2012 Summer OlympicsMedia MonsterWeird But True

Tyler Clary Slaps Tape Delay In The Face, Retroactively Live Tweets His 200m Backstroke Win

We thought nothing good would ever come of the dysfunctional marriage between Olympics and tape delay. We were mostly right, but not completely. Tyler Clary, who upset Ryan Lochte to win gold in the 200m backstroke at around 9 p.m. in London on Thursday, stayed up until it was 10 p.m. on the East Coast (3 a.m. in London) to live tweet the same race when it aired in the States. Take that, tape delay! BURN!

Clary characterized the act as his “narrative of what was happening leading up to my race and even after the race“, but come on, this was just his convoluted way of saying “I’m going to ‘live tweet’ my race because I can, NBC”, right? Alright, that probably wasn’t the case, but enjoy this anyway. Another fine example of how social media has shaped these Olympic Games, probably more so than the athletes in them. In this case, we get the best of both worlds.

First, an explanation.

What point is the coverage at exactly?? That way I can give you guys an accurate narration :)

— Scott Tyler Clary (@TylerClary) August 3, 2012

OK, good to know I guess.

I’m back in the ready room dancing and listening to a little dubstep, but right before I came out I switched on “The Motto” by Drake :)

— Scott Tyler Clary (@TylerClary) August 3, 2012

I bet I know who Ryan Lochte was listening to.

Well ok, at this point in coverage, I am getting finished warming up and I am doing pace. Feeling amazing in warmup!!!

— Scott Tyler Clary (@TylerClary) August 3, 2012

He forgot to tell us that he was most likely also peeing.

Right now I am completely in the zone, I have never felt so relaxed and prepared to fly!!!

— Scott Tyler Clary (@TylerClary) August 3, 2012

This is it!

I see that I’m behind Ryan at the 100 but I am only thinking about building into the last 75

— Scott Tyler Clary (@TylerClary) August 3, 2012

Oh man, this is too meta. This kind-of-live-tweet has me thinking I have some weird Jedi mind trick ability and can get inside Tyler’s head in his most critical, vulnerable moments. Twitter users are mostly terrible about this, but Clary executes well.

It still hasn’t even processed in my head what happened today, so thankful for everyone in my life. I love you all!!!

— Scott Tyler Clary (@TylerClary) August 3, 2012

After acknowledging all he could think about after his victory was his high school swim coach who passed away while he was in college, Tyler unofficially signs off by showing some gratitude to his supporters and those close to him.

You haven’t gotten the best of us yet, tape delay. Not until Tyler Clary says so.

[photo via]