Monday Milestone: Inspiring a Generation
In the spirit of London 2012, we conclude the Monday Milestone Olympic flavour, as we examine some of the great moments in Summer Games history
This Week in History:
2012, August 13 (Australian time)
The Games of the XXX Olympiad close in London, England
“Citius, Altius, Fortius”
– Olympic Motto translated as ‘swifter, higher, stronger’
The Milestone unusually parks the Delorean in the modern day as we reflect on the Games of the XXX Olympiad, which will undoubtedly be recalled through the years as a great historical sporting landmark.
Two weeks ago, the Games set out to ‘Inspire a Generation’, and since that bucolic opening ceremony when James Bond jumped out of a helicopter with the Queen, and the industrial revolution sprouted forth in the Olympic Stadium, we have witnessed some of the more remarkable moments in the history of the modern Olympic movement.
Such emotion. Such triumph. Such heartbreak. Such adrenaline. Such exhaustion. Such glory.
Every Games tells a story, and the 2012 London Olympics have delivered at every turn and now leave behind so many significant memories.
These will be the Games remembered for the blur that is Usain Bolt, who unequivocally confirmed himself as the fastest man on the planet, and the fastest man ever. Becoming the first man to defend both his 100m and 200m track Olympic titles, as well as Jamaica’s 4x100m relay, his efforts will be talked about through the ages.
Whilst many Australians will remember these games as a relatively disappointing gold medal haul, in contrast these will be the Games remembered by the English for their remarkable home ground success, epitomised by Jessica Ennis whose heptathletic prowess captured the heart of her country.
These will also be the Games remembered for that bottle thrown onto the track at the 100m sprint final, and Dutch judo champion Edith Bosch subsequently besting the drunken offender in the crowd.
They will also be remembered for German Robert Harting, ripping his shirt off like ‘the Hulk’ after winning the men’s discus throw.
These Olympics will also be unfortunately, yet amusingly remembered for fellow Germans Stephen Feck’s mishap in the 3m springboard diving, and weighlifter Matthais Steiner who dropped 196kg on his head, both now immortalised on Youtube.
But most of all, when we reflect on 2012 London Games we will remember the greatest Olympic athlete ever. Already American Michael Phelps had already won more gold than any before him but after his Olympic swansong in London, he stands as a colossus, not just above any other Olympian in 116 years, but is ahead by several body lengths. Eighteen gold medals – twice as many as any other athlete in history. Daylight gets silver, with those other former Olympic heroes, Larisa Latinya, Paavo Nurmi, Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis each with a relatively paltry nine Olympic gold medals each, in a tie for bronze. This is a record unliikely to be bested any time soon. If ever…
London promised to inspire a generation. The Games of the XXX Olympiad have done exactly that. The world has now folded up the Olympic flag, and extinguished the torch, beginning the long, four year wait until the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio.
Until the next stage, where more memories and the next landmarks in Olympic history will be created.
The Milestone Five: Highlights of the 2012 London Olympics
5. Sally Pearson provides Australia’s shining light, winning in the tightest of circumstances, much closer than expected, but brings home that elusive Olympic gold in the 100m hurdles, as the first Australian expected to win gold who actually delivered.
4. German Robert Harting wins men’s discus gold, before ripping his shirt off like the Hulk, and running amok inside the Olympic Stadium. He later got hammered, got robbed, slept in a train and lost a shoe. Great celebration.
3. Jessica Ennis became the poster girl of the Games for Team GB when she wins the women’s hepathalon. A gold medal is one thing – but being such a good sort, and having those incredible abdominals help.
2. Usain Bolt is the first man to ever go back to back in the sprint titles, defending his 100m, 200m and relay titles, yet still found time to party with Swedish handballers. Coolest man alive.
1. Michael Phelps ends his Olympic career as the greatest ever. Eighteen gold medals. Two silver. Two bronze. Twenty-two in total. A record that may stand forever.
