I think the first Olympics that I truly remember was the 2000 Sydney, Australia. It was first Olympics of the new century and as a young kid of 7-years-old, the world couldn’t be any bigger. Those games seem kind of a blur. I recall Maurice Greene winning the men’s 100-meter dash so easily (he ran a 9.87 if I’m not mistaken). To me, it blew my mind that a human being could move that fast on foot. Even a young Michael Phelps (he had just turned 16 earlier that summer) was present at these games; although he was not the greatest Olympian… yet. But watching the world come together ignoring all hate to join together in the spirit of competition and sportsmanship, that blew my little mind. It was as if all the nations were allies and friends for these few weeks. It was just special to me. I got to stay up a little later with my mom to watch these games, on a school night nonetheless. But in 2000, I began to love the Olympics.

Fast forward to the 2004 Olympics. These Olympics were when I first really started to pay attention to the games. How cool was it to return the birthplace of the Olympics in Athens Greece? And the medal-winners even received the traditional olive branch wreath to be place upon their head. The spirit of the games overwhelmed me-- even better than the previous Olympics. Not to mention the beginning of Michael Phelps's illustrious career (6 golds and 2 bronze in these games)! These game were so well done it just caused me to want more and more. I even started attempting to train for the 2008 games by swimming furiously in my grandmother’s pool with not much luck once realizing the Olympic pools were just slightly bigger than my grandma’s pool. My love for the games continued to grow.

The 2008 games were in Beijing, China. I recall all the controversy surrounding the games due to the smog pollution that seemed to cover the city. Many athletes threatened to opt out of the games due to the high air pollution. There was even a rumor suggesting they would cancel or move the games to another location. But despite all that controversy, the show had to go on. I remember watching the opening ceremony completely mesmerized. China knew how to put on a spectacle. The opening ceremony included but not limited to: 2008 drummers (not a coincidental number), fireworks, a light show that was ahead of its time, a history of China and with over 15,000 people performing, I couldn’t take my eyes of the screen. Something stirred deep in my chest. I had made a decision that I had to go to an Olympics once in my life, whether as an athlete or an attendee. These Olympics also had a new world’s fastest man, the now legendary Usain Bolt. He ran the fastest time ever recorded then, with a 9.69 time, nearly 0.2 seconds faster than the silver medalist. Again Michael Phelps dominated, but not only dominated-- he won eight gold medals. Something that had never been heard of before. He couldn’t lose. The United States' dominance in these games only pushed the deep fire in my gut higher and higher. My dream was solidified: I wanted to be a part of the Olympics.

Next we moved to London in 2012. These Olympics only furthered my desire to be a part of it. America and I held our breath as the “Fierce Five” dominated in women’s gymnastics well enough to win the gold in the all-around team for the first time since the 1996 Atlanta games. And that was capped off by Gabby Douglas winning the all-around individual. The United States continued to do well in the pool with Phelps adding to his medal count and it was believed to be his ride into the sunset as he would retire at the end of the games. The United States ended up with 46 gold medals, 28 silver medals and 29 bronze medals for 103 total, which was the most gold medals we had won in the new millennia.

And here we are at the 2016 Rio games. Isn’t amazing that we have seemingly effortlessly traveled all around the world in just a blink of an eye? We have witnessed so many wonderful things so far with so many more to come. These games have been filled with triumph as well as heartbreaking defeat. As I watch these games, that fire in my belly tells me I should be there. The Olympic atmosphere is something that is incredible. I so desperately want to experience it, and not just experience once but to experience it multiple times.

I am currently an MBA student with an emphasis on sports management at Hardin-Simmons University located in Abilene, Texas. I am set to graduate in May of 2017, which means it is time to start looking at potential careers for me to pursue. As I continue watching these games, I believe I can be a great asset to Team USA. I bring five years of working closely with HSU’s sports information director and athletic director and four years of collegiate athletics as a football player. I don’t have my heart set on any location, but I do have my heart set working for the US OC. I believe I can go anywhere and make an immediate impact. I am strategic, adaptable, a communicator, a positive thinking, capable of Winning Others Over person. My name is Ryan Bascue and I am going to the next Olympics.