Visiting Rio for the Summer Olympics was ah-ma-zing. See – I’d had been planning for going for months and was super excited to go. Then, after getting nervous seeing media stories about unrest and Zika, I was leaning toward not going. I’m not easily swayed by the media, but this time I figured I’d just stay my behind in Zika-free Brooklyn.

…but then…

I was told that I’m be foolish to skip out on the freaking Olympics. So, I high tailed it to Rio and am so glad that I did. The energy in a stadium of excited onlookers watching elite level competitive is so cool. Plus, I saw both of my favorite track and field athletes front and center.

We had interesting (some good, some not so awesome) experiences at the games that didn’t get much TV footage.

HEAVY RAIN

Pulling up to the stadium, the sky opened up on us and we had no umbrellas. Despite our best attempts to sprint about half a mile from the main road to the stadium, we ended up drenched.

It was raining so hard that the games were delayed and the athletes were chillin on the sidelines as hard as we were in the stands. I couldn’t help but feel bad for the them because – here you are with your game face on, ready to walk out on the biggest stage of your athletic career and mother nature has other plans. Wouldn’t that mess with your h

EMPTY STANDS

Maybe you peeped this on TV, but I was surprised to walk into a stadium of 80,000 seats and see so many of them empty. Apparently, people were reluctant to attend (like I had been). It worked out for us because we were able to get down to the first row on the field to see everything up close.

FESTIVE OUTFITS

My basic red, white and blue get up was laughable compared to what some wore to celebrate their country pride. It was fun to see how much people go all out for country pride, which I will not be doing that while Trumpito is in offi

THE SCENE OUTSIDE THE STADIUM

I don’t know what I was expecting outside the Olympic stadium – maybe fireworks, balloons, games for attendees (???) – but there was nothing celebratory or festive happening after the games ended. I left bummed. Also, the neighborhood where the stadium was was dark and a bit deserted. It would have been cool to hang out afterward, while everyone’s energy was high.

MY FAVORITE HIGHLIGHTS

I’m a track and field fanatic and I like winners (cause that means they work hard #respect). So seeing the two most decorated male and female sprinters (my favorites, btw) was an inspiration.

My favorite male track athlete Usain Bolt being awarded the gold medal for the Men’s 100m:

Bahamian sprinter Shaunae Miller, falling across the finish line to upset Allyson Felix – my favorite female athlete – in the Women’s 400m final:

The Brazilian crowd going bonkers as Brazilian Thiago Braz de Silva win pole vaulted his way to gold while setting an Olympic record: