From Walpole to London: One Last Thought

Over the course of my seven hour flight home from London, I reflected on everything I learned from my trip to the Olympic Games.

Of course, I learned a vast amount about sports media, production, and how a global event gets put together - the end result displayed to millions back home. Time spent in the NBC production truck and broadcast booth gave me valuable insights into different positions around the sport, revealing just how rewarding it is when the entire production team comes together and completes a successful session of track and field.

I also learned a great deal about other cultures and nations, most notably that of the host, Great Britain. Between their passion for athletics, delicious food, and kind customs, they made my stay abroad that much more enjoyable. Learning certain sayings and synonyms for American words (i.e. brolly for umbrella and boot for the trunk of a car), I felt like I became a bit more British each day. I even got into their national dish, Chicken Tikka Masala, and drank my first cup of tea!

Most of all, I learned to savor the moment. Working four-plus years to get to the Olympic Games, it was a dream come true to experience the events from the stadium, working for two amazing companies in NBC and Race Results Weekly. A couple times over the eighteen days spent in London I had to stop and take a deep breath, looking around Olympic Stadium in awe, the setting confirming that all the hard work was worth it.

In closing, I learned to remember the moment and feeling, for I know that in itself will motivate me through Rio and beyond.

With that, my Olympic Blog comes to an end. I hope you enjoyed my posts from London, as I tried to bring a bit of the experience back home to the States. Till next time, cheers!