I write this week’s post with a mixture of the emotions. I am disappointed, deflated and despondent but also filled with a huge sense of joy and pride. The London 2012 Olympics are over, but the performance delivered by our host nation can only be described as spectacular and inspirational. The Games were not just about the athletes, although they will provide the majority of the headlines and fascinating stories demonstrating the hard-craft and will to succeed that are required to be an Olympian. However, the work of the volunteers, otherwise known as Game Makers, has been a perfect example of how the Brits pull together and want others to feel welcome and enjoy their experience. Then there has been the BBC’s coverage, the reactions of athlete’s families and of course, the atmosphere from the crowds, both in the venues and also at the major sites broadcasting as the events unfolded. It was all just incredible, and two weeks which I personally, would happily relive.
Let us not forget there were some serious condemnations of the Games before they kicked off, whilst we had some embarrassing moments even before the Opening Ceremony. The mix up of the Korean flags, and printing a Welshman as an Englishman – both football-based, a sport still subject to uncertainty as to its use in the mega-event, particularly for the men. However, the Opening Ceremony was so quintessentially British that even if the rest of the world did not understand it, the public here went crazy for it! Beckham on a speedboat, Bean playing ‘Chariots of Fire’ (which turned out to be an iconic tune of the Games), and of course, Bond with the Queen. That clip will be seen in decades to come I am sure, it was so unexpected, surreal, yet pure television gold. It was a turning point, and now the public seem to be encapsulated into the unfolding events. If Mark Cavendish had secured a medal the following morning in the road race, then imagine how things would have been even sooner than what they were! The man was so gutted; he had such huge pressure on to deliver, yet to then later show the bravery and class to provide his insight as a pundit once the track cycling began. Can you all recall the panic that was beginning to settle in when it took time before the first gold medal was won? The minor medals were there but not that elusive spot at the top of the podium. Thankfully, the rowers retained their superiority, yet this time, the females got involved too, and the duo of Heather Stanning and Helen Glover, in the end got the ball rolling to a huge total of 29 prestigious British Olympic champions.
Some of those will be memories that stay with people for ever – Andy Murray destroying Roger Federer, Katherine Grainger finally achieving her dream after 12 years of heartbreak, little Jade Jones kicking her way to taekwondo victory, Ben Ainslie securing a fourth gold on the water when at one point it was looking unlikely. There is more too, the team dressage and jumpers in Greenwich Park, Nicola Adams winning the first ever female Olympic boxing medal, Laura Trott, Victoria Pendleton, Jason Kenny in the velodrome. Yet there are three memories which will probably be the abiding ones of the London Games. Last week I spoke about Super Saturday – Rutherford, Ennis and Farah in the Stadium was so mesmerising and astounding with the trio achieving their success in under 45 minutes. Farah then took it to another level this weekend. A double Olympic champion in two of the most demanding events imaginable, he ran 50 laps of the track in just over a week, and ensured that no-one was going to stop him being championing in front of an ecstatic home crowd. Then there was Bradley Wiggins, Olympic champion just days after being crowned the Tour de France winner. In between he also tried to help Cavendish achieve his London 2012 dream. He is hugely expected to be named Sports Personality of the Year for his sumptuous performances. Finally, there is the one and only Sir Chris Hoy who became Britain’s most decorated Olympian ever with two gold medals this time around, after being denied the chance by the international cycling federation to continue his dominance which he provided in Beijing. I was fortunate enough to be in the Olympic Park when he won his final medal, watching on my brother’s phone. Our cries at his success led to others around asking what had happened and it was fabulous sharing the news. The tears on the podium were touching, and then to see him being interviewed on the BBC gantry and cheering his name, which he seemed taken aback by, was a special moment. He videoed us! Someone who has mesmerised us and inspired everyone whilst acting so humble, it just seemed surreal. Is he our greatest Olympian ever? He is certainly a contender.
I could really talk and talk about these past two weeks for ever. Britain did itself proud. And like I said, that is not just regarding the athletes. The great Michael Phelps ended his career with 22 Olympic medals, 18 of them gold, Usain Bolt smashed the doubters into the bin by achieving the double treble. By then there was Bert Le Clos, an unexpected cult hero, who very much like Yohan Blake, you couldn’t understand a word of, but still managed to put a smile on your face. The story of the games to me was Manteo Mitchell, breaking his leg halfway around his 400m relay leg but continuing and still running a 46 second split. The sound of the crowd as a British athlete was announced was deafening. When I was in the stadium, I loved it, we were so passionate and driven to help our men and women on to success. We were proud of their achievements, and yes not everyone fulfilled their expectations, but so many used it to their advantage, and how, 65 medals! Surpassing everyone’s predictions and expectations! We closed it all with a ceremony that seems to have achieved a mixed reaction but it still showcased British talent, just like the previous 16 days. Yet when the time came for the cauldron to be extinguished, the groans from the crowd were clearly audible. Nobody wanted it to end, it has been like a fairytale, a dream that no-one wanted to ever end. Let us now hope, although I have no doubt, the Paralympics also fill us with pride. Britain, we really are great.
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