Women’s Beach Volleyball Final – The Dynamic Duo
We knew they could do it. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh have been killer beach volley ball players since they first emerged nearly a decade ago. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh crushed April Ross and Jen Kessy, 21-16, 21-16 to win a third consecutive gold medal. This was their last match as the 30-somethings enter a new chapter in their lives with marriage and children…but wait. Maybe the Olympics are out of the question – but these two athletes from California have surprised us before…just keep a look out for 2016!
Track and Field, Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles Final – With Grandma’s Love
According to the Bleacher Report, Felix Sanchez, a Dominican hurdler was set to win the Gold at the Beijing Olympics (as he had done in Athens before that) when the news came down hard that his beloved grandmother had died. Crushed, Sanchez could not even qualify.
Four years later in London 2012, “… the 34-year-old ran with her picture attached to the back of his bib.” Grandma’s karma was good enough to earn Sanchez the Gold once more 8 years later and according to the Bleacher Report, when he stepped to the podium in the cold London rain, he said, “It made me feel like she was crying tears of joy with me.”
Soccer, Women’s Semifinal – Using Her Head
Another great moment for the women of the 2012 Olympics: In the soccer semifinal match against Canada, the USA women’s team was struggling and in the very last minute of overtime, the fate of the game was still undecided. The Bleacher Report says that “With less than a minute to go in overtime and a penalty shootout looming, Alex Morgan got her head on a cross and put it in the back of the net, sending the U.S. to the gold-medal match.”
The USA had a 4-3 victory over our neighbors to the North.
Swimming, Women’s 800-Meter Freestyle Final – Katie Wins Gold
Like Gabby Douglas and other “younger” athletes, Katie Ledecky was also a lone 15-year old teen with stars in her eyes. But with determination and of course amazing skill and strength, she swam the 800-meter freestyle in London like it was her life and “flirted” with the world record and won!”
Gymnastics, Women’s All-Around Qualifying – Disappointment is Hard To Take
One of the major disappointments to come out of the 2012 Summer Olympics was JordynWieber’s failure to place in the individual all-around gymnastics competition. She was the favorite to win – but whether it was nerves, intense competition, bad luck or all of the above, Wieber did not get a spot and Gabby Douglas and AlyRaisman were the USA representatives instead.
In news reports – you saw the immense sadness and disappointment on her face – impossible for her to hide. As Wieber fought to hide her frustration and disappointment, she channeled all those emotions to win the gold medal in the team competition a few days later – a sweet victory for a tremendous athlete.
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By Brian Rattner
Brian Rattner is a social entrepreneur and a successful Lawyer in Greater New York City specializing in Debtor/Creditor issues, Contracts and Mortgage Foreclosures including both prosecution and defense. Rattner lives in the New York metro area.
