May 7, 2012
Ryan Adams
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“Faster, higher, stronger.” These three words are synonymous with the Olympics, and are plastered all over the U.S. Olympic Training Center in downtown Colorado Springs. In accordance with their motto, the U.S. team is (and has been) training hard in an attempt to run faster, jump higher and perform stronger at the upcoming Summer Olympics in London.
To many, the Olympics are a can’t-miss event. Freshman Drew Rieck is one of those people. “I like the Olympics because it is cool to see what countries have the best athletes,” he stated. “Of course I am patriotic and will root for Team U.S.A., but it’s always interesting to see what other countries will bring to the games, too.”
For the 2012 games that start on July 27, there will be a bevy of interesting story lines that will spark intrigue, yet again, for spectators around the globe. One athlete that the world will be watching with a focused eye is Michael Phelps, as well as the rest of the U.S. swim team.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Phelps won a record eight gold medals, a feat that had never been accomplished before in the history of the Olympics. This time around, the competition for those gold medals will be even more intense as fellow U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte looks to battle Phelps for some of the attention (and hardware).
The swimming events, scheduled for July 28 to Aug. 4, will definitely bring some high drama and should not be missed, as it has turned into one of the premier events to watch.
Another prolific storyline will be the make-up of the U.S. Gymnastics team. Being the heavy favorite, the U.S. team has plenty of talent, but there are a lot of fresh faces taking over.
Veterans we have come to know and love like Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin and Alicia Sacramone may not even have a spot on the team. It will be interesting to see how this affects Team U.S.A. and whether or not they will be the powerhouse in the gymnastic events this year.
One final story line for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games is one that is as old as the games itself: the crowning of the world’s fastest man.
“I enjoy a lot of the sporting events, but the 100 meter race is by far my favorite,” stated Rieck. “Obviously, Usain Bolt is the overwhelming choice to win the event, but I like seeing the challenge between the competitors for fastest man. I ran the 100 meter in high school and that is one of the reasons I like watching world class athletes run it,” he added.
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will definitely be full of intrigue, drama and controversy as they always are. While the games are coming up soon, you can bet that the U.S. Olympic Training Center will be bustling with athletes looking to fulfill that Olympic motto and bring the gold back home from London.