Two years on

It has been almost two years since the Olympic Games came to London and almost two years since team GB was third on the medal table. In 2012 not only did we celebrate our countries achievement with pride and joy, but we also welcomed a number of young British Olympic stars.

One particular day that stood out to, I must imagine everyone who watched the 2012 Olympic games, was when team GB won three gold medals consecutively. One of those medals went to the long-jump athlete Greg Rutherford. The unexpected winner leaped into first place, beating Australian's Mitchell Watt.
As it was the first time Great Britain had won gold in long jump since 1964, it was guaranteed this event would change Greg's life.

Well without a doubt Greg Rutherford instantly became a house hold name and receiving an MBE in 2013 he certainly had become a success.

His winning streak, however, did not carry on through to the World Championships. Finishing in 14th place Greg failed to qualify for the finals, putting his short jump down to an unfortunate hamstring injury. This dramatic turn of events completed a disappointing follow-up year for the athlete, who also lost his sponsorship and split with his American coach.

Looking forward, Greg Rutherford has now set his sights on becoming a Winter Olympic champion and has decided he will try out for Skeleton and Bobsleigh this year. He hopes to be the first athlete to win medals in the summer and winter Olympics.

Despite the lows in his career, Greg Rutherford decided not to dwell on his past and instead focused on what he can achieve in the future. His aim for this year is to beat his indoor personal best of 8m, which will set him up for the summer where his goal is to win the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships.

A unique Gold Medallists who, as a country, we can be proud of.

Running towards Rio

With less than 1,000 days to go till the 2016 Olympics hosted in Rio de Janeiro, the pressure is in on for the Brazilian officials. If the prospects of the Olympic games wasn't enough, they also have to deal with the demands of the 2014 world cup.

With both world renowned events facing construction delays and increased scrutiny over the billions of public money being spent,  there has been some concerns as to whether they will be able complete the job in time. After all time is ticking on quickly.

A large mural stands on the site of the Olympics showing the hopeful finished image. It includes several  brand new stadiums for handball, swimming, cycling and so on. However if you look beyond the mural all to be seen is empty land, which would only be suitable for mud-wrestling.

The only indication that in the future this land will become an exciting and important place to be, is through the large, coloured balloons flying above the sight. Each balloon is a particular colour to represent a particular sport, for example black for the handball arena.

Although there is concern for the 2016 Olympics, few people in Brazil appear to be panicked.
Yes, they have a lot to accomplish within the next few years, but the Brazilian government has put their hands in their pocket to churn out an estimated $25.9 billion. This is a unique figure in the history of sport. You also have to consider the large benefits that will come from hosting the Olympic games. It has been predicted by the World Bank that it will be the fifth largest economy in the world by 2016, rising from the 10th position.
Many run down buildings in Rio will soon be renovated and there will be a great influx of restaurants, shops and cultural sites. Something that will certainly be a positive to the population of Rio de Janeiro.

So although they have a long way to go before the Olympics is held, the hard work will be certainly be worth it for the sake of the country.

Soaring in the Skeleton

Team GB are not known for their success at the Winter Olympics, which is mostly down to the weather in Great Britain. It is not often that our country is covered in the white, glistening snow, which is without a doubt the most vital part of the Winter Olympics. This discourages the population of Great Britain to take part in the sports that make up this Olympic event.

So when we went on to not only win two bronze medals and one silver medal, but a gold medal as well, you could say Team GB and all its supporters where ever so slightly ecstatic. On the lead up to day 8 of the Olympics, the day we saw Elizabeth Yarnold receive her gold medal for the women's skeleton, Team GB where lacking in the medal department, letting the other countries take the lead. 

We still where hoping for that one moment that would put GB back in the game. 

On the 14th of February our prayers where answered in the form of Lizzie, who had kept her lead in the Skeleton throughout the whole course of the event. Not only did she win 0.96 seconds to beat her American rival Noelle Pikus-Pace, but she went on to set a new track record with a time of 57.91 seconds.

With a great performance comes great pressure, something that Lizzie inevitably felt when completing her last runs. She had to maintain her great overnight lead. Despite worries, Lizzie Yarnold gave a sensational performance, creating a nail-bitting atmosphere for everyone present. 

She immediately celebrated her win with the British fans standing in the crowd. She showed her pride for her country by proudly holding aloft the Union Jack flag and beaming with complete fulfilment and joy.

Lizzie's victory makes her the fourth consecutive British women to win a gold medal in the Skeleton, along with Alex Coomber, Shelley Rudman and Amy Williams.
Most importantly her wins proves that the lack of facilities in Great Britain will not stop us from success and one day we will be on the top of that medal table.

A winter for Olympics

Often controversial, often weird and endlessly entertaining, this year, like no other, the winter olympics failed to disappoint. Hosted in Sochi, we certainly where provided with many iconic sporting moments, however they where paired with Sochi's very own problems. But with the Olympic flame extinguished and the last medals awarded, was the Olympic event a success for Russia?

It was no secret that the Russian's provided a jaw-dropping opening ceremony and not in the way they would have hoped. The fifth giant Olympic ring failed to follow the footsteps of the other four rings and light up in a grand display.
They instantly realised the mistake they had made but certainly did not admit defeat. Konstantin Ernst, the creative director behind the opening ceremony showed no fear and certainly fought his corner. 'This is certainly bad, but it does not humiliate us'.

From that point onwards Sochi certainly embraced this fault and worked hard to make the winter olympics an iconic event. The enthusiasm for the winter sports continued throughout the whole games, from the curling to the exhilarating snowboarding, a certain highlight for the 2014 winter olympics.
The moment that the young russian-born swiss snowboarder won gold in the men's half pipe, beating the prestigious Shaun White from the USA you could feel the nerves throughout the crowd. Even from watching it on television did you feel the incredible atmosphere. The only sounds to be heard where from the boards as they gently grazed the fresh, clear snow and the anxious breaths of the competitors.

It was at this moment that the Winter Olympics came to life and through Sochi's subtle nod to the power of sport, they had clawed their way back to a Winter Olympics they could be proud of.

It wasn't until the closing ceremony that we saw the glowing pride of the Russians and why shouldn't they be proud. Their crowds where lively, their venues where welcoming and once again the Russian athletes where at the top of the medal table.
All in all they provided a smooth and entertaining show, with a number of performances playing homage to their country. They even poked fun at themselves, reenacting the four rings and the fifth deflated ring, with the use of dancers.

In the end the Winter Olympics 2014 was a success and will certainly not be forgotten in a hurry.