This Olympics was one for the ages. There were spectacular triumphs, heartbreaking defeats, numerous broken world records, tragedy and a lingering controversy over a Chinese gymnast's age and eligibility.
First, swimming icon Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals, obliterating 8 world records along the way. Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams won the women's tennis doubles title. Diving divas Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia once again dominated the ladies' diving scene in what will probably Guo's swansong (she has competed in 3 Olympics). There was also Lin Dan's emotional gold medal win in men's badminton. Jamaica's Usain Bolt became “the world's fastest man” by winning the double (i.e. both the 100 meter and 200 meter sprints), setting a world record in the 100 meter run. China also won gold medals in table tennis (ping pong) and weightlifting.
However, the games of the 29th Olympiad certainly had its fair share of controversy and tragedy. There was the fatal stabbing of US men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon's father-in-law which in turn injured McCutcheon's wife, Elizabeth “Wiz” Bachman-McCutcheon. And of course, we cannot forget the huge age issue involving those Chinese gymnasts. We must also question: is anything other than a gold medal a failure? China missed out on gold in the women's volleyball, earning “only” a bronze and another Chinese, Lang Ping, only managed to lead her US team to a silver medal. For the first time in recent memory, only gold medals counted.
