3 benefits of team sports

My daughter has been watching the Olympics this summer. It's fun to watch her watching, because I know that these are the images of memories. That Michael Phelps losing gold and then winning it many times over, that Gabby Douglas's gold and Jordyn Wieber's heartbreak are the things that she'll remember years from now when she is with her own children. I asked some of my fellow bloggers (and a tweeter!) about some of their most poignant Olympic memories. Click through to see their responses!



1. Nadia Comanici's perfect 10 in gymnastics
I remember being 10 years old, on summer vacation with my family in Hilton Head, SC, and watching Nadia Comanici get the perfect 10 in gymnastics. Is it possible that was the same year Olga Korbut wore little pigtails? My sister and I spent the rest of the vacation perfecting the end-of-routine pose: hands overhead in a rigid 'V,' legs straight and together, chest and belly puffed out. - Karen Gerwin, @Karen Gerwin





Related: 16 ways to celebrate the

Courtesy of NBCVogue

When I was fourteen years old, I was selected to participate in the "Duel in the Pool: USA vs. Europe" competition. The event was held in Manchester, and that was my very first time visiting the U.K. I remember I loved all the people, the accents, and the food. This trip, however, is my very first time in London. For starters, I absolutely love the Olympic Village-the rooms are great, and we are all allowed to take home our Olympic-themed comforters. There is also an amazing cafeteria that is like a Costco with the cuisine of every possible country represented. I stayed healthy, of course, and focused on more familiar food during the competition (mainly British and American fare) but after my last race on Saturday night, I hit the sushi bar and took a trip to McDonald's for a McFlurry. Overall, London has put on a fantastic Olympic Games. Yes, the facilities are wonderful, but the people have really made the trip. Whether you're in a shop, riding the tube, or at the Olympic

as told to Florence Kane, Vogue

In honor of the upcoming summer games, we caught up with eight former U.S. Olympic champions. In this series, they share their fondest memories of everything it took to win the gold.

I was fifteen when I was in my first Olympic trials, for the 2002 winter games in Salt Lake City. I needed to come in first for a place on the U.S. team, and I was number one with just one more guy to go after me. J.J. Thomas beat me by three-tenths of a point. I wasn't totally devastated, but really disappointed. It was like I'd gotten permission to join the field trip but couldn't go. I had to have that setback, though, in order to go forward and become who I am. And in 2006, I made it to Torino.

On my first qualifying run in the half pipe-you get two-I fell. I didn't think it was that bad, but then I saw the look on my brother Jesse's face. I was almost disqualified. I thought, Oh, God. But I did better on my second run and made it to the finals.

See

There are several benefits of youth sports.When I first talked to my son about playing basketball in the winter league, he wasn't too sure about it because he told me he was bad at basketball when they played in gym. We didn't discuss it much after that until I took him to his first game one cold December morning. He continued to go to basketball every Saturday and each week he improved. Never once did he complain or say he didn't want to go. He had a good time and participated fully although many of the other boys were more advanced. As a parent, I was happy to open his eyes to his own potential.

Here are three benefits of enrolling your children in youth sports leagues:

1. Learning - Sometimes kids get caught up in being as good as their friends. They are afraid they won't be able to do things right. My son learned that although basketball isn't his strong suit, he could still get out on the court and learn. By the end of the season they kids were playing actual basketball games and not just doing drills. He learned that