Five Olympics-Five Memories – runblogrun

Five Olympics – five memories.

Trying to sum up an Olympics in one race is a challenge but one that I am ready to take on. Having been privileged to be at just about every track and field Olympic session 2008-2024, I am well-placed to make the choice.

Beijing 2008

The beginning of the Usain Bolt era with his gold medals at 100 and 200 would seem to make it an easy choice but I am going for a more personal one, the women’s 400m. I had got to know Christine Ohuruogu earlier in 2008. Sanya Richards was the favorite and by half-way she had just a big lead that the race seemed over. Then Christine started to cut the deficit, Sanya seemed to be running through quicksand. Christine won in 49.62.

London 2012

It has come to be called summer Saturday – that 45 minute period when Jess Ennis completed the final event in the heptathlon, Mo Farah won the 10K and Greg Rutherford won the long-jump.

Rutherford, who was simultaneously Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion, always felt that he did not get the credit his achievements merited.  Rutherford entered the press conference room and said “well, guys, I seem to have fluked another one!”

His coach, Dan Pfaff, explained to me that it was a very windy day and while Greg might not hav been the best long-jumper in absolutely terms, he was the one who managed the conditions best.

Ennis was the favorite for the heptathlon but as the face of the games, she had the added pressure of being the face of the home games. She handled the pressure and held her performance together well.  For Mo Farah there was the added pressure of attempting and succeeding in pulling off a 5K and 10K double.

Rio 2016

There were so many stellar performances in Rio.  Elaine Thompson’s sprint double.  Faith Kipyegon winning the 1500m.  Littel did we know how often we would repeat that phrase.  Mo Farah successfully defending his two titles, similarly Bolt or Wayde van Niekerk’s world record are all worthy of a mention.  But my choice is the women’s 5k.  Vivian Cheruiyot ran a Kenyan record but placed second behind Ethiopian Almaz Ayana’s world record, amidst murmuring of fair-play or the lack of it.  In the 5k, Cheruiyot Hellen Obiri and Mercy…