Luckily for the 2012 Olympians, this mistake didn't cost anyone a medal.
Click here for video: Where are all the athletes at?
But how soon we all forget the controversial finish to the 25 mile cycling event during the Games of the III Olympiad held in 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri. Sure, everyone remembers that the Gold Medal went to Burton Downing in a race that was not even close. But no one remembers that the Silver Medal went to Arthur F. Andrews and not to George E. Wiley, even though all those who were there were sure that Wiley's last second push gave him second place by the slimmest of margins. Unfortunately, the photo finish evidence presented by Mr. Wiley was disallowed because the lens cap was not removed when the picture was taken.
The 1904 Olympics marked the end of United States dominance in Olympic cycling. Many claim that this is due to the large increase in Olympic participation by other nations beginning in 1908, but some of us know that this Lens Cap Issue was the main reason that US cycling lost its foothold and has never recovered.
Dear Lens Cap Man:
ReplyDeleteI know you are a big bicycling enthusiast. Are you still wearing the Armstrong wristband? Too bad you can't be everywhere at once. You will be reminded in the blog posts that follow just how often people's intensions are foiled by that little piece of plastic built ostensibly to protect the delicate lens, but in reality the bane of photographers everywhere. And not just photographers...binoculars...telescopes...glasses...you name it. To fly around the world correcting this mistake is an impossible job to accomplish, but I am glad you are out there doing your best to make the world safe from the disastrous consequences of leaving the lens cap on.
Signed on March 20, 2014---International Lens Cap Day.