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Amazing! Did you see that race? These Olympics have been an incredible show, with dozens of shattered world records and plenty of heart-warming, inspirational comebacks and second-winds.

Despite human rights concerns about China leading to this year’s Beijing Olympics, countries have still come together, both at home and abroad, to support their national heroes and those of other nations. The teamwork, sportsmanship and class of most of the athletes should make us proud to participate.

The Olympic games also are great for unity as a community or as a family. Watching the Olympics is one of the few things my entire family can enjoy, cheering on our favorite athletes and knowing that the same event is being experienced by my entire neighborhood.

The Baltimore Raven’s football stadium ran a live feed of Michael Phelps’ race for his seventh gold metal. A stadium full of cheering Americans for an event thousands of miles away? That’s unity.

Michael Phelps’ quest to beat the world record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics has easily been the most covered event so far. If you’ve watched his progress, then you can probably agree that he deserved it.

On Aug. 17, he won his eighth gold medal in the men’s 4x100 meter medley relay, the second of his medals won on a relay team. More than just a personal record, Michael Phelps depended on his teammates, and they depended on him.

Without amazing performances by everyone swimming for the United States, Phelps’ victories would be cheapened and he would be less celebrated. Instead, his record belongs as much to his team as to him. That’s what the Olympic Games are really about.

Why is Phelps so popular? However amazing he might be, he isn’t the only big American name in Beijing. He isn’t even the only big name in swimming. The networks covering the Olympic Games like to show us a winner, but they also focus on a quality that has no doubt led to Phelps’ success: dedication.

Dedication is something all Olympic athletes share. Combine that with skill, and a winning combination is sure to result. Even that obscure swimmer in lane 8 can swim faster than all of us here. It’s the dedication, the true emotional investment, of the athletes that makes the Olympic Games so much fun to watch.

Most of these men and women have been out on the battlefield every day for the past four years, devoted to victory with a ferocious intensity.

The dedication they show is a standing testament to what we can achieve if we really apply ourselves. Their teamwork results in outstanding feats that would be unattainable alone.

Most of all, the respect and unity demonstrated at the Beijing Olympic Games should make all of us proud to call ourselves Americans. Being a good friend, volunteering in your community or just getting passing grades in school are all achievable with devoted persistence, a team-first attitude and a little togetherness and respect. Watching these 2008 Olympics we can learn a little more than just records and numbers.

Zach Levonian is a junior at Onalaska High School.