The judo tournament started so quickly and we were so busy getting prepared, I forgot to mention that the opening ceremonies were fantastic.

We set out from the Olympic village at 5:15 p.m. and were back at 2 a.m. It was a long program for the U.S. team, but well worth it. One of the highlights for me personally was meeting tennis superstar Roger Federer. He was the the flag bearer for Switzerland.

I also met tennis players Leyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic and Patty Schnyder. I met American tennis players Mike Bryan and James Blake in the holding area before we got to march into the stadium. Mike Bryan and I got talking, and he invited me to the U.S. Open in New York, if I could make it.

The ceremony itself was spectacular and would rate as one of the best I have been to. Apparently, I was on the TV feed here a bunch of times, but didn't make the cut in the states because I wasn't near any famous athletes, which is what NBC mostly focuses on.

Day 2 of the judo competition saw Talyor Takata - who beat out our own Jason Morris Judo Center's Jeremy Liggett for the U.S. spot at 66 kg - go 2-2 to place ninth. Takata defeated Tariel Zintiridis of Greece and Dex Elmont of the Netherlands, both in overtime, before losing to Yordanis Arencibia of Cuba, then Amin El Hady of Egypt.

USA Judo Team head coach Jason Morris is also posting photos to accompany his blog in the gallery "Olympic Experience". You can view the latest photos by clicking here, or view the entire gallery by clicking here.

For more on the USA Judo Team, go to the USA Judo Web site at usjudo.org.