The 2008 Beijing Olympics is well underway and many a hope for gold has been dashed. Yet things are looking rosy for Britain as Rebecca Adlington has fulfilled a nation’s dream for gold. Adlington is a swimmer who competed in the 400 meter freestyle race. To add icing to the cake, Joanne Jackson got the bronze medal.
Reuters reports:
Adlington conducted what Adrian Moorhouse, who won Britain’s last Olympic swimming title in 1988, called a “smash-and-grab” to snatch the 400 meters freestyle gold which had looked destined for American Katie Hoff.
Adlington’s boldness under pressure on the big occasion made her the first British Olympic swimming champion in 20 years and first women’s gold medalist in nearly half a century when Anita Lonsbrough won the 200 breaststroke at the Rome Games in 1988.
Moorhouse, now working as a television commentator, said: “I’m really proud of her (Adlington). I’m proud of both of them, to be able to watch an Olympic gold medal for Great Britain.”
This is definitely something that every Briton has been looking forward to since the last Olympics. Even those who are not very much into sports are at least following what is going on in Beijing during these several days. I would even dare say that people who may not be normally patriotic or nationalistic are feeling quite proud of their fellow Britons right now. After all, a trip to the Olympics as an athlete is something to proud of already – more so when you get a gold!