So after two weeks of intense competition, the London Olympics were brought to a close on Sunday night with four hours worth of entertainment. It was another successful olympics for team GB, who ended up third in the medals table with 65 medals, surpassing Bejing's 47, along with new world records and some of the most successful athletes ever.
After the hype of the Opening Ceremony, it was slow going to GB, who's first gold medal didn't come until the women's rowing, thanks to Heather Stanning and Helen Glover, but the gold rush continued after that. It's fair to say that Team GB excelled in the rowing in London.
Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Ben Ainslee and Jessica Ennis are sure to be the stars people will most remember in 2012 after all four of them picked up gold medals. Chris Hoy became the most successful British athlete in terms of gold medals with six gold medals in track cycling, beating Steve Redgrave with five. Hoy and Bradley Wiggins are now Britain's most decorated Olympians with seven medals each.
However, lets not forget the international stars of 2012. Michael Phelps became one of the greatest Olympians in history with 22 medals, 19 of which are gold. Phelps' last medals were won in London as he now goes into retirement.
Although he got no individual records this time round, Usain Bolt kept his fastest man title, picking up gold in the 200m and 100mm, beating rival and teammate Yohan Blake who beat Bolt at the Jamaican trials. Together, along with the rest of teh Jamaican relay team, they did get a knew world record time for the 4x100m sprint with a time of 36.85.
Kenyan David Rudisha became a star by setting the fastest time for the 800m with five of the athletes running under 1.43. China came second in the swimming after the USA with 16-year-old Shiwen Ye winning gold in the 200m and 400m IM, but American swimming star Missy Franklin, 17, walked away with five medals, four golds.
As a whole London 2012 has become the biggest TV event in the US, as NBC announced that more than 219 million viewers tuned in for the games compared to 215 million in Bejiing. Worldwide polls have suggested that London 2012 is the most successful Olympics in 20 years.
The games finished with the closing ceremony of Sunday which featured a whole range of acts, showcasing Britain's talents, also proving that Britain is still making great music. Among some of the artists were: Ed Sheeran, Emile Sande, The Who, Spice Girls, One Direction even John Lennon made a appearance in video. However for me, one dissapointing performance (that didn't feature George Michael) was Queen's collaboration with Jesse J. Let me first say that I do not dispute Jesse J's talent - she is one of our better vocalists of the 21st century, but for a legend like Freddie Mercury to be replaced with a star who has only really become a hit with all ages thanks to a TV talent show, it left me a little dissapointed. Personally I cannot suggest a suitable replacement for Freddie Mercury. If it were practical I would suggest the hologram technology that brought Tupac back for California's famous Coachella festival eariler this year. Despite this however, and George Michael (let's not go there), the closing ceremony was a spectacle, one of the best moments coming from Boris Johnson dancing to the Spice Girls.
Its strange not waking up in the morning, looking at the TV guide and seeing that the Olympics is no longer taking over the BBC, but I think its safe to say we won't be forgetting London 2012 in a hurry.
For video highlights/interviews of London 2012: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/
