- 14 Oct 08, 09:22 AM
You'll get the chance to welcome Britain's Olympic and Paralympic heroes home when they parade through London this Thursday, 16 October.
There have been other parades, like the one in Edinburgh for the Scottish medal winners from Team GB, while Rebecca Adlington enjoyed her own open-top bus tour of Mansfield.
But the London procession will be the first time the entire British team gets back together, and around 500 athletes are expected to travel on 10 flat-bed trucks.
Out of all those athletes, how do you pick your favourite British performance from a summer of success in Beijing?
The answer is with great difficulty - I know because I've just tried and the results follow.
In case you need reminding, Team GB arrived home with 19 golds, their best haul in 100 years, while the ParalympicsGB team won 42 golds, their best performance in two decades.
That's a lot of excellent performances, but it's not necessarily all about the gold medal winners for me - the silvers, bronzes and near misses were equally as compelling to watch.
This is not an exhaustive list from the Olympics and Paralympics, just my own personal highlights - the performances that had me on the edge of my seat, or off it, or shouting at the television. Let me know yours.
There's probably no place better to start than cycling's velodrome.
Chris Hoy led the charge with three gold medals - his victory in the men's sprint, where he powered past team-mate Jason Kenny being my favourite race - while Victoria Pendleton's triumph in the women's equivalent was equally as dominating and left me in awe of her power.
In the Water Cube, Adlington's victory in the 400m freestyle was stunning.
The 19-year-old was down in fifth place with 100m to go, trailed by over a body-length at the start of the last 50m and came through to pip America's Katie Hoff to gold by seven hundredths of a second.
Italian world record holder Federica Pellegrini and France's world champion Laure Manaudou were left in her wake.
Adlington of course then went on to win a second gold in the 800m freestyle, smashing the longest-standing world record in swimming, that had been set in the year she was born.
And then of course there was Christine Ohuruogu's 400m triumph in the Bird's Nest. Like Adlington, she looked out of it coming into the final 100m, but she had held enough back to surge past her tiring rivals.
At the Paralympics, there were numerous multi-gold winning athletes to cheer.
Swimmer Dave Roberts picked up four more to take his career tally to 11, while
Darren Kenny also won four titles as the cyclists continued where the Olympians had left off.
Lee Pearson remained unbeaten in the equestrian arena, winning all three of his events for a third successive Games.
But the headlines were undoubtedly stolen by 13-year-old Ellie Simmonds who won two gold medals in the pool and a nation's hearts with her emotional post-race interviews and infectious smile.
Out of all those golds though, Adlington's 400m success eclipses the others as it wasn't expected and it provided the most thrilling of climaxes.
And of those that didn't quite make it the top of the podium, Keri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten deserve a special mention.
I never thought a two-hour swimming race would hold my attention, but the duo came close to handing Russia's Larisa Ilchenko a first defeat in four years in the 10km Open Water swim.
Back in the Bird's Nest, Germaine Mason's high jump silver provided another unexpected bout of nervous encouragement in the office.
Then there was Aaron Cook in the taekwondo - it's not a sport I know much about, but his performances in the semi-final and bronze medal match had me hooked. I almost cried with him when he missed out.
And at the Paralympics, the men's wheelchair basketball team had me gripped as they beat America to win bronze.
I urged the wheelchair rugby side on but their attempt to win a first medal ended in defeat in the bronze-medal match against Canada.
Jim 'the swim' Anderson added three more medals to take his collection to 17 over five Games - the 45-year-old is old enough to be Simmonds' granddad.
But my non-gold medal winning performance goes to the men's wheelchair basketball team. Their coach Murray Treseder had to return to his home in Australia because of illness early in the competition, but the team overcame that setback to go on and win a thrilling bronze medal match.
The parade starts at 1100 BST on Thursday, 16 October, outside Mansion House and makes its way past St Paul's Cathedral before going down Ludgate Hill, up Fleet Street and the Strand and on to Trafalgar Square.
But in the meantime, I've told you mine, now you tell me yours.
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Comments
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Mine has to be Nicole Cooke'sin the Womens Road Race. Sheer guts won that for her, and it started the whole gold rush off.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Without doubt it has to be Chris Hoy! Pure class. He is the Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan of cycling. There will be no one else like him in the sport. He's a phenomenon! I think a 'Sir' title is on the cards.
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What no rowing!
The men's four had no form coming into the Olympics and had lurched from one crisis to the next but on the day their will to win was just enough to take them over the line.
They were able to continue the amazing heritage in this event without the superstars of recent years and it was their force of character that made all the difference.
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It's great to be so spolit for choice.
Watching Adlington win the 400m when you knew she'd get the 800m or Brabants, Cooke and Pendeleton all atoning their previous disappointment. So many favourites excelled, defying any pressure.
Yet for me it was a gymnastics bronze for Louis Smith which summed up Team GB's stunning performance.
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I was lucky enough to be there and the best moment for me was Tim Brabants winning gold at Shunyi.
Not just because he is a great guy, and because we met his father, but because the day was made by the amazing Hungarian canoeing and kayaking fans. They even beat the ubiquitous and oppressive Chinese security and unfurled a Hungarian flag which must have been 5m x 3m at least when they won their first gold of the Games.
also memorable was the gold for Kak Purchase and Mark Hunter. Zak's grandmother was staying in the same hotel and she was brilliant.
Oh and the closing ceremony was marvellous!
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Shame they chose to have the parade on a work day, when I can't come down to central London and cheer on the Olympians & Paralympians.
Frankly that's a joke.
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AJ fae Fife wrote:
My favourite moment was when Scotland's No1 Andy Murray used the tennis event as a much needed holiday in his preparations for the US Open!
He might as well have wiped his backside with the 'Butcher's Apron'.
A true comment. This is why the Wimbledon crowd will never really fall in love with him - even they know his anti-English football stance (because he never get's a chance to be pro-Socttish in any major tournament!).
I still loved seeing the Scots and Welsh win in British colours and can only imagine how galling it must be for a narrow-minded person to see the "English" winning using your hard earned taxes. Nicole Cooke, brillant; Chris Hoy is a leg-end. The mens 4 rowing was (and is always) the best race, I salute you but Tim Brabants, by far the unsung hero..when Stallone needs a body double, look no further..Rule Britannia..
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Many amazing moments but I think the ultimate was the team pursuit gold, truly jaw-dropping, with a new world record that will probably stand for a decade at least. The performance epitomised everything about the British cycling team's 'no stone left unturned' method and must have given every other country so much to think about. If only the men's 4x100m squad could take on board just a bit of that attitude to the running track in what is a much simpler event technically.
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#9,
That was another highlight for me too. I watched the final live on a big screen in Cardiff city centre with about 500 others. The atmosphere was fantastic.
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When will a small juvenile element of English grow up and quit whinging about Andy Murray. The guy is the best tennis player the UK has had in decades.
Anyway, I thought this blog was about favourite Olympic moments - if your idea that a Scotsmans failure is a highlight, please give up watching sport and go and be miserable all by yourself.
The best moments had to be every PB achieved by team GB - some of them turned to medals, some did not, but you can not ask more of the athletes than to do the best they've ever done.
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The whole 2 weeks made a lot of people feel proud of what some Brits can do to show us in a positive light!
I only hope 2012 is as successful both for the Athletes and as a host city despite the current problems.
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#11,
The Scottish No1's use of the Olympics as a paid holiday was pure genius on his part and paved the way for a spectacular US Open!
The Olympic Games are nothing more than a duff political statement by duff politicians. It's maybe appropriate that duff sports such as the drug infested athletic events, uppercrust sports like rowing and show jumping, get such a high profile.
Proper sports such as tennis and football should keep well clear!
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"Proper sports such as tennis and football should keep well clear!"
Didn't know the Scottish played football; thought it was just the Glaswegians.
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Chris Hoy's medals were my highlights. I might be a bit bias because we went to the same school but it's also his attitude that continues to amaze me. He IS the complete professional and despite his success he's still so down to earth. He is such an inspiration to everyone but particularly people like myself aiming to compete in 2012.
Also, leave Andy alone! He was going to get criticised whatever he did.
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Its gotta be Becky Adlington's first gold!
Not only was she amazing and (from someone who doesn't know much about swimming) relatively unknown, but she was just a cracking person! Always enjoyd her interviews and stuff! I really do miss the Olympics!
Ps the cycling was all amazing - felt so proud to actually be the best at something!
Pps will all the people having the Andy Murray argument shut up?! I don;t like him either but who cares, this is an Olympics and Paralympics Blog so lets talk about those who had a claim to be there!
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Lots of fantastic memories, and I am glad I have my blog to keep to remind me of it all http://olympicsbeijing2008-paul.blogspot.com
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The single moment that encapsulated the Olympics for me was the moment of joy and elation on Rebecca Addlington's when she realised that she had won the 400m, a simple few seconds that empitomises the Olympic spirit
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too many parades
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Yet again the English let themselves down with comments re Andy Murray.
perhaps they should read the following article to put themselves straight.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1033143/Des-Kelly-Federer-8217-s-winner-taking-defeat-like-man-son.html
In it the journalist who asked 'THAT QUESTION' explains how it was a joke and not serious.
yet still the little englanders come on here fro a little rant.
Sorry folks, the best chance the UK has of having a GS winner is a Scot and not an English player. Deal with your petty mindedness.
As for this thread, it has to be Hoy's 3rd gold. Not since 1908 had a Brit won 3 golds and that was in an olympics held in the UK and very much biased towards UK athletes.
Lord Hoy methinks.
Well, after Sir Steve gets an upgrade!
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Confused by all the Scotland comments, I thought the games showed the power of the Union when we all pull together, the whole being much more than the the sum of the parts but some are petty minded as a number of coments have reflected.
Loved the team pursuit cycling and Addlingtons first gold.
Best moment of all though was the end of the competitions and finding the Australian flag sat below ours on the final medal table! That the French and German ones were there too was a bonus.
Well done to all the Olympians, well worth the investment.
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It has to be the achievement(s) of Chris Hoy. Not only he is the supreme athlete, but he is also very modest in victory.
A real role-model to all aspiring athletes who dream of striking gold at the next Olympics.
One hopes that he gets the further recognition that he deserves at the end of this momentous year for all our Olympians.
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#21,
Are you Gordon Brown?
The Union is dead and buried, and the 'LONDON' Olympics will only endorse that notion further!
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Why have all the videos of the winning performances disappeared off the BBC sports website?
Surely people want to watch their heroes win!
Shows how little the BBC care about the Olympic athletes.
Disgraceful.
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Greg, readers have answered your question on another thread but there is a blog answering your questions here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/last_chance_to_watch_olympic_h.html
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#23 - It may be the Olympics in London, but I'm sure as a Scot you'll be pleased that the Olympic Football will be played across the country, including at Hampden Park in Glasgow (also, it'll be in Cardiff, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham).
So maybe you need to think again, rather than being narrow minded.
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#26,
Whoopeedoo.............no Scottish players will be taking part in a so-called 'British' team, thank goodness!
You don't seem to understand, most of Scotland don't give a flying fig about the 'London' Olympics. It's a complete and utter waste of money and will benefit very few....even in the South East. It will cost the ENTIRE country (Scotland included unfortunately) a price it cannot afford!
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Adlington's domination in the 800m and the men's coxless fours. Both were simply breathtaking.
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#27 - fair enough if that's your view point. It's a shame that Scottish players who want to are being banned from taking part by the SFA - some might say that's restraint of trade.
And I wonder how much the Glasgow Commonwealth Games will cost - will that be an utter waste of money too? Or are is that ok?
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NIcole Cooke - still brings a reminiscent tear to the eye when I think of her appearing first over the brow of that hill in all the rain. Sheer guts.
And Chris Hoy - what a class act.
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An absolute disgrace that you haven't mentioned James Degale. His and Christine Ohuruogu's are infinitely more impressive than posh people in boats.
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Once again London wins, and the rest of the country gets nothing. Shame as I'm sure there would be a good turn out for the athletes elsewhere.
I suspect 2012 will be the same. Let's hope we don't all pay for something we don't get.
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levdavidovich- That boxer guy went to an Independent school.
Some of the rowers did not...
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It's Nicole Cooke for me as well. A brilliantly planned and executed race, and a lifetime ambition achieved. I'm sure the early boost her gold medal gave must have been an inspiration to the other British athletes. What a wonderful role model she is is - who wouldn't want a wannabe Nicole Cooke for a daughter rather than a wannabe WAG?
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Why isn't Cooke's world championship win referenced in the what they are doing now section? A massive oversight, no?
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Oops my bad.
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For me the oustanding performance has to be Rebecca Adlington - not only did she smash the world record, I think she's rather gorgeous too!
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#23 and 27
'THE UNION IS DEAD'
Interesting viewpoint but from where Im sitting its alive and well. I think you guys should have a vote on it because most scots I know arent interested in independance (and I live in the north where I get to meet a lot of scots). If you vote to go then go but where would you have been in the medal table as an independant? As a team we came 4th in the world behind countries between 5 and 10 times the population of our own. For me thats living proof of the power of the Union.
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Good comment icbrown! London’s the capital of the UNITED KINGDOM. If you are going to have to have a parade then it has to be in the capital. NO question. So stop your moaning!
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More abuse of the word hero.
Nothing heroic about this!
Boring. Yawn etc!
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Too many sour grapes on this thread. Just rejoice that the UK did so well, never mind the individual countries. My favourite moment was Beccy Adlington's gold in the 400 metres. And what a wonderful personality she has too...
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it can only be rebecca adlington.....breaking a long standing world record like that was just awesome!!
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Forgot to mention Ben Ainslie, of course...a triple gold medallist and for some reason he often gets overlooked. He's a phenomenal sailor and a brilliant competitor. Should be Sir Ben I reckon.
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If I had to choose(trust me, I was adddicted to the Olympics this year and applaud all of the athletes so it has been hard) I would like to go with Rebecca Adlington. she just seems such a lovely, grounded girl who is passionate about her sport and takes all the media attention in her stride.
I think thats why i like her more than some pthers and thats he is a female too.
I have to mention Victoria Pendleton also as she has such amzing determination and coming back from the dissapointment in Athens to destroy her rivals in Beijing like that is brilliant. I am rpoud to be Bristish and got all teary when I simply saw them compete, sport does that to me!
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Mine was Becky Adlingtons win. I was in the car listening to FiveLive for Nicole Cookes win, but, just for the sheer fact of having to explain to both my parents why I'd woken them up at daft o'clock in the morning running about when Becky Adlington won makes it the moment of the Olympics.
That, and the fact she's from Mansfield, and trains in Nottingham, so she's a true all round Notts Lass.
:)
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to icbrown-I think you will find it was not just London that had a parade and acknowledgment of the athletes achievments. I live in Manchester and there was a huge trun out in Albert Square for all our local athletes and other ciries did the same for thier home-grown talent. What about the reception Cardiff gave Nicole Cooke and others and Mansfield for Rebecca Adlington? I think you should reconsider your neagtive stance and just applaud these sportspeople wherever the celebrations take place(the Queen is based in London and she is on the one holding the reception.)
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A special mention for Christine Ohuruogu.
After the trauma of forgetting three important dates mandated to her by the British Atheltic Authority she showed immense fortitude in conquering her amnesia and remember the date time and place at Bejing.
Proving on the way that sycophancy amongst sports journalists is alive and well.
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The performance that pleased me most - Bradley Wiggins winning the individual pursuit. He set out his stall beforehand about wanting to win the gold medal and then delivered. I screamed the house down.
And without doubt the team pursuit win was pure class - a faultless display. 4 men in harmony with each other and with their machines.
But I think the best performance was Nicole's Cooke's. I watched the race and she kept putting herself in the right place. Then there was one moment near the end when I though she had been dropped and with pure strength and determination she pulled it back and won. Just the most exciting performance!
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