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It is finally here. The 2008 Olympics at Beijing, China began last week with a spectacular opening ceremony and a huge gathering of the world’s best athletes. I have to admit that I have been hooked to the games since the Olympic torch was lit. I have been setting my DVR for the events that I can not miss. I have been impressed with their athleticism and their abilities to overcome obstacles, such as severe injuries, to make their Olympic dreams a reality.

Despite having a wrist injury, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps won eight gold medals for all of his swimming events at Beijing. With his family cheering him on from the stands, Phelps broke the world record in four of his five individual swims. The games also presented an opportunity for the athletes to surpass their own world record, as Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin proved at Beijing. The six medals she won at Beijing are the most by an American woman in any sport, breaking her record from the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

As I watched in awe, Olympic gold medalist Natsia Liukin, captured the gold medal in the all-around competition at Beijing. The young gymnast sustained ankle injury and had struggled during her training for the preparation of the 2008 Olympics. After she placed third in the Nationals in 2007, she went on to Beijing where she took home a gold medal, two silver medals and a bronze. Her medals from world championship competition has surpassed both of her parents’ medals who competed in the Olympics twenty years ago.

It is unfortunate that our society sometimes suffers from ageism, but 41-year-old swimmer Dara Torres is breaking some of the old rules. The oldest Olympic medalist in the history of the Olympics, she won three silver medals at Beijing. Holding her daughter Tessa in her arms, Torres’ words, after she completed the 4x100m free relay, sounded like a wonderful inspiration to anyone who has ever dreamt of achieving the impossible. Dreams have no age limit, she said smiling.

Dogs are great company and very loyal. They enjoy playing with you and they wait excitedly for you as soon as they hear your car turn the last corner before your house. They protect your home and guard their owners. My dog, Yoshi, who is a two-year-old Shiba, embodies these qualities and more. The Shiba Inu breed originated in Japan as a hunter for small game such as rabbit. I see this tendency when my dog goes absolutely crazy if there is a rabbit in the backyard. Luckily for the rabbit, he knows to flee the scene before Yoshi has a chance to snatch him up in his mouth! He wasn’t trained for hunting game but I think his previous generations have impacted him a little!

One of the best things about my dog is his playfulness, which is a common trait in most Shiba Inus. He will enjoy catching a ball but he doesn’t give it up too easily because he loves being chased around to see if someone will catch him. Another trait that I admire is his loyalty and affection which is only reserved to his owners and his family, as he is very indifferent to those to have not earned his respect.