The month of February for many of the world’s best athletes, was spent overseas in Beijing, China at the winter olympic games. The world’s best athletes showed up and gave it their all to show off all of their hard work. The games took place from February fourth through February twentieth. While a lot of different countries did really well and came out and gave it their all, this is an overview of Team USA and how they did at the games. 

This year’s team USA consisted of 224 winter athletes. That includes both paralympic and non paralympic athletes. At the opening ceremony, athletes John Shuster (curler) and Brittany Bowe (speed skater) were the flag bearers. At the closing ceremony, athlete Elana Meyers Taylor ( bobsledder) was the flag bearer. 

Team USA brought home a good amount of medals showing off their hard work. Maybe nor as many as they have in the past but they brought home a total of 25. That 25 is made up of 8 gold, 10 silver and 7 bronze medals. In 2010, Team USA brought home 37 medals so their total has gone down a lot but there are also things that athletes now have to deal with that they didn’t have to then. Records were made and new breakthroughs were broken. Women placed in events that they never have before and personal bests were made by a lot of athletes. And when I watched some of the events on television, they looked like they were out there to have a great time and do well and it surely looked like they were having a great experience. 

The team did not do great the first few days of the games medal wise but after the first six days, they started to bring in the medals. They definitely experienced some ups and downs when it came to bringing the medals in but they ended up doing ok in the end. 

As always, there are the problems that come with professional sports and athletes. Things like performance enhancing drugs and supplements and issues with where the games are happening and the history of how countries interact with each other, but I think that the games do a good job with bringing some unity to the world because everyone is out there doing their best and having a good time. 

Apparently there were/ are issues in China right now regarding human rights and related topics and a lot of people were concerned about the American athletes and their safety. There was even talk about potentially boycotting the Olympics but as far as I know, that did not happen. 

Overall, Team USA did a really great job these winter Olympics and we will be waiting for the next Olympic games to come!