So it's been a week since the Summer 2016 Olympics began and already we have seen a lot of great things. Especially from Team USA. We're leading the medal count with 50 medals and counting -- 20 of those are gold, 13 are silver and 17 are bronze. The USA is crushing the competition with the next country being China with 37, followed by Great Britain with 22. Of course, every four years the Olympics comes with a lot of good. But it always has a bit of bad and a bit of ugly thrown in the mix too.
The Good
1. Yusra Mardini
One of the members of a specially created team known as Team Refugee Olympic Athletes, Yusra Mardini won her opening 100 m butterfly event. Mardini helped pull her raft of fellow refugees to safety for two hours. Her story is truly inspiring and I would encourage you all to read it.
2. Simone Biles
If you haven't heard of her by now, where have you been? This 19-year-old has taken the Olympics by storm. She even has a move named after her that no other gymnast has managed to pull off including her male counterparts.
3. Michael Phelps
Never mess with the G.O.A.T. That's all I can say really. Michael Phelps has racked up four more gold medals so far, making him a 22 time Gold Medalist. Not to mention the death stare he gave this South African braggart before taking gold in this event.
The Bad
1. Rio's Problems
With polluted water, the Zika virus outbreak, high crime rate, human body parts washing ashore on beaches near where volleyball is held and Rio's declaration of financial disaster not that long ago, the Olympic host city is definitely questionable.
2. Annemiek van Vleuten's Crash
In a tragic incident, Vleuten was leading the race when she crashed on a down hill portion, fracturing her spine. She was rushed to intensive care and is going to be fine, but the event was still very sad. Olympians train their whole lives for that moment and something like this can't be easy.
The Ugly
1. Hope Solo
After a crushing defeat in a penalty shootout against Sweden, star goalie Hope Solo made a few....eh....unsportsmanlike remarks. She accused the Swedish team of "playing like cowards." She then went on to say, "They deserved to lose." Yikes.
2. This tweet...
Wife of a Bears' lineman wins a bronze medal today in Rio Olympics
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) August 7, 2016
"Wife of a Bears lineman..." Seriously, Chicago Tribune? Seriously?
Well those are just a few of the good, the bad and the ugly of this year's Olympic games. Of course there have been a lot more under all three categories and I would love to hear what your favorite, or least favorite, moments have been so far.
