2016 Rio Summer Olympics

It’s been over a week since the summer Olympic Games have ended, and I have to say, I still really miss them. I had so much fun watching athletes from all over the world competing for the opportunity to fulfill their dreams – winning a gold medal at the Olympics!! From the performances of first time Olympians like Simone Biles to seasoned vets such as Michael Phelps, the action was nonstop. All in all, the Americans were absolutely amazing while hauling in a staggering number of medals. Ryan Lochte and Hope Solo may have added some unnecessary drama (although I didn’t think Solo’s comment was too bad), it was still a great Olympics.

My Favorite Moment

If watching all of the different competitions wasn’t enough, hearing some of the athlete’s stories of tragedy and triumph was truly breathtaking and quite inspirational. The one story that I think I will remember most from these Games is about U.S runner Abbey D’Agostino. Abbey was competing in the 5,000-meter race when, at a little over halfway through the race, the runner in front of her, New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin, tumbled on the track. Abbey tripped over Nikki and had clearly injured her leg during the fall. Abbey was able to get to her feet and her first instinct was to help Nikki off of the ground, rather than to try to get back into the race.

Now, as heartwarming as D’Agostino’s gesture was, here’s the truly inspiring part of it all: she finished the race. That may not seem all that difficult at first thought, but there’s more. After the race, Abbey learned that she had completely torn her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), suffered a tear to her meniscus, and strained her medial collateral ligament (MCL). With all of those major injuries, Abbey managed to finish the race. This story moves me every time I think about it; she is truly inspirational!! That was my favorite moment in the Olympics, and it’s a story I will never forget.

After the Games had ended, Abbey and Nikki were given a very rare award for their sportsmanship – the Pierre de Coubertin medal. This medal has only been given out 17 times in Olympic history and has been called, “one of the noblest honors that can be bestowed upon an Olympic athlete.” Congratulations, Abbey, you are very deserving!!

I, for one, cannot say good riddance to the Olympics!!