Olympics (General)

I love to watch the Olympics! There is something so awe-inspiring about the dedication, persistence and performance of all of those athletes. Whether it is fencing, ping-pong or beach volley ball, I find myself glued to each event, cheering for people I don’t even know, from countries that I couldn’t locate on a map. I am so proud of the U.S. team and the phenomenal performances of Michael Phelps, however, I have tremendous respect and admiration for any participant that has gone through the grueling process of qualifying to be there to compete. Even the person who finishes 50th in the marathon gets my respect just by becoming an Olympian. I watched as competitors winced at coming in second, or third, when in reality they have achieved at the highest level, and many times only a hundredth of a second will separate all three places. In one of the Phelps relays, the top 5 teams broke the WORLD RECORD for the event. So, you train for 4 years, travel to China and beat the world record…and you come in 5th! Incredible efforts, amazing talent, and a lifetime of memories, even for those who never get to stand on the pedestal at the medal ceremony.