Went to the Team GB parade this afternoon, ahh it was incredible! Seeing all these athletes in person was amazing, being able to support them and thank them for what they’ve done this summer. I didn’t take many photos because I wanted to just enjoy the experience rather than clicking all the time, but Mo, Sir Chris, Greg, Tom and Ben are up there :)
Olympics/Paralympics
Seriously, the last few months of sport has been few of the best months of my life. Can’t even start to describe how inspiring it’s been to see athletes I’ve supported for years and athletes I’d never seen before compete, win and lose. And to support them with thousands of other people just as passionate.
Seb Coe was exactly right in his closing speech- sport shows us the best of humanity. It really does. There have been so many acts of kindness and inspiration and dedication I can’t even count. These athletes have provided a way forward for many people- shown people that you can do something with your life no matter what your situation, if you apply hard work and passion to something you love, you can pull through.
As a Londoner, I’ve never been more proud. This city has definitely changed, and I really hope this change will stay forever, because just being out feels better already!
Tomorrow I’m going to see the Champions Parade through London and I’m so excited to support all these wonderful people in person- as I have done a few times during the last few weeks at the Olympic Park. I hope people don’t forget the Olympics, and continue to be inspired to do better in our daily lives, in everything we do.
Thank you to everyone who made these Games happen. Can’t wait for Rio! <3
The Bolt himself. We were there for the 200m heats and he was first up. It was incredible to see him race in person, he really does just FLY in the last 40m, it’s scary. And he’s so much taller than everyone else, technically he shouldn’t be a sprinter.
They were showing short little Olympic montages on the screens and I was just waiting for this to come up and IT DID I was so happy
Little remote controlled Mini Coopers that take the equipment back to the athletes. So cute.
You know you always brace yourself before entering an area as big as this because you know it’s going to be amazing, but GAH nothing prepares you for this. Just amazing, it’s so MASSIVE.
Honestly, this stadium is so beautiful, both inside and out. Much smaller than it looks on tv but still, awesome.
Was in the Olympic Park today for athletics but one of my highlights was seeing the Aquatics Centre. For me, swimming is such an inspiring and fascinating sport and a good couple of my heroes have swam in here last week. To be able to stand next to the place where Michael Phelps swam his last races, I can’t even begin to describe. <3 One day I’ll go in there. Such a beautiful building too.
Michael Phelps will forever be my hero; it’s not just the numbers, it’s the amount of work he put into his career, the sheer effort it took, the dedication.
Not many people in the history of humanity have put that sort of dedication into ANYTHING and if that doesn’t inspire you I don’t think anything ever will.
Tonight has been such a good night for sport but good in a weird way because Michael won’t be back, but good for the inspiration from British athletes in the face of immense pressure. It’s time people in the UK got inspired about the Olympics and this night I think might have done it :D
I love the Olympics because it gives everyone a taste of what it’s like to support people with huge emotions in top level sport. I think, as many of my friends on here and twitter, that sport is one of the best things in the world, and it’s absolutely fantastic to see people who’ve never watched any before, to start getting excited and inspired about it.
We’ve still got a whole week to go :D
But today for me is about Michael, who has inspired millions of people across the world. Thank you, for being the man you are, and giving us the inspiration and thrill your racing provides. I will miss you <3
I have to say something about Michael Phelps
I don’t think I’ve ever blogged about him before because swimming is generally ignored in the world apart from the Olympics, no?
But gah.
This man.
What he’s achieved is simply staggering, there is no way around it. 21 Olympic medals, sure, impressive, but 17 gold. 17. That is a rather large number. It might even be 18 after tonight. I still maintain that his 8 Olympic golds in 2008 is one of the greatest sporting feats ever achieved.
People can debate forever about who’s the ‘greatest Olympian’ but I’d go even further than that, this man is one of the greatest athletes that has ever lived. He’s been part of my life basically since I can remember and if this really is his last race I will miss him dearly, and so will the rest of the swimming world. Obviously Ryan will still be there and so will Chad and I hope they have success but swimming without Michael Phelps is like tennis without Federer, it just won’t be the same.
If you’ve never watched swimming, watch the 4x relay tonight, I beg you. Watch this man race because people will forever remember him as the best swimmer of all time.
I cried yesterday after his last singles race so will probably cry again when he gets out the pool for the last time, if this really is the last time. Obviously he’ll do charity races and maybe the World championships but argh, no more Olympics and that is where he belongs.
But however it goes tonight, I’m so ridiculously proud of this man and what he’s achieved. <3
