2008 Olympic Games

I love the Olympics. Truly. Every summer and winter games, I watch in awe as regular, everyday people are able to accomplish amazing feats of physical cunning. So far the United States has won 21 medals (seven gold, six silver, and eight bronze). I got to see Aaron Peirsol take home the gold in the 100m men's backstroke. He flew threw the water. The U.S. Men's Swimming Team is full of several world recorder takers and breakers. Matt Grevers took home the silver in last night's 100m. But the biggest swimming story on the men's side thus far is waiting to see what Michael Phelps is going to do at these Olympic Games.

Phelps hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan and is on the quest for eight gold medals at Beijing. In Athens, back in 2004, Phelps won six gold and two bronze, just falling short of matching Mark Spitz's record seven won in 1972. He's only set five world records (200m free, 200m fly, 200m IM, 400m IM, and 4x200m free) . He set these records at the 2007 World Championships. So far, in Beijing Phelps has won three gold medals. Will he be able to close in on his goal?

On the women's side of swimming there have also been some big wins. Dana Torres, a 41 year-old swimmer on the women's Olympic team won silver for the 4x100m freestyle relay. This is her fifth medal in this event--she has previously won three gold, one silver, and one bronze. She is the only swimmer to win a medal in five Olympics, not to mention her age is certainly untraditional. See the story Reader's Digest wrote about Dana by clicking here.

Natalie Coughlin is also a U.S. swimming start, going back-to-back to win Olympic titles in the 100m backstroke. I saw her make the 100m backstroke win for gold last night. It is so gratifying to see the joy in her face that she secured the title once again. It's amazing to see people from all around the globe get bestowed a medal that for some, fulfills a lifetime dream.

But there are people, everyday folks who can do amazing things. I wrote about some of them in the August 2008 edition of Reader's Digest. See the full feature at my other blog, by clicking here. Also, be sure to check out the daily slideshow of the Olympic Games on the website for Reader's Digest here. My supervisor at RD, Julie Bain, Health Director has been blogging about the Olympics. Check out her blog, here.

Enjoy all the glory of the Olympics because they will go fast. More to come soon on the progress of the U.S.