An Olympics in your own country is something to be really
proud of. It kick started last week with an amazing opening ceremony where I
was welling up most of the evening watching the TV! The sense of being patriotic
was something we lost, but after the royal wedding, jubilee and now Olympics,
it’s back.
Today we visited the Olympic Park for the synchronised swimming
qualifying heats. Entering the park was the most efficient thing I’ve seen, it
took just 6 minutes on the javelin train from St Pancras, just enough for some
speed eating. It felt like we were boarding a plane…in pouring rain. However,
it was nice to be in a majority again. We stuck out a bit in St Neots with
London 2012 top, bag and hat but as soon as we got onto the platform, we were
one of many. We walked just a little of the park (it’s huge) and then it was
time to head to the aquatics centre for synchronised swimming. Opening the
doors and seeing the pool for the first time was amazing, I had the biggest
smile on my face. We walked up the very steep steps and found our seats. While
waiting we watched diving practice. Then the countdown until the start. How the
women get their bodies out of the water is astonishing. Russia won the heat and
they stood out by an absolute mile. The sound of cheering when team GB walked
into the competition was immense. Flags were waving and the cheer was through
the roof.
Before the event we knew nothing about synchronised swimming
but we loved it, we loved the atmosphere, we loved the sea of nationalities and
flags, all having a great time. Olympics on home soil is something I will never
forget.
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