The 2012 Olympic Games in London are officially in the books and there will be plenty of athletes bringing medals back home to the Pacific Northwest. Some key contributors from the area helped the United States to more total medals and gold medals than any other country at the Summer Games.
Sue Bird from the Seattle Storm was part of a women's basketball team that won their unprecedented fifth straight gold medal, something that has never been done by any country, in any event, in the history of the Olympics. For as much hype as the men's basketball team gets for being the best, no one can touch women's basketball in terms of international dominance.
In the other story of American women's international dominance, local superstar Hope Solo and Spokane native Amy LePeilbet were indispensable as the United States Women's National Team won two straight instant classics to take home the gold in women's soccer. The USWNT defeated Japan in a rematch of last year's Wold Cup final to take the top prize.
Oregon's Ashton Eaton earned the title of world's greatest athlete with his decisive gold medal win in the men's decathlon.
Jennie Reed from Kirkland won a silver medal in track cycling in the women's team pursuit, while Marti Malloy from Oak Harbor won a bronze medal at the under-57 kg judo division.
Stick with the SB Nation Seattle StoryStream for more coverage of local athletes at the 2012 Olympic Games. For more on the 2012 Olympic Games, make sure that you check out SB Nation's dedicated Olympics hub.
