USA's Olympic athletes got game

Even USA's Olympic athletes are hooked on Guitar Hero and Call of Duty 4.

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games kick off in Beijing in just less than two weeks, but the hard-working (and mostly young) Olympic athletes aren't always workaholics: they're gamers, too. We caught up with some of the Olympians getting set to head over to China for a two-week strive for the gold, to see what their specific gaming tastes are.

Today we chat with gymnast Justin Spring, a 24-year old who has overcome multiple injuries for the ticket to Beijing, and Phillip Dalhausser, 28-year-old beach volleyball USA team member.

How often do you get to play video games?

Justin Spring (Gymnastics): A few hours a day.

Philip Dalhausser (Beach Volleyball): If I am home, everyday.

Many of us at GamePro grew up with systems like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). When did you first start playing games, and on what system?

JS: I remember driving home when I was real young from Florida with my parents and my older sister and they told us we got a Nintendo. I spent 13 hours in the car dreaming about how cool it was going to be to play and own a Nintendo.

PD: I was probably about seven when I started playing video games on Atari (same here...I played CocoNotes on my brother's first Atari console).

So what is your current system of choice?

Justin Spring, gymnast. Favorite game: The Legend of Zelda

Justin Spring, gymnast. Favorite game: The Legend of Zelda

JS: I have had Wii for a while, and I just bought a PlayStation 3 yesterday actually. I played Call of Duty 4 on a friend's Xbox and I got hooked, so I bought PS3 and Call of Duty 4.

PD: Right now I am an Xbox 360 guy.

Do you find yourself playing more while you travel?

JS: When I travel I play a bunch of games on my computer. I play original Nintendo games on an Emulator. I play Diablo II and Age of Mythology a lot when I'm on trips on my laptop. It makes the waiting time in the hotel rooms go by so much quicker.

PD: I don't travel with my Xbox 360. It would be too much of a hassle (we feel ya there. Giant power brick + road trip = no thank you).

Do you ever bring a PS3 or Xbox 360 on the road, or do you usually stick to handhelds like the PSP and DS?

JS: I usually stick with whatever works on my laptop.

PD: I have a PSP but I never play it. I don't know why I just never got it into it.

Are there any games you play to practice for events? For example, a lot of racecar drivers play Gran Turismo because it's the most realistic simulation and a great way to study tracks.

JS: Gymnastics is a little hard to emulate. I don't even think there's a game out there that has Gymnastics.

Philip Dalhausser, beach volleyball. Favorite game: Halo 3

Philip Dalhausser, beach volleyball. Favorite game: Halo 3

PD: Well I play beach volleyball, so there really aren't many games to choose from.

What games do you play for fun? Do you have a current favorite?

JS: I've been hooked on Guitar Hero 3 for a while and I can't wait for the next one to come out.

PD: I have been a big Halo fan, so I have been into Halo 3, but lately I find myself playing Call of Duty 4 more often.

Have you ever played any of the Olympic video games? Do you think they are any good?

JS: I played Olympic games on the original Nintendo. I remember them being pretty fun.

PD: The only Olympic game I recall playing is the one on the original Nintendo.

What about the Nintendo Wii? What do you think of Wii Sports?

JS: I love Wii sports. I think that brought a whole new dimension to video games. It's the one system my parents actually tried. When they visited over Christmas the whole family played together.

PD: I actually have a Wii but I don't play it very often. Wii Sports is really fun, especially when a group of people are playing.

Have you heard of Wii Fit? Could you see an Olympic coach assigning athletes to play Wii Fit to stay in shape?

JS: I think it could help to get rid of the boredom of cardio work outs possibly. I think these kinds of interactive games are great at involving physical activity with gaming.

PD: I have not heard of Wii Fit, but I can imagine it's a pretty good workout because boxing on Wii Sports can be a good workout.

So what is your all-time favorite game?

JS: The original Zelda for Nintendo. I just recently went back and beat it again on the emulator on my laptop.

PD: No brainer, Halo 3.

Comments [13]

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Greatness87

im more interested in the usa basketball team this olympics, they have to redeem our national honor ya know?

Greatness87

Justin spring says there are no games to get him ready for an event, aha but there is thee is mirror's edge which os kinda sorta like gymnatics maybe it could help mentally prepare for beam balancing. oh an mirror's edge will be linked to thousands upon thousands of suicide buliding drops in the near future, expect lots of small children to perish off of jungle gyms because of this game. IS YOUR KID SAFE FROM MIRROR'S EDGE?

Darke

its good to know that athletes play games, too. Doesn't Jessica Simpson play WoW?

FriedTwinkie

it doesn't suprise me that athletes play video games. Tell me something I don't know. Show me a video of Barack Obama playing drums on Rockband and then I will be impressed

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