Monday 5: Some of My Favorite Olympic Memories

Ever since I can remember, the Olympics have always excited me. I remember being glued to the television as a little girl for both the summer and winter events. Here are five of my favorite memories and inspirations from the Olympics:

1. Gymnastics: I was so enamored by gymnastics around the age of 8 or 9. My father shared this interest with me since he participated in high school gymnastics. We would work outside in the backyard for hours trying to get front and back handsprings down. I crushed myself pretty badly on one back handspring attempt and it was really hard to overcome. Pretty soon after, it was evident that I was going to be too tall to ever be competitive in gymnastics. I went to a free day at a gymnastics training center and was already the same size as many of the 16 year old girls. That settled that, long arms and legs means that you aren't going to be a competitor in this sport. It's cool - at 5'10" I can still do front handspring combos on command and even some moves on bars that are high enough. To this day, I particularly love to watch the floor routines and the uneven bars when the Summer Olympics come around.

2. Figure Skating: Talk about obsessed - I was so in love with figure skating as a child. My friends an I would practice all of the moves we saw the Olympians do on our roller skates. I got pretty good on mine and could even pull of a double axel. I still remember the first time I did it on the concrete - that rush you get when you accomplish something tough is amazing. We had practiced for days on our front lawns so it wouldn't hurt so bad when we fell. On either my 12th or 13th birthday I got to have my party at a roller rink and one of my friends and I did our best to imitate a routine that we had seen in the past. I still love to skate today and can even ice skate now. Watching this year's figure skating has motivated me to take my ice skates with me to the office now since there is a nearby rink I can hit on the way home.

3. Curling: I have been intrigued by curling since I discovered the sport. I still don't fully understand it but have been reading up and watching whenever it is televised and on videos that I find. The mental precision draws me in every time. I've tried to contact a few clubs to get an interview but nobody will ever write me back. I'd be great if there was a local group that I could check out here in SoCal. If anyone knows any curlers definitely shoot me a note. I really want to learn more.

4. The Original Dream Team: Need I say more? I even have a Magic Johnson Olympic jersey! Personally, I don't feel there can ever be another team that is this awesome. If you need further explanation check out this link.

5. The Hockey Miracle: See video above and read about the "Miracle on Ice" here.

What do you love about the Olympics?