What is your Olympic memory?

Updated: 2012-08-12 21:23:27

( Xinhua)

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LONDON - So what was your favorite moment of these Olympic Games?

Was it all the way back on July 27 when the Queen jumped out of a helicopter with James Bond in a moment that perhaps set the tone for the spectacular opening ceremony and when Great Britain said 'we are all going to try and make this work'?

Or was it when Usain Bolt showed that he can still get serious about his running as he destroyed his rivals in the 100 meters...the second fastest race in history where nobody who ran over 9.79 seconds won a medal?

What is your Olympic memory?

Ye Shiwen of China, who won first place, waves next to her compatriot and third place finisher Li Xuanxu in the women's 400m individual medley final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre July 28, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Perhaps it was the 200 meters when Bolt became the first man to win gold in the 100 and 200 meters in consecutive Olympics Games, or when the US women's 4X100 meter team flew around the track to break the record set by the East Germans 27 years ago by half a second.

David Rudisha also broke the world record and his majestic run in the 800 meters won the vote of Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the Organizing Committee, and he should know having broken an 800 meters record himself in his lifetime, or perhaps he was just a tiny bit biased.

Most other British people could be tempted to highlight the two gold medals won by Mo Farah, the distance runner who came to the UK as a eight year-old refugee from Somalia. In a way his win highlighted the spirit of inclusion and tolerance shown throughout these Games.

The sight of German hammer thrower, Robert Harting ripping off his shirt Hulk style and trying his hand at the hurdles after winning gold was memorable as was the story of him having to sleep in Stratford station after losing his accreditation in the post celebration party.

Of course not all of the great moments came in the Olympic Stadium. Brits will talk with reverence about the day Chris Hoy became the country's greatest ever Olympian when he won the Kerin cycle race to claim his sixth gold medal.

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny also provided moments when a lucky few will be able to say 'I was there,' as did Bradley Wiggins in the time trial, where he cemented his place in the British psyche.

Swimming fans will never forget the moment Michael Phelps make Olympic history by becoming the greatest medal winner in history as the USA dominated the pool, although perhaps the most thrilling moment was when young Chad le Clos pipped the mighty Phelps to gold in the 200 meter butterfly, while Ye Shiwen's stunning world record in the 400 meter medley gave us the 'wow!' factor.

Chad le Clos' father also provided emotion speaking emotionally about his "Booootiful boy," moments after Chad had won his 200 meter gold.

But the Olympics have been reflected in other ways as well: Wu Minxia showed poise, control and grace and also a strong personality as she won gold medals in the 3 meter synchronized springboard and 3 meter springboard, while the gymnastics also produced wonderful entertainment.

A more sedate image was the view of London from Greewich Park: an expanse of green with the financial heart of the capital behind. What a contrast, but the Games showed great contrast throughout: only at the Olympics can you see an events of such poise and elegance as rhythmic gymnastics or the dressage, alongside the chaos and carnage of BMX bikes or the party atmosphere and the bikini girls of the beach volleyball.

The hockey arena was colored orange by the shirts of the triumphant Dutch, China's red shone victorious in diving, table-tennis and gymnastics, while the Aussies finally had their moments on the water, sailing and in canoes, while  only the Olympics could have persuaded Wimbledon to temporarily relax its strict dress code which insists that anyone playing tennis there wears white.

And everywhere the Union Jack of Great Britain, so often viewed as a symbol of prejudice as extreme or racist groups tried to hijack it as their own, now returned to what it should always be: a sign of unity for the nation and everyone who calls the British Isles their home.

An event as all-encompassing as the Olympics gives so many moments, so much drama, joy and heartbreak, that its hard to take it all in over a fortnight, you need time afterwards to sit and reflect. The moment to start doing that is when the Olympic cauldron is dimmed and the flame begins its long journey to Rio.

Medal Count

 
1 46 29 29
2 38 27 22
3 29 17 19
4 24 25 33
5 13 8 7
6 11 19 14

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