For two weeks, the world came together to witness the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. As with any event this grand and times this crazy, we found ourselves shocked, ecstatic, disappointed, and, as always, mesmerized by the games. Before the games even began, threats of terrorism and news of supposedly yellow tap water running in the hotel rooms started the drama with a bang. Ultimately, the Olympics came to be known for the memorable moments on and off the field.
Some of the grandest points of the already dramatic Sochi games came in the Opening Ceremony. The Olympics started off with a major technical glitch, and one very stubborn snowflake. Five enormous lighted snowflakes were hoisted into the air and expanded to form the Olympic Rings. The fifth snowflake failed to expand and the famous symbol of five rings became four rings and an asterisk.
However, what we will remember most about the Opening Ceremony is Germany’s march into the stadium. The Germans proudly displayed their rainbow outfits, a playful jab at Russia’s anti gay legislation and a show of support for LGBT rights. This small act went a long way and touched the hearts of many across the world.
The reality of the Olympics is that there can be only one winner, one champion of the sport. So while one nation rejoices, the rest are left with their disappointments. The biggest letdown came from iconic snowboarder and fan favorite Shaun White as he failed to earn his third consecutive Gold medal in the halfpipe. The U.S. Hockey team also went home empty-handed after much media and national attention.
The most controversial of all losses came from 2010 Gold medalist Yuna Kim, who gained silver to much outrage from fans who claim there to have been tampering with scores by Russian judges.
Despite the losses, where there is defeat there is also triumph. The United States cheered when Meryl Davis and Charlie White brought home the first US gold in ice dancing, as well as American snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg in a debut event at the games. The greatest show of sportsmanship was shown when a Canadian coach helped a Russian skier finish his race after a bad tumble by giving him a functioning ski to use. And whose heart was not warmed when U.S. slopestyle skier Gus Kenworthy announced his plans to adopt five stray puppies from Russia?
The games came to a close on Sunday, February 23, and the Russians celebrated with a visually stunning finale that handed the flame to the next host of the Winter Games, Pyeongchang, South Korea. All athletes, despite what happened during the Games, were seen celebrating and basking in the glory of being an Olympian. The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics has become an unforgettable event to remember.
