Everyone loves to watch an exciting comeback, and Team USA has had no shortage of redemptive stories during the 2016 Olympic Games. From personal struggles overcome to taking back titles, the American athletes in Rio have certainly proven that no obstacle is too difficult to overcome with hard work and competitive passion.
As the Olympics began on August 6th, it seemed that everyone had their eyes on Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, as they anxiously awaited his final swim in his last Olympic Games. Not only is Phelps leaving the Rio Olympics with five gold and one silver medal, he is leaving behind a historic legacy. No one knew if Phelps would return to the Olympic pool after competing in the London games in 2012, especially after he fell into a depressed state and was charged with a DUI. However, Phelps came to Rio even better than before, claiming a gold in the 200m butterfly and leading the US team to a gold in the 4x100 freestyle relay, two events Phelps medaled silver in during the London games. Phelps' infant son, Boomer, will have no shortage of medal choices for show-and-tell when he grows up.
Another incredible comeback story belongs to Aly Raisman, US gymnast who returned to Rio after winning gold in the Team All-Around with the “Fab Five” in London, as well as a gold for Floor Exercise and a bronze for Balance Beam. Although Raisman’s undeniable talent won her three medals in London, she was edged out of the bronze in the Women’s Individual All-Around by Russian gymnast Aliya Mustafina after a tiebreaking procedure leaned in Mustafina’s favor. However, this year in Rio, not only did Team USA take home the gold in the Team All-Around, Raisman redeemed herself by medaling silver in the Individual All-Around, while Mustafina took bronze. American teammate Simone Biles, All-Around gold medalist, said that she “was more proud of Aly getting silver than me gold. She’s worked so incredibly hard during her comeback. I’m more happy for her than I am myself.”
Phelps is not the only swimmer with a comeback story, as Anthony Ervin has proved that he is still as good as he was 16 years ago after winning gold in “swimming’s fastest race”, the 50m freestyle. Ervin won gold in this event at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and quit swimming just three years later, in 2003. Ervin returned to the London Olympics in 2012 to see if he could reclaim his title in the 50m freestyle, but found himself off the podium, finishing in fifth place. Ervin came to Rio with tunnel vision, and his dedication won him a gold. Ervin also medaled gold in the 4x100 freestyle relay, swimming alongside Phelps in his last race.
Everyone has a story, and the athletes’ stories of Team USA have proved that no challenge is too difficult to overcome. The individual stories of Phelps, Raisman, and Ervin mirror the spirit of the United States of America: to fight for what you believe in and to never give up.
