined with shapes and colours depending on the style of the basserie.The design, made of wood with a slatted seat, was created in 1859 by the eponymous German furniture designer, following a unique technique of steam bending wood that required years of refinement. This design won a gold medal at the 1867 Paris World Fair.

Over the years, coffee became popular among the upper classes, as did chocolate, which created a demand that was met by the first coffee shop in Paris, which opened its doors in 1686 in the Saint-Germain-des Prés district under the name of Le Procope. Only a decade later, coffee shops had already multiplied by 200 throughout the city, thanks to the fact that coffee was more affordable than chocolate and that the middle class became addicted to it. 

Art Urbain

Urban art in Paris has a rich history dating back decades, gaining momentum especially in the 1980s. Pioneering figures such as Blek le Rat and Miss Tic helped establish street art on the city's streets. Districts such as Le Marais and Belleville are known for their vibrant murals and urban art festivals that transform the streets into open-air galleries.

Le Petit Prince

Le Petit Prince is a novel known for its poetic approach and illustrations by the French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (born 1900 in Lyon). It was published in 1943 and has become one of the most tanslated and best-selling works of world literature, with readers of all ages. A pioneering commerical aviation pilot, Saint Exupéry channeled his experiences in the sky into his writings, fusing poetry with an exploration of the human condition. Saint Exupéry's life was cut short during WWII, but his legacy lives on in both literature and aviation history. The story follows an aviator who crashes in the Sahara desert and finds a little prince who comes from another planet. As the aviator repairs his plane, the little prince shares his experiences, anecdotes and reflections of life, love, innocence and human nature. 

Fables de la Fontaine

The French poet Jean de la Fontaine, contemporary of Moliere, member of the French Academy, was one of the most popular French writers. He belonged to the generation of the precursors of the Enlightenment. He achieved his literary fame thanks to the adaptation of the ancient fables and tales of Aesop of Anatolia. Fables of Fontaine were grouped in a collection of 243 fables in 12 books, the first volume published in 1668 and the last in 1694, a year before his death. These fables have become a classic work of French literature. 

La Fontaine's fables are known for featuring anthropomorphosised animals, and each fable usually concludes with a moral or life lesson. La Fontaine's work is appreciated for his keen observation of human nature and his ability to convey moral teachings through the witty and often humorous stoiries. Some of La Fontaine's best-known fables are La Cigale et la Fourmi (The Cicada and the Ant), Le Corbeau et le Renard (The Raven and the Fox), and Le Liévre et la Tortue (The Hare and the Tortoise). These fables, initially conceived for an adult audience, have become a classic of children's literature since the 19th century and continue to be read and studied as a reference in French literature and education. 

Montgolfier

The story goes that when Joseph Michel Motgolfier, heir to a paper manufacturer's dynasty, saw a woman's shirt float in the air due to the heat of a fire, he concluded that hot air lifted things up. Accompanied by his brother, Jacques-Etienne, he proved that hot air or hydrogen were perfectly retained by a silk sheath. This principle had already been formulated 2,000 years earlier by Archimedes. King Louis XVI, fond of science and technical advances, demanded a demonstration at Versailles. Jacques-Etienne, with his friend Jean-Baptiste Réveillon, a paper manufacturer, worked on the design of a varnished taffeta ballon with a wicker basket attached. They filled the basket with a sheep, a duck and a rooster, who made the first flight (of about ten minutes) and landed safely. 

Arc de Triomphe

Along the bottom of the Arc de Triomphe jump, the laurel wreaths represent the sculpture on the left face of the arch, Cortot's The Triumph of Napoleon, in which a toga-clad Napoleon is crowned with one.

Notre Dame

The Notre Dame jump recreates one of the well-known rose windows of the Notre Dame Cathedral, masterpieces of Gothic art that cover over 1,000 square feet of the church. Fortunately, all of the windows survived the devastating fire that destroyed part of the spire and roof of the cathedral in 2019.

Tour Eiffel

Statue de la Liberté

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic attractions in the United States, a universal symbol of freedom and democracy, recognised around the world. Designed by the French sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, it was a gift from the French people to the United States to commemorate the centennial of their independence, and to symbolise the friendship between the two countries. The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbour, a reminder of New York's role as a gateway for millions of immigrants who came to the United States in search of a better life. 

The statue represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, and its design includes symbolic elements, such as the raised torch, symbolising the light of freedom, and the tablet with the date of U.S. independence (July 4, 1776) held in her left hand. The United States returned the favour to the French and gave them on the first centenary of the French Revolution a replica of the Statue of Liberty, on a four-times smaller scale, which is situated on the Ile de Grenelle in the middle of the Seine, looking in the direction of its big sister in New York.

Bir-Hakeim Bridge

Alexandre III Bridge

The Alexandre III Bridge, built in 1900 for the Universal Exposition in Paris, stands out as one of the most elegant and ornate bridges in the city. Named in honour of the Russian Tsar Alexander III, who died in 1894, it was his son, Tsar Nicholas II who laid the foundation stone of the bridge in 1896. The bridge symbolises the union in the Franco-Russian alliance and its Art Nouveau design includes elaborately decorated bronze lanterns, golden Pegasus statues and other intricate decorations and details.

Horloge d' Orsay 

The clock on the facade of the Musée d'Orsay has become the hallmark and one of the most recognisable architectural feautures of the museum, which was originally built as a train station, the Gare d'Orsay, for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. It served as a terminus for short-distance trains to the southwest of France. In the 1830s the station became obsolete for modern trains and was threatened with demolition before being transformed into the Musée d'Orsay in the 1980s, dedicated mainly to artwork produced in the period from 1848-1914.

The distinctive design of the clock, with Roman numerals and wrought iron hands, has become an iconic symbol of the museum and can be seen from the opposite bank of the river and from some key points of the city of Paris. It is one of the most photographed sites in the city. Its interior view has also becoime a strong tourist attraction due to the spectacular views that can be seen through the dial of the enormous clock facade.

L'Opera Garnier

Opera in France was introduced in the 17th century, initially with performances of Italian opera at the court of Anne of Austria. Jean-Baptiste Lully, an Italian composer, played a pivotal role in establishing a distinctively French operatic style and collaborating with Molière in the integration of music and scene. The founding of the Opéra Royal in Paris in 1669 by Louis XIV cemented the prominent position of French opera in European culture, leaving a significant mark on the history of music and the performing arts. Paris is a leading operatic epicentre, home to iconic theatres such as the Opéra Garnier and the Opéra Bastille.

Napoleon III, on the occasion on the great works of remodelling and transforming of the city by Haussmann, commisssioned a young and unknown architect to design the new opera house, becoming the thirteenth opera house in Paris after its foundation by King Louis XIV in 1669. After 15 years of construction, it was inaugurated in 1875, and the architect Charles Garnier eventually gave his name to the building. His acoustic studies and vision requirements shaped the horseshoe shape of the main hall, transformng it into one of the iconic opera houses. 

The Opéra Garnier marked a new architectural trend that spread throughout the world under the name of Beaux Arts. The original ceiling of the dome of the central auditorium, painted in 1875, was transformed by the painter Marc Chagall, who incorportaed great opera composers in a singular universe, and is a multicoloured impact statement.

French composers such as Georges Bizet and Jules Massenet have contributed to the international operatic repertoire with works such as Carmen and Manon, and James Offenbach, with his masterpiece, The Tales of Hoffmann, is an example of the richness and diversity of the French operatic repertoire, which is characterised by its fusion of dramatic and lyrical elements, incorporating ballets and eloaborate choruses. Comic opera, which has flourished in France, stands out for its mixture of comedy and lyrical music.

France hosts renowned opera festivals, such as the Aix-en-Provence Festival and the Montpellier Opera Festival, which attract artists and opera lovers from around the world. Institutions such as the Opéra National de Paris and the Opéra Comique play a crucial role in preserving and promoting opera in the country, ensuring that this art form remains vibrant and accessible to current and future generations.

Provence-Champs de Lavande

The Provence region, located in the southeast of France, is famous, among other things, for its extensive lavender fields. The lavender season generally reaches its peak in the summer months of June and July. 

Cabines de plage

The history of beach cabins is closely linked with the history of sea bathing, which started to become fashionable in the 19th century. These wooden (or cloth) cabins were at first mobile, placed on top of horse-drawn carts. Their purpose was to allow bathers to change without being seen, to store deck chairs, umbrellas, towels and beach equipment, or to protect themselves from the wind. White or coloured, single-coloured or striped, private or public, the cabins are part of the image of Normandy's seaside vacations. 

Gastronomie

French pastry gatronomy is a refined culinary art that has achieved worldwide renown. French patisserie encompasses a wide variety of exquisite creations ranging from iconic macarons to croissants, éclairs and pains au chocolat. 

Vinification

New Olympic Pictograms

Pictograms - graphic representations - have been used at the Games since Tokyo in 1964. This jump features the six-sided badges symbolising each sport, laid out in a honeycomb-like design. The equestrian jumping pictogram is in the middle of the second row on the left with four horse heads surrounding two fences in the centre.

Toulouse Lautrec

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a prominent French painter and poster artist of the late 19th century (1864-1901) left a lasting mark on the world of art and culture. His work is characterised by capturing the bohemian life and nighlife of Paris during the Belle Epoque, a time of relative peace and prosperity in Europe between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was particularly noted for his depictions of cabarets, theatres and brothels, with the Moulin Rogue being one of the most iconic places immortalised in his works. Toulouse-Lautrec was known for his style, which combined vibrant colours and expressive lines. In addition to his artistic skill, he also excelled as a poster artist, depicting advertising posters that have become iconic works of art of the time. Despite his short life, his artistic legacy has endured and had a great influence on the development of modern art, especially in the field of poster art and the representation of urban life. 

Folies de la Villette

In the spirit of the whimsical constructions in eighteenth-century parks and gardens, 26 folies are scattered through the Parc de la Villette with their bright red appearance. While their square bases are all identical in size (10.8 square metres), their shapes vary depending on their intended use. Designed by architect Bernard Tschumi, the follies act as architectural representations of deconstruction. They are also meant to act as points of reference that help visitors gain a sense of direction and navigate through the space.

Tokyo Ensō

While many of the designs have themes tied to Paris, some nod back to past host cities. This jump incorporates Japanese calligraphy in an homage to Tokyo. The ensō or circle, is usually painted in one continuous brushstroke and symbolises wholeness and completion.

Tokyo Wave

In another nod to Tokyo, this jump represents The Great Wave, a famous piece painted by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai between 1829 and 1832.

Los Angeles 2028

While many of the jumps honour past host countries and Paris landmarks, this jump looks firmly ahead to the next Games, which are to be held in LA in 2028.

A well as all of the above, there are also jumps which represent Mont Blanc, the Dune of Pilat, the gardens of Versailles and the Tuileries, the Pompidou Centre, Parisian streets including the Champs Elysées, the architecture of Baron Haussmann, the fairytales of Charles Perrault, cinema (invented by the Lumière brothers), Auguste Rodin, Jacques Cousteau, ballet, card games (invented in France), perfume, haute couture and Limoges porcelain.

They are all genuinely fascinating and a great way to showcase the highlights of a city or country. I shall definitely look closely at them for the next Olympics.

Olympic Stream of Consciousness: Swimming

In the Women's 100m breastroke, there is 0.5 of a second separating the top six places. Tatjana Smith (formerly Schoenmaker) from South Africa wins her country's first swimming Olympic gold medal in full make-up, jewellery, false eyelashes and false nails - you've got to look good in the pool as well as on the podium! Incidentally, I wish the commentators would stop refering to those who don't win gold as getting 'minor medals'. It sounds so dismissive of elite athletic achievement. I'd also like it if they didn't say the competitors were 'quite literally flying in the pool' (are they penguins?), but I suspect I'm hoping for too much there. Swimming from lane one, Matthew Richards gets silver for GB in the Men's 200m freestyle final. Ian Thorpe's commentary is calm, considered and intelligent, and he points out this was the closest final in Olympic history, with 0.02 seconds between first (David Popvici, ROU) and second place, and a further 0.05 seconds to third (Luke Robson, USA). Duncan Scott, also GBR was fourth, a mere 0.08 seconds behind. In the Men's 100m backstroke, eight different nationalities are represented (and they all finish within 0.84 of a second), but there are no Australians in the race, so we move swiftly on.

The Frenchman Leon Marchand is competing in both the butterfly and breastroke, so they changed the order of events for him. If you're good at swimming, you can pick up a lot of medals as there are more events than in most disciplines (35 in fact), which is why many countries subsidise the sport so heavily. In the 200m butterfly he sets a new Olympic record - the Hungarian, Kristof Milak, was leading until the last 20m - and the crowd goes wild. What an athlete! I'm loving the headgear on many of the crowd - mainly rooster hats. I'm not going to say they are cock-heads. Apparently the camera operators have been told not to focus solely on totty-cam, so we are shown a range of supporters, rather than over-made-up young women in tight clothing, which is refreshing.

Meanwhile, in the Men's 200m breaststroke Marchand leads the whole way with another Olympic record. Australia's Izaac Stubblety Cook gains silver, with possibly the best name in swimming. There is another new Olympic record set in the 100m freestyle by Zhanle Pan (CHI), and Kyle Chalmers (AUS) gives a very gracious interview after finishing second. The commentators question whether this is a fast or slow pool, and I honestly have no idea what that means - I don't think they do either. There is an incredibly close finish in the Men's 50m Freestyle - in which no one breathes - where there is 0.4 of a second between the whole field and 0.05 of a second between gold (Cameron Mcevoy from AUS) and silver (Benjamin Proud from GBR). The French come third with Florent Manaudou, getting their fourth consecutive medal in the pool.

Another Olympic record is set in the Women's 200m backstroke, won by Australia's Kaylee McKeown, and again in the Men's 200m Individual Medley (FRA/ GBR/ CHN), where Leon Marchand gets his third gold - he's on target for the four from four he set himself. The crowd are beside themselves and on his breaststroke laps they yell 'Allez!' every time he raises his head out of the water - I'm not sure if he can hear or not, but the noise is formidable. Milak Kristoff wins the Men's 100m butterfly for Hungary in see-through short (you can look that up yourself if you like) and there is drama in the Women's 200m Individual Medley where Alex Walsh of the USA initially looks to have taken third until it is judged that she rolled too early in her transition from backstroke to breaststroke and so she is disqualified and Australian Kaylee McKeown sneaks onto the podium with a bronze (Summer Mcintosh gold for CAN; Kate Douglass silver for USA).

There are only three letters on the leaderboard after the Women's 800m final (USA/AUS/USA). Katie Ledecky pushes others to greatness (Ariarne Titmus wins silver, and Paige Madden gets bronze) - the commentators use metaphors of boxing, fighting and aggression, but it's super-friendly hugs and smiles all round form the athletes themselves. Gretchen Walsh from USA has an amazing butterfly leg to help the Americans achieve a new world record and gold medal in the Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay (USA/CHI/AUS). In the Women's 50m freestyle, Sarah Sjöström from Sweden, who already has the World record, finishes half a body length ahead of the rest of the field, and that's a lot in this event. Meg Harris (AUS) finishes with a silver, which is her only individual race at these games, and China's Zhang Yufei takes bronze and takes to the podium with a panda ears headband (she has another five medals at this Olympics).

There are lots more violent combat metaphors for the Men's 1500m freestyle from the commentators (distance duel; slugfest etc.), and it is won by Robert Finke (USA) who leads from start to finish in a world record time with great turns and massive power, with Italy second and Daniel Wiffen of Ireland emerging with bronze. The commentator helpfully points out ''This is the bell lap; someone at the end of each lane rings an actual bell!" I think there may have been too many chlorine fumes inhaled. In the men's 4x100m medley, teams are allowed to bring in new swimmers who did not compete in the heats. France come third and the crowd goes wild.

China win gold (USA are second) and many people are not happy about that due to doping controversies, including Adam Peaty who has commented that he doesn't believe Zhanle Pan's results are humanly possible, but he was part of the GBR team that came fourth, so who knows? Thank goodness they've dropped the crotch shots from previous Olympic Games in the Women's 4x 100 medley (or any race that begins with backstroke). The USA win in a new world record (2:AUS, 3:CHI) so it's not that slow a pool after all. And finally, after nine days of racing in the pool, perhaps the Australian coverage can focus on something other than swimming. I'm looking forward to heading to the track, the nautical stadium, the velodrome and the streets of Paris! 

And just for a late entrant, the 10km open water swim is not a great spectator sport. It's also, confusingly, called a marathon when it clearly isn't - apparently this is because it takes about the same length of time to compete as a marathon. As the swimmers come through the feeding station they receive bottles filled with hyrdalytes and caffeine attached to 5m poles with national flags so they know which ones to grab - it all looks like a competitive fishing exercise. The swimmers then roll over onto their backs to consume the nutrition, looking like weird otters. 

Some of them smash into the wall and the overhanging vegetation. The whistle action from the referees reminds me of the gendarmes we used to torment when I was a teenager by daring to sit on the grass in the park for a picnic. They would toot their whistles, wave their arms and shout 'pas sur la pelouse' as they went red in the face. My, how we laughed, like the wild rebels we were. In the women's event, Sharon Van Rouwendaal from NED wins in 2:03:34 from Moesha Johnson (AUS) in 2:03:39, after Johnson led most of the way. You'd think she might be a bit peeved, but she just looks thankful it is over to be honest.

Olympic Stream of Consciousness: Rowing

Marne looks delightful. Two English commentators with London accents; one, who sounds a lot like Danny Dyer but is actually Martin Cross, has all the goss from the village and knows about the lucky socks and how they pack a suitcase. The repercharge or row-off is a strange qualification process - allowing competitors another go to get into the final. In the second Women's Double Sculls Semi Final, the GB team have a brilliant row, but the Romanians come storming home to win. Norway burgle third and the Aussies are out, so don't expect to see that final shown on the television. As the athletes are introduced in their boats they have to make a decision as to whether to wave to the crowd or not - it's a thing. 

The Women's Quadruple Sculls Final is one of the best events on the programme - not just because GBR win, but because the quality of the racing is so good and is described as 'one of the all-time great comeback finsihes'. One of the British crew - Georgina Brayshaw - made a comeback from a broken back and a coma after a horseriding accident. There's a bit of this going on. The Dutch rower, Marloes Oldenburg, is a member of the gold-winning Women's Four crew after breaking her back in a mountainbiking incident two years ago. Meanwhile, Martin Cross says of the Women's Double Sculls final (NZL/ROU/GBR), 'I don't know if we've got room for any more excitement.' 

In the Men's Double Sculls, the position changes many times before Romania win and both stand up in the boat after they cross the line, which seems like showing off - I'm just jealous of the balance. The Women's Four is incredibly close with just 0.18 seconds separating the gold (NED) and silver (GBR) with NZL in third, while Team GB have a terrible start in the Men's Four but a solid middle to finish third (USA gold; NZL silver). In the Men's Pair, the Brits are burgled by the Croatians (the innappropriately-named Sinkovich brothers) as Tom George catches a crab in the final five strokes and come second by less than half a second. Switzerland come third, but Martin Cross speaks for many of us as he admits, "I wasn't even watching the bronze. Apologies." The Netherlands blitz the Women's Pair race and are imperious as they finish lengths ahead, before the Romanians (who win silver) have to sprint back to compete in other races. 

This is the last time the lightweight double sculls will be in the Olympics, since being introduced in 1996. The men's is won by the Irish defending their gold from Tokyo, with shamrocks on their blades. Paul O'Donovan apparently has a most unusual thumb technique, but Martin Cross tells us he is "always one for the interviews", so I suppose he's full of details like that. He notes the difference between his training course at home and this one in Paris is that "it's the same length, but there's a big grandstand and a fancy paint job". They are very excited about having endured their last weigh-in and being taken out by the French lads for baguettes and wine. Meanwhile the Women's Lightweight Double Sculls (in which the rowers may not exceed 57kg) is won by Great Britain (Romania second and Greece third).

The Netherlands win the Women's Single Sculls by a boat length, while the Men's Single Sculls is delayed due to traffic and the fact that the competitors are still on the bus. When they do complete their race, Germany take gold (Oliver Zeidler is arguably the best sculler in the world) and AIN come second. This is a neutral athlete (mainly Russian or Belarussian) who is unable to comete for their country because that country is banned from the Olympics. In this case, Yauheni Zalaty (born in Belarus) was last with 500m to go, until a storming finish. No resting for the Romanians, as they are back in the Women's Eight and they win another gold - four were also in the Four; one was in the Pair; two in the Double Sculls - how's that for a maths question set up? And in the final event on the rowing programme, GBR win the Men's Eight, and clearly all my hard work yelling at the television screen has paid off.