I had been sceptical about London 2012 and I thought we were about to fail. Fail where the whole world would see and laugh at us. How wrong was I? From day one I became obsessed, if I wasn’t winging my way around London then I was at glued to the TV screen, iPad, iPhone app, every single minute of the day I needed to know what was going on. I was consumed and I guess I fell hook, line and sinker in love.
Putting together my five favourite moments of the London 2012 has been difficult, really difficult. How do you pick just five? Well here I go.
1. Mo Farah wins the 5000m
Mo Farah winning the 10,000m was emotional enough but seeing him do the double and for me the face when he crossed the line (see above) was just pure joy. It reminded me of when Dame Kelly Holmes had crossed the line after winning Gold in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. I don’t know why but the 5,000m seemed longer than the 10,000m when we were sat there watching it. When the final lap was approaching and you heard the bell sound, you could tell everyone, not only those in the stadium was cheering him on. GO MO!
Truly inspiring.
2. Sir Steve Redgrave hugs Sir Chris Hoy
I’ll admit I shared a few tears during these Olympics, more than I remember doing at previous Games. I was prepared to cry when Sir Chris Hoy won Gold at these Games, I thought it would come after he had received his medal and the national anthem played. I managed to hold it together and then Sir Steve Redgrave hugged him. The tears fell like a sea. Legends of the sporting fields both appreciating each other. Just WOW
3. The emotion of not winning
With the joy of winning and the tears that came, there was also the times when sporting stars felt like they had let everyone down. How Silver, bronze, 4th felt like a failure but we were sat there crying with them and mouthing “You’ve not let anyone down”. This moment when interviewer John Inverdale let his emotions show was a real humbling moment, how everyone was emotionally involved with each and every moment.
It was these moments that I was most proud of our Games. How we were proud of each of our athletes and our emotion could tell that tale.
4. Usain Bolt wins… AGAIN
I’d seen all the speculation beforehand about whether Usain Bolt was fit enough for these Games. I had mostly laughed these off, surely a not so fit Bolt could still be enough to win Gold. Yohan Blake looked quick and sure challenged Bolt enough times in the lead up to the Games and he wasn’t going to let that stop now. Blake was fast but Bolt was faster. He’s very modest and some say arrogant as he’s called himself a Legend, he is and for me personally it’s been amazing to see him race here. I was at the stadium for the 200m semi finals, it was awesome. Just like he is.
5. The whole caboodle
I’m cheating here but I loved each and every single moment of the London 2012 Games from the moment the Olympic torch made its way around the towns and cities. The thousands of people who stood in the rain every single day to watch the torch go by. Fast forward to the Opening Ceremony and the moment you realised “That’s really the Queen” in the sketch with James Bond. To the people who lined the streets of London cheering on every single athlete, not just Team GB. We were supporting sport. The volunteers who were full of energy and cheer and really helpful with directions. Going to events in the Olympic Park or at Wembley or wherever you were able to, feeling that moment of “I was there when…”.
You didn’t even need to be actually there as the BBC took you as close as you could to the action without needing a ticket. The extra channels, the apps, the live feeds on the internet – you could follow it all. To the best presenters, commentators and experts of these Olympic sports. Of which I found Clare Balding, Michael Johnson, Denise Lewis, Sir Steve Redgrave, Mark Cavendish, Brendan Foster and Steve Cram my favourites. Particular mention to Clare Balding, she has always been a feast of sports knowledge and again these Games showed that. She’s a national treasure.
To all the athletes that I want to name but know this article would turn into an opus. Let’s not even forget that we totally surpassed our Beijing medals hauls, it really was just a great time. Now that the Games are over, I like everyone is in heavy withdrawals. I already had booked tickets for the Paralympic Games and I decided to book a few more just a few days into the Olympic Games, I’m glad I did. Already they have outsold the Beijing Paralympics Games and we could see London hosting the first ever sold out* Paralympic Games. How totally fantastic?
To everyone who, including me, has felt inspired to achieve goals in their life. Whatever it may be, a change of job, get fitter or maybe try to get to Rio in 2016. That’s the legacy these Games leave behind for generations, it’s up to you to decide what you do with it.
*In my experience of buying tickets from the London 2012 website. They will always tell you the full price list for each session, only when you click through will you see what is available. So don’t get excited too early when you find cheap tickets.