Once every two years the Olympics are held, and once every two years the world is brought together to celebrate passion, competition and  hard work. No other sporting event brings the world together to figuratively join arms and to forget about differences.

These American snowboarders displayed passion, competition and  hard work better than any other athletes in these Olympic games. Let me reflect about these superb snowboarders.

Thirty-one year old, Shaun White was able to cap his career with his 3rd gold medal in the men’s snowboard halfpipe. While White’s gold medal performance was fun to watch, his reaction after sent chills down the back of many Patriots. Ensuing the final run of his Olympic career White spotted his mother, and at that point he could not hold back his emotions. White embraced his mother with tears falling down his face and the American flag wrapped around him. That is what the Olympics is all about.

Seventeen-year-old American Red Gerard took a different path to get his gold medal. On the day of his competition Gerard woke up late, lost his coat, and found himself in 11th place before his final run in the men’s slopestyle event. Although Gerard was in 11th place he was able to stay calm and navigate through the course like it was a video game. Gerard’s final run included a triple cork 1440 that would eventually secure him the gold medal. Much like Shaun White, Gerard finished the day with the American flag wrapped around him.

Fellow 17 year old, Chloe Kim also took home a gold medal in snowboarding for the USA.  The 17-year-old prodigy landed back to back 1080’s in her final run; Kim did this even though she had already been guaranteed the gold medal. Unlike Red Gerard, Kim was the favorite to take home gold in the women’s halfpipe. Kim left Vegas betters satisfied after her jaw dropping performance. With the victory Kim becomes the youngest woman to ever win a snowboarding medal.

While these  three snowboarding medals might be some of the more impressive medals, they were not the only podium appearances by Americans.   The USA placed 4th in the total medal count with 23 total medals won.

Although only 307 athletes were able to stand on a podium with a medal around them, the experience that the Olympics provides is life changing for everybody who participates in the games. Itis a shame that we have to wait every two years to see another sporting event that has the impact that the Olympics do.