Sprinter scandal quiets Greeks

Give it to Greek sprinters and Olympic medalists Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou. Their mishap late Thursday night likely changed the final act of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, and scared some people silent.

“We have been told not to talk about this,” a curly-haired blonde 19-year-old Athens resident and Olympic volunteer said before ducking behind a door.

The celebrated Greek Olympians were involved in a motorcycle accident that could force both to miss the Olympics, as well as avoid drug testing. The highly publicized case tempered some Greek enthusiasm for the ceremonies, but suited an Olympic effort beset by trouble.

“I don’t want to believe it,” said Anthanasisos Papathanasiou, an 18-year-old student living in Athens. “But it’s always negative. We get used to this. We just have to live with it.”

Of all things to go wrong Friday, few could have predicted two of the Greece’s biggest stars would vanish before the opening ceremonies.

Kenteris, who in 2000 became the first Greek man to win a gold medal in a running event since 1896 when he won the 200 meters, was expected to light the Olympic flame to signal the opening of the games. Instead, Greek wind surfer Nikolaos Kaklamanakis carried the torch the final distance.

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, president of the Athens 2004 organizing committee, said with a bright smile after the ceremonies that Kaklamanakis was selected because of Greece’s connection with water. But not even Daskalaki’s child-like zeal altered attention from the two natives who weren’t at her big party Friday night.

Thanou, a silver medalist in the 100-meter in 2000, was reportedly with Kenteris during the accident. The hospital they were taken to released a statement that suggests neither suffered serious injuries. According to their coach Christos Tzekos, they do not have a “serious problem.”

And Aristotle wasn’t a serious writer.

Neither sprinter could be found for a doping test in the athlete’s village on Thursday. Last year, both runners missed an out-of-competition drug test in Qatar, as they said they were training on the Greek island of Crete. Prior to coming to Athens for the Games, the pair had been training in Chicago, where they also avoided a drug test.

Tzekos said neither sprinter had his cell phone on, and did not know they were being sought on Thursday evening. And on the athletes’ side is the fact that neither has tested positive for drugs, the track competition does not begin until Aug. 20, and an IOC hearing on Monday always could sway in their favor.

“I don’t want to believe it,” said Olga Chatzi, an Athens banker who was decked in her best Greek-flag attire on Friday. “But they did not go for the testing. I just feel sorry for Greece.”

Another Olympic grand opening

While final preparations for Opening Ceremonies were underway at the OAKA-Olympic Stadium Friday, another opening was taking place across the compound.

The Olympic Superstore, official purveyor of all things licensed, invited customers in. While laurel wreaths weren’t on the hat racks, 19 euros ($23.43) baseball caps with embroidered laurels were. Temperatures rising? Just add water to the Olympic logo-covered three-ring inflatable pool that sells for 12 euros (14.80). Thirsty? Scotch glasses, set of 3, are 17 euros ($20).

Country flags, including the American flag, suitable for patriotic waving at the venues, are 12 euros ($14.75).

Bhardwaj has chance at all-around

Pamela Anderson’s investment in Mohini Bhardwaj keeps paying off.

Bhardwaj, whose quest to make the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team was bankrolled by the former “Baywatch” actress, was chosen as a surprise all-around candidate Friday when the Americans released their lineup.

Bhardwaj joins Courtney McCool and co-national champions Courtney Kupets and Carly Patterson in doing all four events during Sunday’s team qualifications.

Bhardwaj would be eligible to compete for the all-around title if she finishes high enough. The top 24 individual gymnasts advance to the all-around, though each country is limited to two qualifiers.

Bhardwaj was once one of the most promising young gymnasts in the United States. She burned out on the long hours of training, and went through a rebellious stage that hurt her career. She regained her love of the sport at UCLA, where she was an 11-time All-American and helped the Bruins win two national titles.

Though the 25-year-old is at an age where gymnasts trade their leotards for a coach’s warm-up jacket, she decided she had to try one more time to make the Olympic team. Anderson stepped in, giving Bhardwaj $20,000 after she heard the gymnast was selling raffle tickets to help fund her training.

She was chosen unanimously by her teammates as the U.S. captain.

“It’s definitely been a long road,” Bhardwaj said earlier this week. “I’d say very life-fulfilling for me. That’s the best way I can put it.”

Rulon the newbie in women’s water polo

If football was an option, Kelly Rulon might have grabbed a helmet instead of a swimming cap.

Water polo can be brutal. Swimsuits get torn off, noses are bloodied and limbs get scratched and broken in underwater tussles.

For the soft-spoken Rulon, 5-foot-10 and 145 pounds, that’s part of the appeal.

She joined the U.S. national team in January and will celebrate her Olympic debut and her 20th birthday Monday when the American gold medal favorites take on Hungary in the opening round.

At the risk of tinkering with a top-ranked team, U.S. coach Guy Baker saw talent in Rulon and brought in the young outside shooter to replace Gabrielle Domanic in the only change to last year’s world champion squad.

Rulon “gives us another option. There’s a lot of creativity there,” Baker said. “She gives us some goals she creates on her own. She does some things individually that gets away from the natural systems and things that we’re doing.”