Team USA Wins 1000th Gold Medal: America’s ‘Dominance’ Over 120 Years

Team USA has had a heckuva ride from the 1896 Olympics in Athens to the 2016 games in Rio today.

Over 120 years, America’s Olympic team has provided the country with countless memorable moments.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

In the nation’s first Olympics, Team USA took home nine gold medals, seven in track and field, and two in shooting.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Jesse Owens’ historic victory in Berlin in 1936 showed German dictator Adolph Hitler that ‘victory’ knows no color. Owens took home four gold medals for all of America to be proud of.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

In 1972, Team USA swimmer Mark Spitz won an astounding seven gold medals at the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

In 1981, Team USA hockey’s “Miracle on Ice” sent chills up the spines of Americans with an upset of the Soviet Union.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Mary Lou Retton at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles became ‘America’s Sweetheart’ by winning a gold medal in the individual all-around in gymnastics and took home four other medals.

Image Credit: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

Since 2000, Michael Phelps has established himself as the greatest Olympian of all-time, accumulating an astounding 23 gold medals from the 2004 Olympics in Barcelona to the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Image Credit: Odd Anderson/AFP/Getty Images)

Team USA’s women swimmers took home the 1000th gold medal for the United States, led by Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer, and Simone Manuel in the anchor spot.

Image Credit: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

Team USA swimmer Katie Ledecky established herself as a legend-in-the-making at the 2016 Rio Olympics: Her four gold medals and world record times have her looking like the future of Olympic swimming.

1,000 Olympic gold medals for #USA!http://bit.ly/2ba3FaP

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 14, 2016

One hundred and twenty years of thrilling history: Victory, defeat, travail, and triumph. 1000 gold medals is just the beginning.

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Source: independent journal

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The End? Michael Phelps’ Legendary 23rd Gold Medal Was Every Bit as Amazing as His First

Since he announced that he was returning to competitive swimming for the Olympics in Rio, people have been asking one question: will he stay another four years and make an appearance at the summer games in Tokyo in 2020?

Will #MichaelPhelps finally retire after #Rio2016 or will he play a Brett Favre!! #ChillinInRio

— Lawrence Lease (@lmlleaseEOAN) August 4, 2016

Will Michael Phelps really retire after the Olympics? The speculation continues – Los Angeles Times http://bit.ly/2bj5rrA

— Mich Phelps club (@MichPhelpsclub) August 5, 2016

Even Ryan Lochte hinted that his friend and rival might not be quite finished, saying “[Phelps] will be back” in interviews just a week ago.

Will Michael Phelps retire after Rio? Ryan Lochte doesn’t think so http://bit.ly/2ba32yh #music #news

— ShadowLines (@ShadowLinesDoc) August 3, 2016

Phelps hinted about it for weeks leading up to the games – and even in a number of interviews between races.

After a three-way tie for silver in the 100 butterfly (gold went to Joseph Schooling), Phelps told the press that he was ready to retire:

“I’m not going four more years and I’m standing by that,” he said. “I’ve been able to do everything I’ve ever put my mind to in the sport and after 24 years in the sport, I’m happy with how things finished.

“I’m happy. I’m ready to spend some time with Boomer and Nicole and watch the little dude grow.”

He said that rival Chad LeClos (who he beat in the 200 butterfly but tied in the 100) had asked him as well following Friday’s race:

“Done. Le Clos asked me in the award area and the Dwyers were chanting ‘four more years’.

They did the same thing in London. The 800 free relay guys said four more years … No. I am NOT going four more years.

And I’m standing by that.

I’ve been able to do everything I’ve ever put my mind to in this sport. And 24 years in the sport. I’m happy with how things finished.”

And he’s certainly come a long way. He entered the international scene at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, at the age of 15:

Image Credit: Kazuhiro Nogi/Getty Images

At 19, he took Athens by storm and tasted gold for the first time. And the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. He took home two bronze medals for good measure:

Image Credit: Pierre-Philippe Marcou

In Beijing, he was 23. He was nearly undefeated in Olympic competition. And he did not disappoint the United States. He took home eight gold medals in a single Olympic games, surpassing legend Mark Spitz:

Image Credit: Francois-Xavier Marit

Phelps faltered on the Olympic stage for the first time in London, racking up four more gold medals but taking a silver to South African challenger Chad le Clos in what had become his signature event – the 200 meter butterfly:

Image Credit: Francois Xavier Marit/Getty Images

Phelps retired after London, but after DUIs a stint in rehab, he came back to finish things on his own terms. He arrived in Rio with a fiance and a new baby, and a completely different attitude:

Image Credit: Christophe Simon/Getty Images

On Saturday afternoon, Phelps posted a video using Facebook live and talked at length about how he had accomplished what he wanted to in Rio, confirming that Saturday’s 4×100 medley relay, win or lose, would be his final race.

And what a race it was! Phelps, joined by teammates Ryan Murphy (backstroke), Cody Miller (breaststroke), and Nathan Adrian (freestyle), set an Olympic record and took home one more gold medal.

In what he calls his final race, @MichaelPhelps takes home the gold with #TeamUSA #Rio2016 #Olympics http://pic.twitter.com/8DGyxa0Kw9

— Kelly Bazzle (@KellyBazzle) August 14, 2016

In his post race interview, he again confirmed his retirement, saying: “It’s not the end of a career, it’s the beginning of a new journey.”

Watch Phelps’s comments via Facebook live:

Michael Phelps won an astounding 23 Olympic gold medals–28 Olympic medals total. And his last was every bit as impressive as his first.

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Source: independent journal

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Pregnant Woman Flies Up in Air ‘Like a Rag Doll’ But Survives Long Enough to Have Her Baby Delivered

An expecting mother was crossing the street in Quebec, Canada, when a heartbreaking tragedy unfolded.

The mother, Marie-Pier Gagné, was 40 weeks pregnant.

Mort de Marie-Pier Gagné | 37 000$ recueillis en 24 heures http://bit.ly/2bj4KhO http://pic.twitter.com/pQ2hwaE9hj

— TVA nouvelles (@tvanouvelles) August 12, 2016

As she was heading across the street, Gagné was hit head on by a car going over the speed limit right outside of the hospital.

One witness to the scene described the haunting images, via CBC News:

“You never want to see that. She flew up into the air like a rag doll.”

The following image reveals just how horrific the accident was:

Life changes in seconds forever! http://bit.ly/2ba335j

— Z’ra Nzm (@zranzm) August 11, 2016

Gagné didn’t make it; however, her baby, Alexe, was safely delivered before she passed on.

Baby born after mother’s death transferred to MUHC http://bit.ly/2bj5O5g

— Montreal Gazette (@mtlgazette) August 11, 2016

The Toronto Sun reported that:

Doctors in the provincial capital at Centre hospitalier universitaire de Quebec managed to save the unborn child after her mother died in the collision.

The infant sustained life-threatening injuries and was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Children’s late Wednesday. According to some reports, the baby may have bleeding on the brain and other injuries.

Flowers have since been placed at the site of the accident to honor Gagné’s memory:

Flowers mark the spot where a pregnant woman, 27, was killed at a pedestrian crosswalk in Quebec City. @CTVMontreal http://pic.twitter.com/nLpAWz17RM

— Maya Johnson (@MJohnsonCTV) August 11, 2016

Gagné’s cousin described what kind of person she was:

“A generous person who would do anything to help her loved ones. The family is feeling a great sadness.”

After Gagné’s passing, a crowdfunding campaign was set up to raise money for her now-widowed husband. So far, it’s raised nearly $45,000, and the outpouring of support continues to flood in.

The post Pregnant Woman Flies Up in Air ‘Like a Rag Doll’ But Survives Long Enough to Have Her Baby Delivered appeared first on Independent Journal Review.

Source: independent journal

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