Saturday 4 August 2012

London 2012: Today I made my Olympic debut

Today I made my Olympic debut. I had tickets for the morning session of the second day of athletics.

As a sports fan and as a true fan of athletics, I know that today I achieved a life long dream. I've actually been to the Olympic games.


When it comes to sport I don't think there's much that's going to top this. Maybe going a World Cup match, but for me the Olympics is the ultimate in sport.

When the action started at 10:00 this morning, I kept thinking to myself: 'Am I really at the Olympic Games?'

I was so lucky to get this session. I watched Jessica Ennis on her way to Gold in the Long Jump and Javelin. The reaction of the crowd everytime her name was mentioned was unbelievable.

So much pressure, but you know what? She delivered - especially in the Javelin with a personal best with her final throw.

I also saw the first rounds of the Men's 400m, Women's Steeplechase and Pole Vault. This was great, but the highlight was always going to be one event. It had to be the Men's 100m first round heats.


If you look hard enough you'll see a certain Usain Bolt at the starting blocks.

In the first race they announced former 100 & 200m World Champion Tyson Gay to the crowd. At that moment the Olympics just got serious.

This is the Olympic stadium. This is Track and Field. This is the 100m - we're not messing about here!
After Tyson Gay every heat featured a whose who of sprinting over the last 5 - 10 years.

Next up the disgraced former Olympic Champion Justin Gaitlin. Banned twice for drug taking he surprisingly got a good reception from the crowd. I applauded him, but he's never really apologised or admitted to his drug taking so I didn't want him to do too well.

After him there's was Asafa Powell - a former world record holder, but someone who mentally could never deal with the pressure when it mattered.

Powell was followed by a certain Usain Bolt - the superstar and saviour of athletics. How amazing to see him just a few hundred yards in front of me. He jogged to qualification without having to make too much effort.

Then there was 'the beast' Yohan Blake, called the beast due to how hard he trains. The biggest rival and training partner of Bolt. Can he upset the odds and win the Olympic title?

It wasn't all about the favourites though; I loved the reception the British guys got. The up and coming youngster Adam Gemili who couldn't help but break out into a smile with the reception given to him by the home crowd, and finally Dwain Chambers.

I'm sure he was just pleased to be here after his own drugs ban and battle to make it into the Olympics.

What a day, what a privilege. You can't get bigger than the 100m.

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