There have been so many memorable performances at these Olympic Games, and I’ll mention several, but will start with the one that impressed me the most.
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands was tripped by another runner in a qualifying run for the Women’s 1500 meters. She fell hard to the track, but she got up and not only finished the race, but WON it. Later that day, she won Gold in the 5000 meters. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Hassan will be running the 1500 meter and 10,000 meter finals in the coming days. Highly recommended viewing.
Other great performances:
Athing Mu, the 19 year old from Trenton, New Jersey, became the first American woman to win gold in the 800 meters since 1968.
“Steel sharpens steel” - The dynamic duo of Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad win gold and silver for the US in the 400 meter hurdles, smashing the world record in the process.
In the men’s 400 meter, Norway’s Karsten Warholm edges out American Rai Benjamin in another record breaking race.
There is exactly one Olympic-sized swimming pool in the entire state of Alaska, but that didn’t slow down 17 year old Alaskan Lydia Jacobs, who won gold in the 100 meter breast stroke and picked up a silver as part of the US relay team.
Valerie Allman’s first love was dancing. The American’s gold medal winning discuss throw was perhaps the most beautiful ballet that you will ever see at a track and field event.
David Rudisha of Kenya followed up his awe-inspiring, world record-breaking run in Rio by gliding past the competition to win a second consecutive gold medal in the Men’s 800 meters.
And how about Texas-born Marcell Jacobs winning the men’s 100 meter race for Italy just moments after Italy and Qatar tied for gold in the high jump?
Florida’s Caeleb Dressel said that he didn’t want to be “the guy,” but when you win five gold medals in swimming, you’re definitely “the guy.”
Rebeca Andrade fought back after a string of knee surgeries to win Brasil’s first-ever Olympic medal in gymnastics, the silver in the all around competition.
Finally, what can you say about the depth and resilience of the US Women’s Gymnastics team, thrust into what could have been utter chaos when their biggest star, and arguably the biggest star of the entire games, suddenly withdrew from the competition? Without missing a beat, they won the silver medal in the team competition. Suni Lee turned in the performance of a lifetime to win the all-around gold. Jade Carey won another gold medal with her spectacular floor routine. MyKayla Skinner won a silver on vault, and Simone Biles took bronze on the balance beam despite downgrading the difficulty of her dismount.
Those are some of my favorite events and performances. Who have you been watching? Which events have been the most meaningful to you?
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