Siblings attend Olympics

Published 12:01 am Saturday, August 18, 2012

 

 

For six days and five nights, Lance and Gina Davis got the chance to witness history at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Lance and Gina, Andalusia natives, traveled with their sister, Dr. Shellie Marks and her husband, Paul, to Italy, England and France on a trip, which both will never forget.

“It was a lot of fun,” Gina said about the trip as a whole.

After five nights in Rome and touring the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, among others, the group packed up and flew to London for the Olympics.

They arrived on Aug. 4 and immediately went straight to the basketball game between the United States and Lithuania. The USA won by five points.

Upon the conclusion of the game, Lance was walking with Gina, Shellie and Paul in the Olympic park and came across USA stars Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James.

“Right after that, Brazil and China played and we watched half of that,” Lance said. “We walked across the park about a mile to the swimiming arena, and while there, we watched the 100-meter race and USA placed sixth out of eighth.”

Lance went on to say that they watched the 1500 meter race, which the USA placed sixth again, but the swimmer who finished first, broke a world record for China.

Soon after the first races they watched, Gina and Lance had the opportunity to watch American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won his 22nd medal at this year’s games, swim his last swimming event, the 4×100 meter relay. The Americans won gold in that event.

“That was pretty cool to watch,” Lance said.

“That was an extremely exciting event,” she said. “Michael Phelps was amazing. You’re just like all pumped up and you’re cheering.”

After Phelps won his final gold medal, the Olympics held a special ceremony for him, recognizing him as the greatest ever.

Even though Lance is known for his love of basketball, he said he saw himself really getting into the swimming events.

Additionally, both saw the women’s team swim to gold in the 4×100 before watching Phelps’ historical run in the water.

“That was definitely a prideful moment,” Lance said.

Three days later and with tickets in hand to the gymnastics events, Lance, Gina, Shellie and Paul were also able to see Aly Raisman get her last individual gold medal for her floor routine and bronze on the balance beam.

“She won by .001 percent,” Lance said. “There was a big difference watching them on TV then watching in person. The atmosphere was a lot louder and everything.”

Gina said it was an experience she’ll never forget.

“It was very exciting to know that you’re there and there are also other Americans there,” she said. “There are so many other countries there.

“When we were doing so well, and whenever Great Britain didn’t have an event they were competing in, they were there cheering for the USA,” she said. “It was so exciting and overwhelming to see that many people come together. It was a once in a lifetime experience.”

Lance and Gina are the son and daughter of Jerry and Maria Davis of Andalusia.