“We lit the world.”

Photo courtesy of www.uwishunu.com

    Every four years over 200 countries join together and tune in to watch the greatest athletes in the world strive toward achieving one dream: a gold medal. This was just witnessed during the past few weeks at the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London. The athletes along with the city of London and country of Great Britain put on a show like never seen before. It started off with a breath taking opening ceremony, showing the viewers what London had to offer. In addition, they also put into perspective how every country can join together in a sense, leaving their differences behind them, and simply enjoy the great performances.

    The events themselves were no disappointment. History was made as Michael Phelps became the greatest Olympian of all time, as he ended his olympic career with an astounding 22 medals, 18 of which were gold. Usain Bolt of Jamaica stole the show at the track and field stating, “I told you I was going to be number one and I did just that.”  Other athletes who stole the Olympic spotlight were the “Fab Five” and their gold medal in team gymnastics, and the three-peat of Olympic gold by Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings in women’s beach volleyball.

    After all of the 302 events were completed, the Americans came out on top with a total of 104 medals, 46 of which were gold. China finished 2nd in the medal count. After hanging with the Americans for most of the two weeks they closed with 88 medals. The host country Great Britain finished in 3rd with 65 medals. The support the British received was incredible with the royal family often being in attendance. In the closing ceremony the Olympic flag was passed along to the mayor of Rio (the host of the 2016 games) with the Head of the Olympic Games thanking the Brits for “lighting up the world.” If Rio is anything like London, the world should be in for another great treat.

Lucas Englert

Staff Writer