This summer has been filled with depressing news. From the rise in terror attacks and senseless killings across the world, to the fact that in under 90 days the U.S. will have to make the painful decision of which untrustworthy candidate is the lesser of two evils. Then there's been the saga of the state sponsored doping in Russia, which left half of its team at home. This was a piece of good news surrounding the Olympics this summer, as the media predicted the huge failure that these Olympics would be due to Zika, extreme poverty and unfinished projects.
The funny thing is, the Rio Olympics have been everything except the huge failure (well, maybe the green Diving Pool lived up to those expectations), but overall the Olympics have been able to make us forget the bad in the world and be proud of our homes, even if they aren't making us proud at the moment. So here's some of the reason why no matter where in the world we are, the Olympics will make you feel a little less threatened by ISIS or a looming presidential election.
Michael Phelps
He has dominated since the beginning of the century, but had gained quite the party boy status. Since London he got a DUI and seemed to have fallen off the wagon. Then after a stint in rehab, he proposed to his longtime off and on girlfriend and had the perfect baby (see next paragraph) and seems to be poised for a story book ending even at the ripe old age of 31.
Boomer Phelps
He is 3-months-old and always looks like the happiest, most fully rested baby in the world. Whether he has to be up in the middle of the night to cheer his dad to another gold medal or is stuck in interviews with his mom and grandma during the day, he is always smiling and decked out in the most patriotic of outfits.
Katie Ledecky
She beat a world record with ease and the rest of the women she was competing against, with 11 seconds on them. And she's 19 and about to start her freshman year at Stanford. Suddenly my two semesters on the Dean's List are looking very unimpressive
Simone Biles
I hope to be as happy as Simone one day. She could've been lost in the foster care system and the world would never have been blown away by "The Simone," but thanks to her incredible parents, she has lived up to every expectation set for her these Olympics and will continue to do so well afterwards.
Anthony Ervin
He won a gold medal in 2000 and then almost died of drug and alcohol addiction, even selling his gold medal for cash. Now at 35 he beat the odds and won himself a gold medal over a heavily favored frenchman to have a perfect full circle moment for his life and career.
The diversity on the American Team
The media bombards us with Trump's extremely racist comments every day and recent police ambushes and terror attacks have made it seem like America is pretty divided. Well look at our Olympic team, we've got a women competing in a hijab who got to walk in the front during the opening ceremonies. The Final Five is changing the typical demographic of gymnastics in America, just as Simone Manuel is after she become the first African American woman to win a gold medal in swimming.
Women
Our Olympic team is not only the largest competing this year but theres at least 40 more women competing for us than men, and they are killing it. Not only are American girls showing up the boys across the board, but women all over the country. When Brazil's Rafaela Silva won her countries first gold medal in judo, there's no way you couldn't have a smile on your face. Or how Kayla Harrison overcame abuse from her coach to win a gold medal in another level of Judo. Even America's Kristin Armstrong, who's 43 has come back to cycling after having a son to kill it and win gold. No one should ever say "No she can't" ever again.
Athlete's parents
Ally Raisman's parents are amazing. They're all of us when we're watching Michael Phelps try to pull out a photo finish victory or when we were watching Serena Williams and the women's soccer team lose.
The Refugee Team
These athletes have had to abandon their homes and still manage to do so well in their sport to qualify for the Olympics. Nothing's better than watching these people beat the odds, while putting a face to a group of people we've been taught to fear.
