Let’s talk about your favorite moments in sports – and let me share mine.
As a child, I vividly remember Zola Budd and Mary Decker and the alleged tripping at the 1984 Los Angeles game. It was my first real Olympic memory (despite my own family where I have a grandfather who qualified as an Olympian and a cousin who took part in a few Olympic Games – but damn, I can’t talk about that on here because yeah…you know the story about revealing other people’s identities online) – but digression aside, you decide for yourself whether Zola Budd tripped Mary Decker or not. Here is a clip of the race.
I remember Cathy Freeman lighting the cauldron in Sydney wearing that space suit – and the little crush I had on her in the moment ;)
Athens didn’t grip me much – and buckle up and brace yourself because I am going to blog about Athens – then and now. Spoiler alert - you might want a headache tablet, a soft blankie and a quiet corner to cry in if you see what the photos.
The Olympic training pool in Athens today. I know.
Moving on swiftly, who can forget Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé in Barcelona in 1992?
Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé going big in Barcelona
Beijing’s pyrotechnics were off the hook (the pollution in the city too, but again, no Olympics are perfect. Except London 2012)
Bright Beijing 2008 – if you ever needed dark glasses at night, this was your opening ceremony of choice. I think every camera flash and every hand that could hold a light was in and around that stadium. It was certainly memorable. Also, the world got to know the Winklevii – the famous Winklevoss twin rowers and close friends of one Mark Zuckerberg. The Winklevii were sensational. Love ‘em or loathe ‘em. I am amongst the former.
The most sensational games in my view – and the most impressive and most perfect in my mind, was London 2012. It was the most emotional for me too. Natalie du Toit got multiple gold and I was in tears every time. I was elated by Thomas Daley and the diving – and cheered shamelessly for Team GB. I was with Usain Bolt every pace in his race….and I was shattered when Oscar Pistorius came second and not first in his big race. (I am writing here of my personal account and my journey so I don’t want to hear how Oscar Pistorius screwed up and why he is this and that, I know him, I cannot erase memories or my life because of what he did, and I certainly don’t condone what happened, but London happened before the shooting. Try and respect this, even if you dislike him today.) And by now everyone on here knows I went nuts when I saw James Bond with the Queen and the Corgi’s and that helicopter stunt. Below is a clip of the best moments of the London Games
Why the London games hold my heart.
Of Rio, I am going to hand to microphone to Ryan Lochte and drop it * boom *. He will certainly go down as the poster boy for Rio – and man, he was wrong, but I can’t stop liking him.
Rio pyrotechnics – and somewhere in this Ryan Lochte had no idea how this would end…..
Looking ahead…. Tokyo is going to have to work hard to get me on a flight and spend my money, but guys and girls…. Paris 2024 is for me what Mecca is to my Muslim friends. Or Lourdes to the Catholics – or the Western Wall to my Jewish friends…..I literally cannot wait for Paris. It was only announced a few days ago and I am already driving everyone in the SportsPodium office totally nuts with having to be there.
What were your favourite Olympic moments – leave them in the comments below and make my day
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