History has been made, records have been broken and an amazing vibe has taken over our city. Even the people who thought they wouldn’t care, cared. It proved you don’t have to be madly into sports to get caught up in the excitement, or that you don’t have to agree with everything about your country and your government to become proud and patriotic. There was so much to celebrate for so many different nations and the celebrations and successes united everyone and brought them together in the most beautiful positive way. And for everyone who considers an event like this just another way for them to distract us from the world’s problems as they waste all our money, so what? I think we all needed a little joy and distraction. And when the impact is this positive, how can it be a bad thing?
The motto of this Games was “Inspire a Generation” and I’m hopeful that it will. Even if your ambitions aren’t in sports, seeing Olympians achieve what they have worked and trained so hard for and witnessing their incredibly emotional wins is sure to inspire you in one way or another. The fact that it was all on home soil and that Team GB did so well just made it so much better.
And even though the closing ceremony paved the way for the return of Great Britain’s favourite sport, complaining and criticising, I hope the positivity and optimism finds a way to continue and inspire. Our greatest team, the greatest games – my highlights in pictures:
Gold medalist Andy Murray winning the tennis final against Roger Federer. #TeamGB
Team pursuit cyclists Dani King, Laura Trott, and Joanna Rowsell breaking a World Record to win gold. #TeamGB
The Brownlee Brothers winning gold and bronze in the Triathlon. #TeamGB
Chris Hoy winning his 6th gold medal becoming the greatest British Olympian on record. #TeamGB
After 12 years and 3 Olympics, Katherine Grainger’s dreams came true – winning her first gold medal in doubles with her sculling partner Anna Watkins. #TeamGB
Nicola Adams making history, becoming the first ever female Olympic boxing champion. #TeamGB
Super heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua winning our 29th and final gold medal of the Games. #TeamGB
Ben Ainslie becomes the first person to win medals in sailing at five Olympic Games. #TeamGB
15-year-old American Katie Ledecky breaking her national record to win the 800m freestyle.
Sally Pearson of Austrailia becoming the 100m hurdles champion.
18-year-olf Nijel Amos winning Botswana’s first ever Olympic medal – SIlver in the men’s 800m race.
Pavlos Kontides winning the first ever Olympic medal for Cyprus – Silver in men’s laser class sailing.
Anthony Obame winning Gabon’s first ever Olympic medal – Silver in heavyweight teakwondo.
Erick Barrondo winning the first Olympic medal for Guatemala – Silver in the men’s walking race.
Kirani James winning Grenada’s first ever Olympic medal – Gold in the men’s 400m race.
Oscar Pistorius of South Africa becoming the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympics.
Sarah Attar – the first woman running for Saudi Arabia in Olympic history.
An emotional win – Gemma Gibbons mouthing “I love you mum” after winning Silver in Judo. Her mum sadly died of leukaemia in 2004. #TeamGB
A very emotional win – 34-year-old Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic winning Gold in the 400m hurdles tributing his grandmother. He carried a photograph of her in his vest and the word “Abuela” (grandmother) stitched on his trainers. She sadly died during the last Olympics and his grief stopped him from qualifying for the final.
Jessica Ennis becoming Heptathlon champion. #TeamGB
David Rudisha of Kenya winning gold and breaking the World Record for the 800m race.
Mo Farah winning his second gold medal for the 5000m race, becoming the first man in the last 60 years to win both the 5000m and the 10’000m race in the same Olympics. #TeamGB
The double Olympic champion celebrating with his wife and daughter. #TeamGB
Jamaica 1, 2, 3 – Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir winning gold, silver and bronze at the men’s 200m final.
The crowd embracing their Olympic heroes.
The Jamaica 4 x 100m relay team breaking a World Record.
Usain Bolt takes a camera off the press and starts photographing the crowd.
Olympic Legends, athletic celebrities: Mo Farah in the Bolt pose and Usain Bolt in the Mobot pose.
The final medal ceremony for the marathon: Stephen Kiprotich winning gold for Uganda, Abel Kirui winning silver and Kipsang Kiprotich winning bronze, both for Kenya.
The post-Olympic depression has already kicked in. Bring on the Paralympics.
