Bryony



Event: Women's 470 Class Sailing Final Missing Equipment: The Centreboard

P.O.V of Olivia Powrie

The waves lapped against the boat peacefully, it was a perfect day to sail. It was an even better day to win a gold medal. Me and Jo Aleh were going to compete in the final of the 470 class sailing final in the 2012 London Olympics. Our competition was tough, with Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Australia our toughest opponents. We walked to our boat, which was strangely lopsided. We checked all of our equipment, when we realised the cause of it's angle. The centreboard, one of the most crucial items in the boat. Without it we could not race, it would just capsize and there would be no chance of winning. Our crew started searching around the pier, hoping that it was just hiding somewhere. But it wasn't. "Five minutes until race." The announcer boomed. Shoot. We sprinted across the pier, looking everywhere. "Two minutes" I spotted something on the very end of the pier, dangling centimetres from the water. The centreboard! I called Jo to come over, and she held my legs as I reached down to get it. I ignored the constant stares and comments coming form the crowd and grabbed the board. "30 seconds" I ran faster than ever back to our boat and shoved the centreboard in. "10, 9, 8, 7...." I leaped in the boat and took my position next to Jo. "3, 2, 1, GO!" We started navigating our vessel, or as we liked to call it 'Muppet' around the four courses smoothly, taking a steady lead. We rushed past the last turn, with Great Britain on our tails. We approached the finish line, gliding past it first. We did it!!!! We won a gold medal! We won the 100th medal for New Zealand!!! It feels great, but I think it will sink in once we have those shiny medals around our necks, ours to keep forever.



Article: []

My version of the article: First gold in 16 years for US womens gymnastics team

====A large celebration is in order for the US Olympic team as they win their 12th gold medal, but this time, surprisingly, not from Michael Phelps. Instead it was the US gymnastics team. They have not won a gold in 16 years, as China and Romania have won it. But that has all changed, after the US's amazing performance on Tuesday. The team consists of five 15-18 year olds, who are: Gabrielle Douglas (who also won a gold medal for her individual performance), Mc Kayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Jordyn Weiber, and Alexandra Raisman. Their final score was 183.596, a huge five points in front of silver medal winners, Russia. Romania won the bronze medal. With Russia being their biggest rival, the Americans were determined to come out on top. "There were a lot of rumours that we couldn't do this because we won worlds, and there were a lot of doubts," Mc Kayla Maroney said. "We went out there to prove something and that's what we did." ====





Task 2: Create your own Olympic oath or creed for future Olympic Games

ORIGINAL MODERN OATH: "In the name of all competitors, I promise we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the spirit of true sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."

MY OATH: On behalf of all competitors, we promise that we will take part in this year's Olympic Games, showing courage, sportsmanship and pride. We shall take part in these Games, abiding all the rules that make up this occasion. For the honour of our nations, we will not cheat or use anything that is not allowed.



NZ Olympian: Alison Shanks Alison Shanks is a New Zealand track cyclist and has represented New Zealand in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 2010 Commonwealth Games, and is competing in the London 2012 Summer Olympics.

She was born in Dunedin in 1982 (now 29) and has competed in track cycling since 2005. She was a previously a player in the Otago Rebels in the National Bank Netball Championship, where she played for five years and then competed in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where she finished in fourth in the pursuit race.

One of her recent achievements is competing in the 2010 Dehli Commonwealth Games, where she recieved a gold medal for the Cycling Track 3000m Individual Pursuit Women.

Then on 8 April 2012 Shanks won Gold in the Individual Pursuit at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.

Task 2

Rewrite your own Olympic hymn

Standing strong and proud For the joy of winning They are our athletes From many nations <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 230%;">To compete in sports <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 230%;">Showing courage and strength <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 230%;">These are our athletes <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 230%;">Bringing pride to our country