To be an Olympian

I was too busy reading "Breaking Dawn" last night to pay much attention to the Olympics. When I heard this morning about the amazing defeat of France in the Men's 4X100 meter freestyle race, I was like good another medal for us. Then at work a co-worker asked if I had seen the race, and I said that I hadn't. He said I had to see it and then pulled the race up on his computer.

I was calm and collected when I first started watching the race, even though the French were expected to win, with the French saying they were going to "smash" the U.S. It was good to see Michael Phelps give a strong start to the relay. I started getting a little excited after the second 100 meters ended because the U.S. was in the lead. Then in the middle of the third leg of the relay, France pulled out in front. Jason Lezak dove into the water for the final leg of the race and he was behind. France had at least a half a body length on the United States and I thought, "Well, we're not getting the gold on this one." Then in the last 25 meters or so Lezak was tightening up on France. The announcers were getting excited. Then Lezak kept getting closer and closer to the leader. I was getting excited. Then France and the U.S. were neck and neck. Then you see Lezak touch the wall before France. The announcers go wild! The rest of the relay team goes wild! The United States wins the gold!!


Then comes the embarrassing part...my eyes welled up with tears. At the moment Lezak touched the wall I felt so proud to be an American. So proud to be a citizen of this nation. I can't even imagine how the Olympic athletes feel being there representing this great country. Wow, I was in awe!!