The Gold Rush for Team GB at London 2012: How To Make A Nation Proud.

We as a nation are pretty demanding on our sports stars it's fair to say. Each and every year there is some competition that we are convinced we will win but never quite make it. So imagine all our surprise at London 2012 as Team GB have shone so brightly that you’d almost believe it’s summer. 

Mo Farah and Wenlock in: Epic hug!

The London 2012 Olympics haven’t been cheap; there has been much debate whether we should have even hosted them but after what many dubbed Super Saturday I think few will disagree it was worth every penny. 

We don’t like to admit we can be patriotic, it’s frowned upon by some which I think is a real shame because if London 2012 has shown us anything it’s that we ARE good at sport. We’ve got some truly amazing athletes (special mention goes to all the cyclists and the rowers), maybe now we will stop hero worshipping the football players so much and start appreciating our Olympians a bit more. Just maybe. 

I’ve lost some Twitter followers over the past week since that amazing opening ceremony and I found that a bit sad. Not because I’m an ego manic who keeps on top of her followers but because it must be that some people just aren’t interested in the Olympics, or Team GB. If this team doesn’t inspire you maybe you’re a little dead inside. 

Jessica Ennis: Olympic champion

Every podium I’ve watched with Team GB on top I’ve had to swallow back a few tears. We shouldn’t be ashamed to be patriotic when it’s for a good reason and these Olympians have made us all proud to be British. The medals do look like giant Cadbury coins though. Mmm chocolate. 

We finished top in the rowing table, lots of tears were spilt there. No golds in the pool but Becky Adlington did brilliantly; no GB athlete should need to apologise for their performance especially when you’ve just won your second Olympic medal of these games. And what about Jessica Ennis? The poster girl for London 2012, she had a ridiculous amount of pressure on her shoulders. She just soaked it all in and used it to her advantage, a true sports woman. 

Victoria Pendelton on top of the podium

And shall we talk about the GB women of these games? Some times they don’t get the coverage that the men do but how they’ve impressed this year. Golds in the Velodrome, at Eton Dorney and in the Olympic Stadium. More medals in swimming and equestrian too, my goodness what amazing roles models for young girls today. It seriously puts the TOWIE girls, the Kardashians sisters and all the other “famous for nothing” generation to shame. And as I type this we’ve just made Olympic history with Nicola Adams as she’s won the first ever women’s boxing Olympic gold medal. Honestly, my eyes are filling up now. 

Kings of the Velodrome

Nearly all the athletes have come through some adversary. They’ve had their problems; they’ve finished second, come through injury and had to deal with unlucky decisions but what makes me proud is that they have learnt from their mistakes. Any set backs they have had, they’ve dealt with and worked their way through it. This is what we should be teaching this generation; work hard and you will be rewarded. No more “I Want”; you can’t just get famous and expect the world to fall at your feet. If you want real respect then you need to work hard. And look at Team GB for inspiration. 

My heart is literally bursting with pride for my country. “Inspire a generation” is the tag line for London 2012. Jess, Becky, Sir Chris, Victoria, Mo, Bradley and every single athlete of Team GB; you’ve done just that.