Every four years athletes from all around the world unite in a battle for the gold. Their training began when they were merely toddlers, but on Friday, July 27, 2012 the competitions began. For two weeks, the city of London was an arena in which the athletes showcased their talents in the hopes of winning medals. Many athletes won gold, silver and bronze medals, making their countries proud.
“I like how diverse the Olympics are,” senior Monzell Wiggins said. “Every country comes together in harmony and they set aside their differences for our entertainment.”
USA led the medal count with a total of 104 medals. People’s Republic of China was close behind with 88 medals, followed by Great Britain with 65 medals.
“I was not surprised that USA got more medals than any other country because we are a bigger country and we have more opportunity to protect the art of the sports that are held at the Olympic Games,” Wiggins said.
After each Olympic Games, there are a few athletes that get more attention than the rest. This year, one of them was retired American swimmer Michael Phelps. At just 27 years old, Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. This year’s Olympics earned him a new record of 22 medals.
Another favorite of many students is Jamaican sprinter Usain “Lightning” Bolt.
“Usain Bolt racing was definitely one of the most exciting parts of the Olympics,” junior Ryan Ng-Thomas said.
This year alone, Bolt won three gold medals, set a new Olympic record for the 100-meter and was titled the fastest man on earth.
“Bolt is inhuman because he runs faster than anyone I have ever known,” Wiggins said.
The famous “Fierce Five” garnered loads of attention this summer. Artistic gymnasts Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber were the second ever USA team to win gold in the women’s team competition. Since their victory, the girls have made lots of appearances on a variety of shows such as The Today Show, The Colbert Report, Big Brother and the 2012 Video Music Awards, in which Gabby Douglas performed on stage with Alicia Keys.
The Olympics are such an exhilarating time for every nation to watch their most talented compete for gold.
“One of the most exciting things about the Olympics for me is seeing how each hosting city puts their own spin on it,” senior Rio Burtun said.
