Charitable Gift Giving

For the last few weeks, we’ve been highlighting great Olympics souvenirs where proceeds go to support the athletes of the US Olympic Team.

For the next 10 days, we’ll highlight one new product each evening from the US Olympic Shop.

I can’t remember the last time I sat on the edge of my seat so much watching the Olympics. A few nights ago it was the men’s swimming team. Tonight, Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson were the ones responsible for me, as well as our whole country, having to catch our collective breath.

Both women did our country proud by winning the gold and silver medal in the Women’s All-Around, the first time ever that American women have placed first and second in this event. It went down to the very last event, the floor exercise. Both executed it flawlessly when they needed to.

Admittedly, after China ran away with the men’s and women’s team competition, I started to wonder if USA Gymnastics was going the way of other once-great programs like the Russian and Romanian programs. But after watching Liukin and Johnson, I’m comforted to know that Team USA is alive and well.

Here’s a picture from tonight of Liukin and Johnson on the medal stand, with Chinese Yang Yilin:

One thing I admire about all the USA Athletes is that, while governments in other countries sometimes heavily subsidize their Olympic programs and start molding athletes from the time they’re babies, largely for the purposes of propoganda, the young men and women in the US work hard solely because they’re pursuing their dream and the passion for their sport. Not to say that other athletes in other countries don’t do that, but without the shadow of a government machine, something about it just seems more authentic.

Celebrate the moment and show your support for the dream with these Team USA Gymnastic duds!

Cheer on Team USA and check back here each day to track their progress on this official medal count widget.