Since the 2012 London Olympic games, millions of fans have been patiently waiting to gather and watch the world’s best athletes, represent their country for the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. The athletes have been waiting some with grudges and redemption on their mind others just with a simple point to prove. With no doubt, fans and athletes have one thought on their minds, “gold.” Since the opening ceremony, I have been glued to my television watching all of the record breaking, proud, tear jerking, heart pounding, close calls, and special moments of these games. Now let's talk Olympics!
GABBY DOUGLAS
I am going to be completely honest, Gabby Douglas is the sole reason why I fell in love with the Olympics 4 years ago! She got out there and made it look so easy, so when she made Team USA 2016, I was more than overjoyed that I would get another chance to cheer on my favorite athlete! But during these games, she has been relentlessly scrutinized for unnecessary reasons. Woman have talked about her hair and her figure. Americans have talked about her patriotism. People have talked about her attitude. My two words to those people are “Be quiet” how could you judge a girl who has spent her life winning medals, one of which declared her as the greatest in the world. Until you can hop on a balance beam with ease, reach an uneven bar, or attempt a cartwheel, you have no place to speak on, talk about, or judge one of the greatest athletes in the world. -Love4Gabby
SIMONE BILES
Everyone has fallen in love with Simone Biles, I mean it is safe to say that she is America’s sweetheart. Well, this little ball of fire better known has the greatest gymnast of all times has been flipping her way into everyone’s hearts since the start of these games. Her personality makes liking her so much better and the fact that she does stunts that no one else in the world can do, coupled with the fact that she’s 4’11, I mean we all know why those gold medals were so deserved! Go Simone!
USAIN BOLT
Bolt proves to the world again why he just can’t be human, I mean the guy can run faster than my car, and the difference is he doesn’t run out of gas! I have been one of his biggest fans since 2011. His talents are absolutely unexplanatory. So I will just say the only time I will ever wave another country’s flag is when Usain Bolt is on the track. The fastest man to ever touch a track and no matter who he races, gold will always be on his menu. He is easily the greatest runner of all time!
JUSTIN GATLING
Often times people remember the winner never the person who came in after them. Well, image for a minute that you have to race the fastest man in the world now imagine losing by less than a second. What does that make you? In my book pretty phenomenal, to be able to keep up with top speeds is nothing but commendable. Which is why I will always be a fan of one of my personal favorite track athletes Justin Gatling.
DUTCH BIKE CRASH
In the early days of the Olympics, the women's cycling race proved to be the toughest event of the entire games in my eyes. As I was watching the race Dutch cyclist Annemiek Van Vleuten lead the race until she crashed the corner going over 50 miles per hour, falling on her neck, laying there motionless as the race continued. Those few moments show me that no matter what country you are from, you are human. I refreshed and googled until her status was confirmed that she was, in fact, alive! Most people don’t see cycling as an intense sport, and until that moment I never thought twice about. Annemiek is the real champion of that race if you ask me! http://www.nbc.com/
MICHAEL PHELPS
The-Greatest-Of-All-Time.
The end.
BAHAMIAN CHEATER?
In the women’s 200m track and field race Bahamian runner Shaunae Miller took the longest dive of her life across the finish line to beat out the great Allyson Felix. Some say she cheated because she didn’t run but dove like an Olympic swimmer rather than a runner. My opinion on the dive? Well,I liked that her blue hair matched her nation’s flag!
NEW OLYMPIC KNOWLEDGE
Well, this year I was shocked to learn that trampoline is an actual competitive sport! *Mind blown.
A LITTLE SPRINKLE OF BLACK GIRL MAGIC
These Olympic games have been a time to admire how far the Olympic games have come regarding race and gender! Tori Bowie, Allyson Felix, English Gardner, and Tianna Bartoletta will run golden circles around anyone. Clarissa Shields brings a new advantage to the term fight like a girl, she has beaten everyone in her path, and she’ll be competing for gold in the boxing ring next week. Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles continues to inspire gymnasts. Michelle Carter became the first black woman to win gold in shot put! Simone Manual became the USA’s first black woman swimmer to win gold! Kristi Castlin, Brianna Rollins and Nia Ali took home the gold, silver, and bronze medals for the individual hurdle race, becoming the first American woman to sweep an event placing on all three podiums. Water polo isn’t that common of a sport, but goalie Ashleigh Johnson proves that polo isn’t just a one-sided sport! The list just goes on and on! Talk about dominating, these women may be the first but they won’t be the last to inspire little girls that they can do it regardless of race or gender! http://www.nbc.com/
BASKETBALLING
The games aren’t over yet between the USA and other countries but in every game, USA has taken the win with at least a 15 point advantage. Soon enough USA basketball will be adding onto America’s already monumental medal count.
USA TEAM GYMNASTS OR FLYING PERFECTION?
Women’s USA gymnastics took home the gold over a week ago, and it was so deserved. There floor flips, beam spins, bar heights, and all around amazingness earned them the top spot on the podium!
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
The sport that has been dominated by team USA over the years has surprisingly not been going that way this time around. Female beach volleyballers, Kerri Walsh-Jennings and her partner April Ross took home the bronze instead of the usual gold this year. But 3rd is always better than 4th I say!
CHINA DIVES LIKE DOLPHINS
I don’t know how they do it but China slices through water like a quality knife so of course, they will always reign as the diving masters!
USA DOMINATION
Aside from being the most diverse group of athletes in the Olympics, team USA has without a doubt been the most dominating team in these Olympic games. The USA won over 100 medals! I’m not bias, but let’s just say there are a few countries wishing that their flags had 50 stars 13 stripes!
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