Olympics offer spectacle of women, men at their best
The 2012 London Olympics will end Sunday after two-plus weeks of riveting competition that has thrilled the world.
The Olympics have been exciting in and out of the water, on and off the track, and on the streets of London.
And they’ve captured the attention of Kansas Citians, producing the second highest percentage of reported viewers among U.S. cities.
Even with the behind-the-scenes ugly fighting among some nations and scattered temper tantrums on Twitter, the Olympics have been exhilarating and uplifting.
Some of the most talented athletes in the world have shown what years of dedication and hard work can accomplish.
U.S. competitors — especially the women — have had great success in London.
Just Friday, America’s 4x100-meter relay team smashed the world record on the track to nab yet another gold medal. That gave U.S. women roughly twice the number of gold medals won by American men.
The Olympics have made household names (at least for a few whirlwind weeks) of gymnasts Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman, swimmer Missy Franklin, beach volleyball players Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, and runners Allyson Felix and Carmelita Jeter.
Weaker sex? Don’t think so.
For the U.S. men, Michael Phelps won more gold medals to become the most decorated (but, apologies, not best-of-all-time) Olympic athlete. A few sprinters didn’t do as well as hoped, and neither did the boxers. But the heavily favored basketball squad will play for the gold medal Sunday, so all is right with the world.
From archery to wrestling, diving to trampoline, field hockey to sailing, the 2012 London Olympics had something for everyone. If only for a brief time, these Games united the world in watching men — and women — at their best.
Rick Adams
10 months, 1 week agoand maybe next time we can watch all of the events.
And … how exactly are the Williams sisters and any of those guys from the NBA Olympic athletes ?