MITCHELL JOHNSON: Simone Biles and Ariane Titmus going strong in Olympic sports I love to watch

There’s so much going on at the Olympics it can be hard to know where to look as a viewer – more than 10,000 athletes in 45 different sports.

You can’t see it all so it’s a matter of first working out what you don’t want to miss.

There are some things that I will have on in the background and happily come back to but some events for me are a must.

The other curve ball this time is time zone issues. We do like to have a little whinge about some of the big finals that are on at 3am or 4am and it is frustrating when we have to function for work or the kids the next day. But I know the true fans of sport will set the alarm for certain big events because they are passionate about it.

I love watching sports you rarely get to see on TV so the Olympics really is a feast. The more I look at the schedule, the more events I find that I’m happy to sit and watch as they all bring something different.

ROWING

One event that has had my interest since the days of the Oarsome Foursome is rowing.

You might have a little chuckle to yourself about rowing being a great spectator sport but what I enjoy about rowing is how exhausting it looks!

I’ve heard so many stories about rowers and how they train. There is just no way I would become a rower. And that’s not said in disrespect, but in admiration for their efforts and the hours they put into their sport.

When they cross that finish line, you know they have put absolutely everything into it and there seems to be great battles and close finishes.

FENCING AND ARCHERY

Something else you mightn’t believe, but I’ll probably sit and watch the fencing and archery. In all honesty.

I just find these sports fascinating, I guess because it’s something a bit different. Fencing because of the tactics and archery because of the precision.

I appreciate the varying skills involved and the competitors’ commitment to their sport.

I’m sure plenty of these athletes don’t get paid much, so the commitment to be the very best - while you have to work on top of the hours and hours training - is why I enjoy and appreciate what these Olympians are about.

GYMNASTICS

The gymnastics is another on my list. While at the cricket academy in the lead-up to Sydney 2000 the Russian gymnastics team stayed with us in Adelaide and that little insight triggered my interest.

I’m intrigued by some of the outrageous things they do on the rings and the vault.

The strength, flexibility and pure athletic presence these gymnasts show is elite. They have muscles on top of muscles and they are functional muscles – not beach muscles!

Simone Biles made a great return to the Games overnight with a strong showing for the USA in qualifying.

WEIGHTLIFTING

Speaking of muscles, how about the weightlifting for pure theatre.

Many years ago in the Aussie cricket team, we had a few sessions in the gym with former Olympic weightlifter Damon Kelly.

He showed us how to lift properly and was watching us lift our puny little weights. We thought we were units but we were nothing compared to him.

Watching weightlifting is mind blowing when you see the smaller athletes lifting double their weight and their bodies at maximum capacity.

TRACK AND FIELD

The pole vault is another highlight for me.

I remember Steve Hooker’s 2008 Beijing gold. It was just pure adrenalin watching it and just one of those proud moments.

He was the first Australian man to win a track and field gold for 40 years and it came in an event I never thought we could compete in.

It was one of the great nights and fingers crossed for a repeat from Nina Kennedy in Paris.

Track and field is always tough for the Aussies but hopefully there are some other surprises in store.

Speaking of athletics, I’m open to debate but are the 100m sprint finals the number one events to watch of the entire Olympics?

When Usain Bolt sprinted, the world was drawn in by him. Not just because of his phenomenal speed and the ease with which he did it, but the theatre around it.

Even pre-race is a big show in itself. The 100m finalists are like caged lions ready to explode. There is plenty of chest pumps and strutting going on.

It’s all about getting yourself pumped up enough to sprint 100m and be called the fastest person on earth. I can’t wait.

SWIMMING

Last but certainly not least, the swimming is great to watch. Australia generally does well and this Dolphins team looks as strong as ever, with the women already leading the way.

The rivalry with the powerful United States swim team is always a highlight with Ariarne Titmus earning early bragging rights with her 400m freestyle gold medal win over USA legend Katie Ledecky on Sunday morning.

As much as I enjoy the individual events such as the 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly races, the team medleys really light the fire in the belly.

It’s tactical as well as technical and it’s to show the world who has the best team in that moment.

GOOD LUCK!

As an Australian, I wish all our athletes the best.

Give it your all, back yourself and remember to enjoy all the little the moments.

It may be the biggest event of your career but in the end, it’s just another event like all the others you’ve competed in before.

Australia is right behind you.