The 2016 Summer Olympics took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5th to 21st, and were the 31st Olympic Games.
Of the many attendees, two of them were from our very own Franklin Regional.
Senior wrestler Spencer Lee and art teacher Denielle DeSantis both attended their first Olympics this past August.
Each was in Rio for different reasons and did many different things while there.
“I was chosen to be US Olympic wrestler [Daniel Dennis’s] training partner, so I went down to help warm him up and train with him,” said Lee. “I was training for my [upcoming] world championship as well.”
Lee did have some time to tour and watch Olympic events, even seeing Christ the Redeemer, a 125-foot-tall statue of Jesus and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Lee stayed in a training facility in Rio that the United States utilized for Olympic combat sports.
“My favorite part of the whole experience was probably getting to go into the Olympians’ warmup room,” said Lee. “I got to see all the guys that you would watch on TV competing and watch them do their routine to get ready for the Olympics.”
Lee met US sprinter Tyson Gay, US judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison, and US archer Brady Ellison.
While he loved the experience, Lee admitted that it was tiring.
“It was hard being there for so long, training. It just wore me down,” said Lee.
Hopefully all his hard work will pay off, as Lee hopes to make the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
DeSantis went to Rio this past August to see the Olympics, and because it had always been on her bucket list to visit.
“I saw the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, Women’s Gymnastics, and Men’s and Women’s Swimming,” said DeSantis.
DeSantis also did lots of sightseeing while in Brazil.
“I saw Christ the Redeemer, and went to the beaches of Copacabana, Leblon, and Ipanema. I got to see the Selaron Steps and the Modern Art Museum,” said DeSantis. “Then I flew over to Peru and hiked Machu Picchu. On my way back to Rio I stopped to see Iguazu Falls, which is the largest waterfall system in the world.”
DeSantis stayed in hostels, which gave her the opportunity to make friends from all around the world.
DeSantis even met Olympians from other countries.
“I met handball players from Croatia and Greece on top of Christ the Redeemer,” said DeSantis.
DeSantis’s favorite part of the experience was the diversity at the games.
"I think it was really extra special that I was there for the Olympics because it brought all cultures together and that was really dynamic to be around,” said DeSantis.
While there for different reasons, both Lee and DeSantis had a very memorable experience while in Rio de Janeiro this past August.
Note: this article was originally published in Franklin Regional High School's newspaper The Panther.
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