Not too long ago, Ivygate interviewed Puerto Rican Olympic swimmer and Princeton rising senior Doug Lennox for a feature called "Your Olympic Hero." Doug's answers were so witty and disarming I suggested he blog about his Beijing experiences for Ivygate. Doug mentioned something about being busy competing in the Olympics. But busy or not, Doug managed to fire off some observations about what it's like on the ground in Olympic Village. Here's what the Princeton swimmer has to say:

August 1st the Puerto Rican delegation left from Newark Airport on a direct flight to Beijing. We arrived in China August 2nd at 1 PM local time, 1 AM EST time. This flight was probably the shortest 13 hour flight I have ever been on...I watched a few movies, read a book, and talked to some random girls from San Diego who weren't too afraid to approach me and my teammate in row 40 of this massive Continental airplane. People asking for autographs, wishing us luck, and blatantly staring at us left me excited. I have known I was going to compete in the Olympics since April, but nothing in my life had really changed at that point. Now, on my way to Beijing, dressed in team garb and (I guess) looking the part of an Olympian (or maybe being with others who look the part like the judo teammates and weightlifting females whom I traveled with) I have begun to feel the energy and adrenaline that come hand in hand with the Olympic Spirit.

When we landed the Puerto Rican team was met by some pretty excited Chinese officials. On the bus we were given waters and taken for a relatively short ride through the city of Beijing. We saw a lot of people waving, jumping up and down, and chasing our bus. Of course, they then realized we were Puerto Rican and immediately stopped. Nah, they didn't. They were excited to just be hosting the Olympics and to the very friendly hosts we are all just Olympians. It's pretty awesome.

Upon arrival in the Village...I get through the security, and a Puerto Rican delegate and I are escorted to our room where our team has already arrived. Our guide is a very nice retired Chinese gentleman who very genuinely told me that I am "a strong and handsome" man. I smiled, said thank you, and asked him to continue -- but he didn't know enough English. Oh well.

Read about Doug's substandard room and the massive athlete cafeteria after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »