More Glittering Gold

I know I'm extremely late on this but I really haven't felt like writing, lol, so here goes.

While I was out of town for the wedding, I really wasn't able to watch the Olympics as much as I wished I could have, although I did catch as many glimpses as possible. I would like to just talk about a couple events that stood out to me.

One sport I really enjoy watching and playing is volleyball, beach or otherwise. I am no where near as good as any of the players in the Olympics but it is one of the few sports where I really understand the game and can follow mostly without the commentators. Of course I was cheering for the USA but my favorite is Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings in beach volleyball. I was so surprised when I say Misty was back since she said she was retiring after Bejing but I am so glad she came back. They are so exciting to watch and I love the charisma between them. I was so happy to find out they won gold although I was disappointed I wasn't able to watch the final match. It was a win-win situation for the USA since Misty and Kerri had to play the other USA team to win the gold.

Gabby Douglas winning gold in the Individual All-Around.

In more exciting gymnastics competition, the USA was once again well represented by the members of the Fab Five. First up the Individual All-Around Final. Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman competed hard and Gabby won the gold while Aly tied with Allya Mustafina from Russia for bronze and, for a reason I am still unaware of, the bronze was awarded to the Russians. In the Vault finals, McKayla Maroney won silver for the USA. In the Uneven Bars finals, Gabby Douglas finished 8th while in the Beam finals she placed 7th. Aly Raisman brought home the bronze in the Beam finals and the gold in the Floor finals where Jordyn Wieber placed 7th. Overall I think the ladies did great and represented the USA well.

McKayla Maroney after winning the silver. Her face has spurred a wave of memes with the phrase "McKayla is not impressed." 

Mitchell handing off the baton after finishing his leg of the relay with a broken leg.

One story I really couldn't believe until I looked it up was Manteo Mitchell, the relay sprinter who broke, YES BROKE, his leg halfway through his leg of the race and still finished. Mitchell was on the 400x4 meter relay team for the USA. He got off the block slow and at about 200 meters to go he heard his leg pop. At that point I don't think anyone would have blamed him if he had stopped but did he? NO! He kept running with no visible problems. The USA Team ended up finishing 2nd behind the Bahamas in the qualifier and again in the final, winning the silver.

The closing ceremony was, as everyone said it would be, basically a huge concert of British music. It wasn't as showy for me as the opening ceremony but still very entertaining to watch. I enjoyed seeing One Direction but what I was looking forward to the most was the reunion of the Spice Girls. I enjoyed the peek at Rio 2016 and can't wait for that opening ceremony because I know Rio can throw a party. I'm sad they are over but in 2014 are the winter games and I can't wait to watch Aplolo Ohno, Shaun White, and figure skating. All the athletes fought hard and it was fun to watch. Way to go Team USA!