A Golden Moment
Andrew Saunders
December 5, 2012
History of Sports in America
Significant Moment in Sports
A Golden Moment
What type of moment constitutes a significant moment in a sport? The sport and society must be changed in a way that only could have been brought by this moment. The sport itself must be defined by the moment, and society’s view of the sport must be influenced by this moment. In the summer of 2008 during one of the greatest spectacles in sports, the whole world was fixed on the Olympics to watch Michael Phelps attempt perfection. Not only did Michael Phelps define that Olympics, he defined and showcased the sport of swimming, and revealed the sport of swimming to society in a way that was never before experienced. This paper will not so much focus on what exactly Michael Phelps accomplished at the 2008 Beijing games( not to downplay arguably one of the greatest performances in the history of sports), but more in-depth into what that moment meant for the future of swimming and how Americans viewed the sport.
Usain Bolts domination on the track, the battle between American and Chinese gymnasts, the “Redeem Team” re-establishing American dominance in basketball, all significant events of the Beijing Olympics that managed to be eclipsed by Michael Phelps golden moments. The Olympics throughout history has been the stage for elite athletes to demonstrate their excellence in their sport. Once every four year, the world turns its eyes to the Olympics to celebrate greatness. Even among this ocean of talent, some athletes dominate their sport in such a complete way that they capture everything that the Olympics stands for: excellence, competitiveness, preparation, talent, and dominance. The eight gold medals won by Michael Phelps demonstrated his possession of all these traits.
In 2000, Michael Phelps first made national news by qualifying for the Olympic team as a 15 year old. The story mostly focused on his young age and potential, and it wasn’t until
December 5, 2012
History of Sports in America
Significant Moment in Sports
A Golden Moment
What type of moment constitutes a significant moment in a sport? The sport and society must be changed in a way that only could have been brought by this moment. The sport itself must be defined by the moment, and society’s view of the sport must be influenced by this moment. In the summer of 2008 during one of the greatest spectacles in sports, the whole world was fixed on the Olympics to watch Michael Phelps attempt perfection. Not only did Michael Phelps define that Olympics, he defined and showcased the sport of swimming, and revealed the sport of swimming to society in a way that was never before experienced. This paper will not so much focus on what exactly Michael Phelps accomplished at the 2008 Beijing games( not to downplay arguably one of the greatest performances in the history of sports), but more in-depth into what that moment meant for the future of swimming and how Americans viewed the sport.
Usain Bolts domination on the track, the battle between American and Chinese gymnasts, the “Redeem Team” re-establishing American dominance in basketball, all significant events of the Beijing Olympics that managed to be eclipsed by Michael Phelps golden moments. The Olympics throughout history has been the stage for elite athletes to demonstrate their excellence in their sport. Once every four year, the world turns its eyes to the Olympics to celebrate greatness. Even among this ocean of talent, some athletes dominate their sport in such a complete way that they capture everything that the Olympics stands for: excellence, competitiveness, preparation, talent, and dominance. The eight gold medals won by Michael Phelps demonstrated his possession of all these traits.
In 2000, Michael Phelps first made national news by qualifying for the Olympic team as a 15 year old. The story mostly focused on his young age and potential, and it wasn’t until