The Worlds, Part 2: Witnessing Greatness

Tom and I have been among the fortunate spectators at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. So when The Worlds were scheduled for Eugene, Oregon, we knew they’d be another must-see. Tom spent hours upon hours planning the trip and obtaining tickets for many segments from July 15 to 24.
 
To put it mildly, these games did not disappoint. Here’s some of the greatness we witnessed firsthand.
 
--Sydney McLaughlin’s 400-meter hurdles world record. WOW!  
 
--The women’s 4x100 meter relay, in which the U.S. underdogs narrowly edged out sprinting superpower Jamaica.
 
--The U.S. men’s sweep (gold, silver and bronze) of the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints. USA! USA! USA!
 
--The U.S. men’s sweep in the shot put. Lots of back & forth in that contest kept things interesting.
 
--The women’s high jump. Tom reserved our seats in the perfect spot for this event.
 
Watching high jumpers in person, you’re struck by how incredibly lithe they are, with their long limbs and superb gymnastic form. They love to encourage rhythmic clapping among the fans for their run-ups, and we were more than happy to oblige.
 
Three women from Ukraine competed in the high jump, and one – Yaroslava Mahuchikh – won the silver medal. It’s sobering to consider what they must have gone through physically and mentally to train while their country is at war. 
~~Leah Rewolinski

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! With pictures!
Scroll down for Part 3: Fun with Fans in the Stands