Witnessing History

Tonight, I just witnessed history. Something that will never be forgotten in the Olympic games. Michael Phelps, the swimmer from the US, got his 8th gold medal. The most medals for one person in an Olympic games in history. He surpassed Mark Spitz, who had the record of 7 gold medals in one Olympic games in 1972. Then 16 medals in his career, 14 gold. 7 world records out of the 8 golds, and the eighth an olympic record, also his 32nd world record. Michael Phelps is a new hero for so many. So humble, such a true team player, at a loss of words for himself, but so full of praise for his teammates and the other great Olympians that inspired him. The kind of guy everyone is so glad won this honor. I don't think there were many dry eyes in the "water cube" or around the world at that winning moment. Even Australians, the swimmers' biggest rivals, were cheering for them. It was like world peace for a moment. I could feel the positive energy just flowing.
I love the Olympics, it is a time when everyone forgets their differences for a little while, and just supports their countries athletes, and the other countries athletes. Where rivals sit in the stands next to each other and just cheer. Where you can witness all these great men and women have worked so hard for, culminating into a few seconds or minutes.
I saw this beautiful woman from Romania win the women's marathon tonight, she just kept running around the stadium for such a long time with her flag after she finished. She was on such a high, you could feel it all the way around the world.
I watched this Jamaican man, Usain Bolt (great name, huh?), just win the gold in the men's 100m dash. Break the world record, and get the 1st ever medal in the 100m for their country. Then the guy from Trinidad/Tobago, celebrating his silver as if he won 10 golds. Rolling on the ground with tears. Such beautiful sights.
I know many people I know are boycotting the Olympics, (I was going to be one of them because of the oppression and all the bad stuff with Tibet), but it isn't about that. It is about the athletes, their stories, their victories, the positive energy, the glimpse of the "One Love, One People" you can get if you look for it. It is witnessing history at some of its finest moments.