STRICTLY OBSERVING: Golden moments too

By Zach Cooley

At the time I had finished writing last week’s column, only the first week of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China and transpired.  With that much of the Olympics still remaining, there were too many moments to come worthy of mentioning, that I had to comment this week on the rest of this amazing 29th Summer Olympiad.  Last week, I spent so much time commenting on the cultural and artistic aspects of the Olympics that I only had space enough to mention two athletes in one sport.  While I enjoyed watching the outstanding aquatic efforts made by Michael Phelps and Dara Torres probably more than any other aspect of these games, there are many more great achievements made by our American athletes that are equally noteworthy.  Even though there are still too many to mention, I’ll do my best to touch on some of the highlights.
Of the 36 gold medals coveted by the United States during this Olympic session, perhaps the most emotional of those received was that awarded to the U.S.  Men’s National Volleyball Team.  I’m sure most of America watched as this group of amazing athletes earned their metal during the last day of competition in a 3-1 set defeat over Brazil under the leadership of Coach Hugh McCutcheon.  McCutcheon celebrates the victory in the most bittersweet of all circumstances imaginable, his father-in-law having been fatally stabbed in an attack at the Drum Tower in Beijing during the first day of the Olympics.  While watching the many exciting volleyball matches that took place both indoors and on the beach, I learned more than I ever knew about the sport.  I was pleased with the gold sweep on behalf Americans in beach volleyball.  Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh took the top prize in the finals against China for the women while Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers received gold for the men against Brazil.  As May-Treanor and Walsh are the only beach volleyball players to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals, they have been appropriately dubbed “the greatest beach volleyball team of all time” by NBC Olympic commentators.
Another field in the Olympics I particularly enjoyed watching was gymnastics.  Observing gymnasts is particularly breathtaking for me as someone who can barely move at all independently.  As I merely watched these talented athletes contort their bodies beyond belief, my bones ached.  I was truly enthralled with the entire event unaware of how such movement is humanly possible.
While the Americans did not receive overwhelmingly high marks in this field, I feel that our country still did remarkably well considering all predictions made by sports officials were surpassed. The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team took an unexpected bronze medal despite consisting of all first time Olympians.  One of those first timers, 22-year-old Jonathan Horton of Houston, also took a silver medal in the high bar event.  The women fared even better winning a team silver medal.  Only two gold medals were bestowed in American gymnastics.  One went to 16-year-old Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa for her performance on the balance beam.  The other went to Nastia Liukin, a Russian born 18-year-old who was raised in Parker, Texas, for her stunning all-around performance.  This placed her in the ranks with such legendary American gymnasts as Mary Lou Retton and Carly Patterson. 
The U.S. Track and Field team took gold in the 4x400 meter relay, a team which included Virginia native LaShawn Merritt.  Also a member was David Neville, whose memorable finish line dive for bronze secured an American medal sweep behind teammates Merritt and Jeremy Wariner.  When interviewed after his bronze win, he gave glory to God for his success.  I found that to be the most humble statement made during the entire Olympics.  Too many of us easily forget that our talents are gifts from God.  I applaud Neville for publicly recognizing that and consider him a true example for his country and the world.  The United States took seven gold medals in all and swept medals again in the 400 meter hurdles.  However, it was Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who became the first man in 24 years to sweep gold and set world records in all three Olympic relay events.  The female U.S. Track and Field team took gold in the 4x400 meter relay as well.  Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of the basketball games during these Olympics, but I was thrilled to hear that both men and women’s teams won the gold medal.  However, I did see the famous Williams sisters in women’s tennis doubles take gold as well as Kristin Armstrong, who took the only top prize bestowed to our country in cycling.
The closing ceremonies to these 29th Summer Olympic Games was held in the now iconic “Bird’s Nest,” where they were opened 16 days earlier.  This ceremony was held with the identical amount of majesty and precision as the opening.  Both events included the same central theme of harmony and world peace through such symbolic events as hundreds of performers in translucent costumes, some riding on circular objects.  The circular symbols were meant to represent that sense of worldwide unity.  It differed from the opening ceremony, which focused on ancient and ritualistic Chinese culture, in that its approach was much more modernized.  Highlights from this program included appearances by Jackie Chan and David Beckham as well as British singer Leona Lewis who sang “Whole Lotta Love” accompanied by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.  With this most memorable Olympics now behind us, we are now left with the anticipation of what the London games will bring in 2012.
A graduate of Wytheville Community College, Zach Cooley lives in Wytheville. Contact him at .