Best Day: Day 8
Without question. This was almost immediately dubbed the "Greatest Day In British Sports History." "God Save the Queen" was played six times that day, capped by an incredible 45 minutes at Olympic Stadium where Great Britain won three gold medals in track & field. The British gold medalists on Day 8 were Jessica Ennis (heptathlon), Mo Farah (10,000 meters), Greg Rutherford (long jump), as well as teams in the women's team pursuit (cycling), where they threw in a world record to boot, women's lightweight double sculls (rowing) and men's four (rowing).
Most Impressive Double: Mo Farah
He had a lot of pressure on him to win the 10,000 meters, especially after taking silver in the event at the 2011 World Championships. In an epic race, Farah got it done, outkicking training partner Galen Rupp to win the gold in front of 60,000 screaming fans. That was the perfect capper to that perfect day for the Brits on the track. Then a week later, in an even better race, Farah stormed from behind down the final stretch to take the 5000 and complete the double.
Best Performance Under Pressure: Jessica Ennis
If there was more pressure on any British athlete other than Mo Farah, it was Jessica Ennis. Anything less than gold in the heptathlon for Ennis, one of the Faces of the Games leading into London, would've been considered a major disappointment. Instead of cracking under the pressure, Ennis thrived under it. She set a heptathlon world record in the first event, the 100 meter hurdles, and had a 200-point lead after day one. Ennis basically just had to finish the 800 to clinch the gold, but she put an exclamation point on the victory by winning the event and setting a national record.
Biggest Breakthrough: Andy Murray
A month after playing in the Wimbledon final, Murray and Roger Federer returned to Centre Court with Olympic gold on the line. Roger won Wimbledon, but this was the Olympics. Thousands of enthusiastic fans waving the British flag gave Murray the boost he needed to post the most impressive victory of his career (as I predicted back in January). It wasn't even close. It wasn't Murray winning Wimbledon. But it was close enough. Later that day, he picked up a silver in mixed doubles with Laura Robson.
Best Royal Sighting: Equestrian Team Eventing Medals Ceremony
Will, Kate and Harry were everywhere. The Queen showed up at swimming. And Charles and Camilla greeted the cyclists before the start of the men's road race. But the top royal moment has to be the team eventing competition in equestrian. The entire royal family was there to support Zara Phillips, the Queen's granddaughter. She won a silver as a part of the British team. The coolest part, though, was the medals ceremony. Zara received her medal from her mother, Princess Anne, who was an Olympian herself in 1976. I can't decide which part of that I think is the coolest. Regardless, it was pretty special.
Biggest Surprise: Men's Gymnastics Team
The Brits have been rapidly improving in gymnastics over the past few years, but there's no way that even they could've seen this coming. China and Japan went 1-2 in the men's team final. No surprise there. But the bronze didn't go to one of the normal powerhouses like Russia or Ukraine or the United States. Nope, it went to Great Britain. Then Louis Smith and Max Whitlock added individual medals by going 2-3 in the pommel horse. These guys had the O2 Arena rocking. With good reason.
Biggest Disappointment: Mark Cavendish
It seems cruel to call anybody on the British team the "Biggest Disappointment," but they had to wait four days for a gold medal and didn't medal at all on Day 1. However, they thought they'd get a gold in one of the first events of the Games--the men's road race. Everything was set up for Mark Cavendish, who dominates these type of stages in the Tour de France. But he didn't get it done. Of course, that was quickly forgotten.
Biggest Redemption: Tom Daley
I think Tom Daley was unfairly treated after he and Peter Waterfield finished fourth in the synchronized platform diving event. I guess that's what happens when the fans are expecting nothing short of gold from you. How satisfying was it then, to watch the individual platform final? Daley, the 2009 world champion, was one of the favorites. He entered the final dive in the lead, just .15 poitns ahead of American David Boudia and China's Qiu Bo. Daley nailed his final dive, but Boudia and Qiu passed him because of greater degree of difficulty. Daley got the bronze, and celebrated as if it was gold in his eyes. More importantly, it was gold in the crowd's eyes, too.
Best Venue: Horse Guards Parade
It was almost unfair to all other Olympic cities that these Games were held in London. No other place is able to utilize historical, legendary venues like Wimbledon and Old Trafford, while also taking advantage of the picturesque, scenic views that only one of the world's great cities can offer. Horse Guards Parade provided both. They built a 15,000-seat beach volleyball stadium in the prime minister's backyard, across the street from Buckingham Palace, with Big Ben and the London Eye in the background. The place was rocking for two weeks and provided one of the most amazing views of London anybody could ever hope to see. (Rio's holding beach volleyball on the historic Copacabana Beach, which, I have a feeling, will be just as breathtaking.)
Hottest: Zara Dampney
Once again, we end with the most important award, and it goes to somebody who played at Horse Guards Parade. When the British press found out that the FIVB changed the rules and the women weren't required to wear only bikinis anymore, they started freaking out. They even asked the British team to promise they'd wear bikinis. (This is the same team that made headlines last year when they sold advertising space on their bikini bottoms.) Now I know why they were so worried. Zara Dampney is HOT!!!! I made it a point to watch their first match because the British team had never before qualified for Olympic beach volleyball. I then made it a point to watch their three remaining matches. Unlike the international hottest award that went to Czech beach volleyball player Marketa Slukova, this one wasn't even close. Dampney had it locked up the second I saw her. To top it off, she's smart. She has a law degree from the University of Sheffield.
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