Team USA Leaves Beijing With Some Extra Baggage

BY JOHN NEWMAN

Every two years the United States is reminded of how competitive it is. Every four years the United States is reminded of how incredible Michael Phelps is. Yes, I am speaking of the Olympics. This year’s summer Olympics, in Beijing, China, proved to be one of the most memorable games in history. Not only did China enter eight-year-olds into the Women's Gymnastics competition, but Michael Phelps secured his place in history by breaking two records: most gold medals won in a single Olympic games (with eight) and most career Olympic gold medals (with fourteen). Oh, and this was only his third Olympics, and according to reports this will not be his last. With millions of dollars invested into the building of a colossal National Stadium (the Bird’s Nest), a new National Aquatics Center (the Water Cube), and various other architectural upgrades, Beijing has finally proven to the Western World that it has succeeded in becoming a major world city.

Not only did Beijing gather a victory in being noticed, but NBC raked in 66 million viewers in one night. That hasn’t happened since 1968. This was the Sunday night where Michael Phelps won his historical eighth gold medal. It seems that Americans are very fond of Phelps; I mean he won like 22% of our gold medals. Some critics said, after the 2006 winter games in Turin, Italy, that it was doubtful that the televised Olympics could gain any viewers. Well, it seems to me that those critics had never heard of Michael Phelps. In fact, over the entire two weeks, the Nielson Ratings Commission gathered that over 220 million Americans watched the Olympics, making this the most successful primetime television spot in history.

Also winning Gold for the “Grand Old Flag” is Anna Tunnicliffe (for sailing) Shawn Johnson (for balance beam gymnastics) the entire men’s basketball team, Walton Eller, (for men’s double trap) and Nastia Liukin (for all-around women’s gymnastics)

In the end, China had fifty-one gold medals, wining gold medals in such useless events as synchronized diving, badminton, and trampoline (what? Trampoline? Seriously?). The United States won thirty-six gold medals, but had the most overall medals (with 110). But the real winners are the individuals who walked away with Olympic medals. I mean, I could never do that, unless it was a competition for useless facts in pop culture, then maybe.

But until then, we wait. See you in Vancouver, 2010!