I’m bummed that the Olympics are over but I am, however, excited about going to bed at a reasonable hour again (staying up until 1am to watch this race or that swim really has me stuggling the next day). Like years past, the 2012 Summer Olypmics were epic – records shattered, speeds increased, dreams accomplished, hearts broken.
Here are a few of my favorite moments (and this doesn’t even do it justice):
- Michael Phelps becomes the most decorated Olympian in history, with 22 medals (and 18 Gold)
- The “fab five” win Olympic Gold in women’s gymnastics
- Men & Women both win Gold in basketball
- Women’s soccer – need I say more?!
- Track & Field – the women {rocked} it; Sanya Richards-Ross claimed gold in 400m, while Allyson Felix finally won gold in 200m; 4×100 and 4x400m claim gold!! (claim to fame: I raced against Sanya Richards-Ross in high school)
- Track & Field – the men were pretty impressive, too; silver (and record times) in 4×100 and 4x400m; USA finally claims (silver) medals in distance races 1500m and 10,000m; gold and silver in the Decathlon
- Missy Franklin nabs gold at age 17 (5 medals total); David Boudia claims gold in 10m platform
- Mo Farrah literally runs away with gold in both 10,000m and 5,000m – he’s so exciting to watch
- Marathon: Meb Keflezighi places 4th in the Men’s Marathon, but shares these words: “Run To Win- You don’t have to finish in 1st place to win. Run to Win, means to get the best out of yourself. Today, I feel like a winner. Thank you for your support!”
- USA wins 104 medals (!!) – 46 gold, 29 silver, and 29 bronze
{I’m officially ready for Rio 2016!}
I actually set an alarm so I could watch the men’s marathon yesterday. I love MEB. He’s such an inspiration. His comments after his amazing finish (moving up from 17th to 4th!) just reiterated what an inspirational person he is!
YES to all those you listed!! I also loved watching Galen and Mo finish 1-2 in the 10,000m…love that they are training partners despite representing 2 different countries. =)
I love this recap. I am also glad the Olympics are over and that I can get back to my regular schedule. Setting alarms to watch certain events was crazy, staying up late to watch events I knew the results for was even crazier. lol I am also looking forward to Rio but very happy that I have 4 years to wait. I think you hit on so many of my favorite moments, just too many to list.
I’m insanely biased, but I live for USA Women’s soccer! I’m so happy that your list doesn’t include Ryan Lochte! Team Phelps all the way.
I was kind of surprised by these olympics. I got more ideas than inspiration this time. Suddenly water polo looks like a fun sport to play. And I knew how hard these people worked to get there having trained with someone who made the olympic trials in the 50 free swim. it gave me a really strange perspective and I loved every minute of it.
Yes and yes to all of these! I was totally that person too that was up to all hours of the night watching and waiting just not being able to take my eyes off the events!! I am so sad they’re over but can’t wait until RIO!!!
I love and agree with your recap. The running events were of course my favorite, but I couldn’t help but get goose bumps watching Missy Franklin swim. I think she could beat out Phelps as the most decorated Olympian someday.
* Loved watching Misty and Kerry win gold in beach volleyball.
* Loved watching Kara help Shalane up off the ground after the marathon
* Bawled my eyes out when Katie Ledecky won gold in the 800 meter swim.
* was sad when China won gold over Malaysia in badminton because it was down to one point and the announcer said that if Malaysia won the guy would get millon dollars from his government , plus the Chinese guy won gold at the last olympics.
* surprised (or maybe not so) when I heard that if you do not win gold for North Korea when you get back they send you to a hard labor camp. I would have defected the moment George Michael started singing “Freedom”.
* Bawled my eyes out in the closing ceremony because what will I watch now? I guess I have to go back to blogging, yawn.
My favorite moment was when Kara carried Shalane after the marathon, they are competitors but also friends, love it!
Loved all the moment you mentioned as well as watching Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake battle in every race. Two amazing runners. Also loved seeing the US vs the US in Women’s beach volleyball finals. Lastly, she has taken a lot of heat but I liked seeing Lolo Jones get 4th in hurdles after finishing in 7th four years ago. 4th best in the world is nothing to be ashamed of.
Well, aside from every second of it since I am obsessed with all things Olympics…
-Every Missy Franklin moment, she looks so genuinely happy and grateful it is hard not to be happy watching her.
– Mo Farrah and Galen Rupp going 1-2 in the 10K
-The awe inspiring speed of the women’s 4×100 relay
And of course, ogling the men’s swim team!
Definitely all those listed above… and I loved Meb’s moment! He is my favorite runner and it was so awesome to see him come out on top, especially since they didn’t even list him as one of the top 10 favorites before the race! Also Galen Rupp… he had an amazing race in the 10k. And Misty and Kerri. I can’t wait for Rio!!
So, did you beat Sonya Richards in high school?
Ha, I wish! She was seriously fast in 2001, and she’s seriously fast now 🙂 The fastest 400m I ever ran was 56 seconds – not even close!
Just curious. Well you are super fast. And 56 sec’s is blazing in the 400 m. The 400 m is no joke, it’s like your legs just stop turning over in the last 50.