There will always be Olympic moments throughout history that we will remember. What about this year? Do any of these moments from the London 2012 Summer Olympics measure up?
• Missy Franklin
One of the favorite Olympians of this year was Missy Franklin. She is an amazing swimmer, she has a smile as bright as the gold medals she won, and according to Michael Phelps, she is a “stud.”
Even though she is only 17, Franklin not only won gold medals, but she even set two world records in the Women’s 4x100 meter medley relay finals, and the Women’s 200 meter backstroke final. She now also holds the American record for the 100 meter backstroke as well. I think America and even the world will have a hard time forgetting Franklin.
• Allyson Felix
Allyson Felix and her track and field team not only won in London but like Missy Franklin’s team, they also set a world record in their 4x100 meter relay.
Allyson recalls, “When I looked over at the timer and it stopped at 40.8, I said to myself, ‘this is a mistake. That’s not a 4x100 time, what is that?’” Right before the relay, she had run her 200 meter event and earned gold with a time of 21.69.
• Women’s soccer
After losing to Japan for the World Cup the year before, the U.S. Women’s Soccer team played the Japanese this year and won with a score of 2-1. Alex Morgan, a forward on the team, said in an interview, “We leaned on each other when we needed to, and we ended up on top. I’m so happy; now we’re the best in the world.”
It was amazing to see the U.S. team come back from their loss in 2011. Morgan was so happy that she wouldn’t let go of her gold medal — “No one is taking this away.”
• Michael Phelps
Of course, we simply cannot forget Phelps. Now with 22 medals, 18 of them being gold, he is the most decorated Olympian of all time! Just this year in London, he received four gold medals and two silver medals, putting him at the top of the American medal count.
Phelps won his first gold medal in 2004 at the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and things just went up from there. The American swimmer retired at the end of this year and said, “I couldn’t ask to finish on a better note. I’ve done everything I’ve ever wanted to do, and I’m very happy.”
The games in London have definitely been memorable — yet, I also wonder if any of these Olympians will be remembered a year from now, or in 50 years..
Jessica Heywood will be a senior at Morgan High School. She enjoys painting, photography and music. Contact her at jessicajomorgan@hotmail.com.
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