Sarena Gonzales

Staff Writer 

This summer everyone’s attention was on the 2016 Rio Olympics. It’s the time of the year when people put aside politics and athletes are cheered on to bring back the gold.

  Aside from all the achievements the USA made, there are some athletes who gave America a bad reputation in the veiwers’ eyes. If you hadn’t already heard, swimming athlete Ryan Lochte lied about a robber in Rio approaching him and teammates with a gun at night. In regards to his actions most of his sponsors like Speedo And Ralph Lauren have dropped him as a client. 

  “I think everybody deserves a second chance, I think his lesson needs to be learned that what he does affects more than just himself,” the water polo and art teacher Coach Hadin said.

  Though some people think he deserves a second chance, some say he needs to change to get back where he was.

  “I would try to change him into a better person and show him why he did what he did was wrong ” student athlete Grace Bradford said.

  On a more positive note, Michael Phelps was definitely in the spotlight this Olympics. He is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals. He did choose to retire this year on a good note.

  “It’s good to end on a high note not on a low note,” student athlete Joseph Camacho said.

  Another athlete that was in the spotlight was Simone Biles. Some may refer to her as the Michael Phelps of gymnastics.

  “She is like the MIchael Phelps of gymnastics because she was just so great in everything that she did,” Bradford said.

  Simone was a big contributor to the U.S. gymnastics team, but if she weren’t on the team, would the U.S team have done as well without her?

“I don’t think it would have changed the outcome,” Camacho said.

  In the end the U.S dominated the Olympics with 121 medals total, the most medals out of all the countries.   

  “It makes me feel really proud and happy to be apart of this country,” Bradford said.

  The Olympics brings not only pride to countries around the world but honor. The feeling of knowing your country is the best at the sport you’re in is incredible an experience one can only imagine.

  “Historically we’ve made our way up, and it’s emotional seeing that we’re the best on the world,” Camacho said.

  Despite all the negativity for the Olympics being hosted in Rio some students think Rio did a good job.

  “It looked really pretty and the stadiums were good,” Bradford said.

  No matter where the games are being held there are always those who are skeptical about the location.   “ Every country has its issues hosting such a big venue, I think they did well with what they had,” Camacho said.

  Another unsettling event in the Olympics involved Russian athletes that tested positive for drug use and were still allowed to complete, such as Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova.

  “It’s very difficult, because if there were some athletes that didn’t do anything wrong but there’s always going to be a cloud of did they do it the fair way,” Hadin said.

  Those that do cheat will have to live with the guilt of not earning what they got the fair way.

  “I’d feel cheated out in my spot, I’d be a little bit angry about competing against those that are cheating,” Bradford said.

  America bringing home the most medals out of all the countries left us feeling proud to call America our home and proud to be an American.