First of all, I apologise to all my non-British readers if this post is a little bit like the Olympic opening ceremony – you have to be British to complete understand it. It’s inspired by the Games athletics coverage on the BBC, and in particular by Denise Lewis.
In fact this post is entirely about Denise Lewis. She’s my new idol.
I think her contribution to the commentary has been brilliant. She knows her stuff and she’s obviously really passionate about athletics, the Olympics and just sport in general. Lacking in objectivity as it may have been, I just loved the footage of her jumping for joy along with co-presenters over Mo Farah’s gold medal win.
Lewis is articulate, gracious, and intelligent. Not to mention immaculately put together. She’s beautiful. She hasn’t had a hair out of place over the entire competition, and she has the flawlessly glowing skin of a woman whose been at the peak of physical fitness for their entire lives.
But she didn’t earn her place on that sofa, between Michael Johnson and Colin Jackson, by just being a pretty face. Before Jessica Ennis came along, Denise Lewis was the heptathlete everyone knew about.
In her career she won gold at the Sydney Olympics, 1998 European championships and two Commonwealth Games (1994 and 1998), as well as two silvers in World Champions (1997 and 1999). There was also a bronze at her first Olympics Games in Atlanta.
She still holds the both the British and Commonwealth records.
Even Lewis’ second to Jill Halfpenny in Strictly Come Dancing is impressive when you think that Halfpenny went on to dance professionally.
I just think the woman is all round fantastic. And I thought I’d share it with you all.
See Also:
We Have All The Time In The World
