Go for Gold!

By Olympic standards I'm considered middle-aged, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about the day a gold medal hangs from my neck while the news camera pans in to my quivering lip and tear-filled eyes as I listen to the "Star Spangled Banner" blasting out of the speakers.  I love the Olympics.  It might be the excitement of watching hours of training pay off in one single race, or it might be the Greek god-like men sporting tiny speedos.  What difference does it make?  It's all awesome.

Now that the festivities are over (#LetDown) I've had time to think of my favorite Olympic moments.  There were heartaches, surprises, victories, and upsets.  In a very particular order, I bring you my Top Ten 2012 Olympic Moments:

10. The lighting of the cauldron

I think I teared up watching this on TV.  It was beautiful on screen, so I can't imagine how cool it looked in person.

9. Venus Williams wins Women's Singles Gold

Venus is the Beyoncé of the tennis world.  I pity the fool who receives her serve...especially with that game face.  Not only can she rip your face off with her backhand, but girl gotz dance skillz.  #VictoryDougie

8. Nathan Adrian wins Men's 100m Freestyle Gold

Nathan Adrian won this race by one one-hundredth of a second.  I will most likely never understand what it means to win anything by one one-hundredth of a second.  Can I even blink in one one-hundredth of a second?  I loved his reaction when he realized he won the gold medal: pure surprise.  #ThatWasClose

7. Missy Franklin wins a boat-load of medals

 

 
 

 Four golds and one bronze.  Not bad for a seventeen-year old girl.  Want to know what I was doing at seventeen?  Me either.  It's crazy to think that little Missy is back in high school right now and probably doing homework...while wearing all her medals.  I think if I were Missy I would wear my medals around the house...naked.  Okay probably not, but I would at least try to get out of doing a few chores.

6. Misty Mae-Traenor and Kerri Walsh Jennings win Women's Beach Volleyball Gold

 Who would have thought hanging out on the beach playing volleyball all day would eventually lead to THREE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS?  I'm still waiting for the IOC to bring marching band into the games, but alas, I think I'll be waiting a bit longer for that one.  I totally dig these two ladies (pun intended) because of their skills, post-baby bods, and the path they trail-blazed for women's beach volleyball.  Get it, girls!

5. Rhythmic Gymnastics

Don't be a hater.  Rhythmic gymnastics is the BOMB!  I could watch these performances over and over again and still end up with my jaw on the ground.  People, they jump through hoops. Literally.  NBC needs to step up their coverage of rhythmic gymnastics. #PleaseSirMayIHaveSomeMore.  I blinked and practically missed it!  Loved it. So. Much. 

4. Gabby Douglas wins Gymnastics Individual All-Around Gold

Go Gabby!  She makes a back flip on the balance beam look like brushing your teeth with your eyes closed.  I'm happy when Team USA wins any gold medal, but especially the women's gymnastics individual all-around.

3. Anything Michael Phelps Swam

I don't know when we'll see another athlete like Michael Phelps.  Finishing fourth in the 400 Individual IM was probably not his favorite moment, but it provided the drama that makes the Olympics so good!  I'm sad to see him go, but glad to witness him make Olympic history.

2. Women's Gymnastics Team Gold
 

 It's about time!!!  I've been waiting 16 years for this to happen.  I still remember watching Keri Strug bust her ankle as she stuck her vault landing to win us the gold in '96.  Where these girls even born then?  Oh boy!  Baldo laughed at my tear fest as we watched the munchkins celebrate their victory.  USA!  USA!  USA!

1. Women's Soccer USA vs Canada

Even though this wasn't their gold medal match, I really enjoyed watching this game.  It was so intense!  With twenty seconds left in extra time part 2 (I'm not good with soccer lingo), Alex Morgan, lucky number 13, pitched a header into the net for the win.  I was holding a sleeping Roko when this happened, and had to stiffle my scream so as not to wake him.  I cried.  I called Baldo and I cried some more.  It felt so good to win this game.

If you knock on my door in the next week and I don't answer, I'm probably training for Rio 2016.  I figure I can learn to shoot an arrow in the next four years, or at least to shoot a gun.