My Love for the Olympics

I can't begin to say how much I love the summer Olympics!  

The Olympics brings out my competitive spirit and such strong emotions I can't explain.  I love watching these athletes who have trained their entire lives for this one chance to compete and when they succeed- I cry tears of joy for them and when they fail- I feel just awful for them, a pit in my stomach.  If you know me at all you know I'm emotional.  I cry at just about anything but athletics, competition, and the emotions invested make me a completely wet noodle.

And then the parents of the athletes... now I'm an over-cooked wet noodle.  To see their pride, anxiety, or heartache is so tough.  They have lived and dedicated their every minute to their children and their dream.  It reminds me of my parents and their dedication to me and my diving.  What incredible parents I have!  I could go on and on about stories of their dedication and support for me.  The other evening I was crying while watching Missy Franklin's parents get emotional over her gold medal race, Ryan mentioned that her parents were just like mine.  My dad, probably to this day, believed I could be an Olympian - unfortunately, I never had the heart to dedicate all of my life to such a task but he never doubted or stopped encouraging the talents I had and what the future could have.  And my mom was my biggest cheerleader!  I could always look in the stands at every meet- I don't think she missed one single meet of my diving career, maybe a few in college- and my mom would always have a big smile, give me a thumbs up and I instantly had a burst of confidence fill me.  She always said "fly like an eagle and dive like a dolphin!"  I will always remember those words.  Parents of athletes, live and dye with their every competition.  It's so much harder to sit in the stands, have no control of the competition, and watch your child put it all on the line.  It's straight up emotional!

Who can forget Michael Phelps' mom after the Olympics in Beijing?

His poor mom- what a rollercoaster!!

The Olympics has consumed our house every night.  Ryan and I enjoy all the action and it has made my bedtime much later!  And the best is that we aren't even half way thru the Olympics!  We have several nights ahead to continue watching!  Yay!