Highlights (and Lowlights) Of The 2008 Olympic Games (Part II)

(The first part of this article can be found here.)

The Olympics are over, but everyone will always have memories of Beijing that they'll carry with them forever.

Ok, that sounded like a Xinhua press release. But there were quite a few performers and moments that were no doubt inspiring for aspiring athletes and casual viewers alike. Unfortunately, there were also a few instances of horrible sportsmanship and very bad role-modeling. Here are a few of each that stood out:

• Inspiring: Lopez Lomong, U.S. (Men's 1500m) - Most people know about his background by now. But Lomong refused to discuss politics during the Games, instead putting the focus where it should be: representing his country. He also had praise for the Chinese people and the spirit of the Olympics. Lomong, not a favorite for a medal, lost in the semifinals of the 1500m.

• Uninspiring: Martyn Rooney, G.B. (Men's 4x400 Relay) - Usain Bolt drew some criticism for pulling up early during his record-breaking run. Rooney taunted the Jamaican sprint team, not among the favorites, by holding out his baton to them as he crossed the finish line in a semi-final. Needless to say, Rooney did not get a gold medal, in fact he didn't get any medal, finishing fourth. The Jamaican team finished eighth.
  
• Inspiring: U.S. Men's Volleyball (indoor) and coach Hugh McCutcheon. As a team on the rise, but not quite there yet, winning the gold for their coach, whose in-laws were brutally stabbed by a crazed assailant, it sounds like a Disney movie. But that doesn't make it any less inspiring.
  
• Uninspiring: Becky Hammon, Russia (Women's Basketball) - If you couldn't compete for Team U.S.A., and felt the need to play for another country, which would you choose? Would it be an athletic rival but ally of the U.S. (Chris Kaman - Germany) or would it be a nation that has a recent history of antagonizing America? Even before the war in South Ossetia, Hammon's decision was questionable. After, it's extremely hard to justify.
  Will this self-styled "All-American girl" keep her bronze medal in a special place, despite knowing that she played for a country that's brazenly provoking the West once again? The "spirit of the Olympics" can only go so far. Her excuse? Lots of athletes do it. Not many athletes would compete for a country that considers them an enemy.
• Inspiring: Constantina Tomescu, Romania (Women's Marathon) - Compared to most athletes, marathoners are known to peak at older ages. But Tomescu, 38, became the oldest marathon winner in Olympic history, winning by over 20 seconds, and giving Romania one of their four gold medals of the Games. Paula Radcliffe, the world record holder who falied to finish in 2004, fought through heat, exhaustion, and injury to complete the race in 23rd place.
  
• Uninspiring: French 400 freestyle relay team - They almost backed up their trash talk, but second place is the proverbial first loser.
  
• Inspiring: Matthias Steiner, Germany (Weightlifting) - Steiner, the 105 kg gold medalist, held up a photo of his late wife (who was killed in a car accident) during the ceremony.
  
• Uninspiring: Angel Matos, Cuba (Tae kwon do) - No one likes sore losers, so what can you say about a guy that kicks a referee, spits on the mat, then accuses the ref of wrongdoing? If you're Castro, you can praise him. And get away with it. 
• Inspiring: David Neville, U.S. (400m) - Neville literally dove for the bronze in the individual race, and was rewarded with a relay gold.
  
• Uninspiring: The six athletes who were found to have dope during the Games. Was this low total a product of good sportsmanship by the others, or a product of selective testing?