We asked, you answered: The Olympics, Paris edition

Editors' note:  We’re nearing the halfway point of the Summer Olympics and the Games have already produced some unlikely heroes and joyful moments.

A pommel horse specialist from Worcester, Mass. The U.S. women’s rugby sevens team. An epic come-from-behind victory in the men’s triathlon. A new superstar swimmer for France, Leon Marchand, won two gold medals in two hours. Katie Ledecky astounds in the pool, again. And Simone Biles is leading a triumphant “redemption tour” of the U.S. women gymnastics team.

All of this might’ve happened in Boston, of course. But the city pulled its bid from consideration to host the Olympic games. (That’s a good thing, according to our very unscientific survey.)

Among the swirl of dramatic and difficult news at home and abroad, the Olympics have been a blessed mid-summer distraction and delight. And it doesn’t seem to matter if you’re a big sports fan or not.

Cog editor Sara Shukla, for example, has been keeping a close eye on Colin Jost’s coverage of the surfing competition in Tahiti. He’s got a staph infection (from scraping his toes across the coral)—now, an ear infection too—and has apparently visited the medical tent more frequently than any of the athletes, but he soldiers on, piña colada in hand. Hang in there, Colin!

Cog editor Kate Neale Cooper can’t get enough of Snoop Dogg’s commentary (“that man is pure joy — a real national treasure”). She also loves seeing footage of athletes’ parents, rooting for their offspring from the bleachers. Hopefully we all get to see our kids achieve their dreams, but doing it from the grandstands at the Olympics? Wow.

Cog editor Cloe Axelson is closely tracking the U.S. women’s soccer team and patiently waiting for the women’s marathon. Just like everyone else on the planet, she's in awe of Simone Biles – her skill, strength, toughness, composure. She also can’t stop watching this video, of the New Zealand women’s rugby sevens team, performing the Haka, a Maori posture dance, after winning gold.

We asked some of our readers, contributors and colleagues to tell us about their favorite Olympic memories from years past, what they’re most looking forward to this year and their thoughts on the Games being in Paris, not Boston, this summer. Here’s what they said.

— Cloe Axelson, Kate Neale Cooper and Sara Shukla 

First, the Boston Olympics that weren’t 

I fear our infrastructure is just not up to par for something on an Olympic scale. – Jeniene Matthews 

I was very disappointed! — Linda Grant 

To be honest, I’m glad Boston isn’t hosting. It can be exciting to watch the Games, but the whole set up shades towards a kind of nationalism that pits countries against one another. It's also really expensive and kind of a short-term sugar high. I’d rather see the city and state resources go towards solving problems that are more enduring: public transport, affordable housing, etc. — Steve Almond 

I've followed the Paris preparations, and it's hard for me to imagine that level of organization and sacrifice here. — Anita Diamant 

I was a columnist for the Globe back then,  and I was miserable when the Olympics bid was withdrawn, because it was such a great story — about the wielding of power from the top-down and the bottom-up, and the surprising factors that went into the bid and the choice of every location.

There were a thousand conflicts that could have been handled differently in an alternate universe, and might have led to a different outcome. I'm sidestepping the question of whether the Olympics would have been good or bad for Boston overall, but I do think it would have spurred an investment in the MBTA that might have changed life for commuters today, and the process of building an infrastructure would have been endlessly fascinating. And yes, there would have been traffic. Terrible traffic. There's always terrible traffic. — Joanna Weiss

I am eternally grateful I don't have to navigate the chaos of the MBTA during the Olympics. I do think it might have been funny to see swimming in the Boston Public Garden. — Kalyani Saxena, Associate Producer, Here & Now 

The Olympic moments that stick with us, year after year 

Watching Michael Phelps swim the fly. The combination of strength and fluidity was so beautiful. — Joanne Barker 

My greatest childhood memory of the summer Olympics was watching Mary Lou Retton score perfect 10s in 1984. She inspired me to join my junior high gymnastics team, but I never had the guts to do the vault.

With my own children, my favorite memory has nothing to do with the competition. It's a funny thing one of my kids did. When my youngest was at that stage where kids just can't stand to lose — I think he was 4 — he wouldn't just root for the USA. He'd ask which country was favored to win, but not in so many words. “Which country is the best at fencing?” he'd casually ask at dinner when we explained that's what we'd watch that evening. "China," we'd answer. Then, an hour or so later when we all settled in to watch, he'd oh-so-casually say, "Go, China!" When his older siblings made fun of him, he'd reply, "What? I really like China." He's 18 now and we still tease him about it. — Kate Neale Cooper, Editor, Cognoscenti

A non-athletic event: Queen Elizabeth "parachuting" with James Bond into the Olympic stadium for the 2012 London games. — Rich Barlow 

There are a lot. But the first that comes to mind is Kerri Strug nailing the vault on one foot (because she was injured) to bring home the gold and then being carried off by her coach. It rings a little differently now, after the sexual abuse scandal in gymnastics and Simone Biles speaking up about gymnasts having a right not to compete when they've reached their own limits. Still, the sense of pride I felt in Strug, and her indomitable spirit, stays with me.” — Tiziana Dearing, Host, Radio Boston

Molly Seidel winning the bronze medal in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics was so inspiring! I also attended the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, but I was 7 and don't really remember much except seeing beach volleyball. — Dianna Bell, Senior Editor,  Arts & Culture WBUR

I'm going with two gut answers. First is attending the 1996 games in Atlanta. My family went to the semi-finals women's soccer game, we got to see the U.S. women play China (this was during the Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy years—the same team that went onto win the World Cup in 1999). The second is watching Michael Johnson, the American sprinter, win gold in the 200m and 400m that same year. I watched that on TV—not in person. — Cloe Axelson, Senior Editor, Cognoscenti

I was studying abroad in Australia during the 2000 Olympics. I got to watch volleyball on Bondi Beach, and cheer for a track event in the stadium. My friends painted their chests to read “USA,” and we waved to the "Today Show" cameras. Even the hostel was exciting—there was always a crowd around the shared television, people cheering for their home country wherever we went. My friends and I were so intent on not missing out, we didn’t book a room for our last night, figuring we'd simply roam around Sydney until our early morning flight back up the coast. That’s one Olympic sport I would no longer recommend. — Sara Shukla, Editor, Cognoscenti

I'm in awe of the determination and, of course, of those bodies. So many types of bodies!

Anita Diamant

I remember all the big gymnastics moments because I am a big sappy gymnastics sucker. Like Mary Lou Retton's vault and Kerri Strug's vault. — Barbara Moran, Correspondent, Climate & Environment 

In 1984, the Olympic Games in Los Angeles were tremendous. I remember watching Carl Lewis break several records. Because the games were spread out around the LA Basin, my brother and I were able to sneak into El Dorado Park and watch a few of the equestrian events. It was amazing. — Jeniene Matthews

Your Olympics traditions, long-standing and new 

I watch a lot of the Olympics. I'm in awe of the determination and, of course, of those bodies. So many types of bodies! I'm eager to see Simone Biles and wish her every medal, especially having watched the 2-part documentary about her on Netflix.  Love: track and field (including shot put), diving, gymnastics and basketball.

On the other hand, a lot of the "commentaries" and all of the jingoism drive me nuts. But seeing shots of people watching Olympics around the world — in pubs, on sidewalks, as well as in homes and watch parties. We're kinda all in this together right?

No betting. No merch.

My father suffered from a spinal condition that limited his mobility. He was not a sports "fan" but he always watched the Olympics and rejoiced in what those human bodies could do. He's with me as I watch and wonder. — Anita Diamant 

When Carissa Moore won the first gold medal for women's surfing in 2020, I'd just bought my daughter a surfboard. Now, I'm delighting in describing the coral reef and the wave at Teahupo'o to my kids while we're out to dinner — they know it as "that poster in our garage"—then, coming home and showing them videos from that day, alongside updates on Colin Jost's toes. Both things are bringing me a lot of joy. — Sara Shukla, Editor, Cognoscenti

We watch a lot of swimming because in his early high school years, my husband thought he might be an Olympic hopeful. Then he stopped growing ... We also watch a lot of tennis. — Tiziana Dearing, Host, Radio Boston

My personal tradition for the Summer Olympics is fooling myself into believing that I don't care about them, and then finding myself in an absolute chokehold once they start. I'll see news and social media about the opening ceremony and I'm like, mehhh. But then I wake up a few days later, take a lazy long morning, find myself watching. And then all of a sudden, I'm a sports fan? This year, I had plans to go to a museum and brunch with some friends, and then I fully canceled those plans to stay home and watch gymnastics. No regrets. — Theresa Okokon 

This year, I had plans to go to a museum and brunch with some friends, and then I fully canceled those plans to stay home and watch gymnastics. No regrets.

Theresa Okokon

I love watching the opening ceremonies — it's emotional to see people from all over the world coming together to compete. I love checking out the various uniforms and seeing the athletes in awe of being together. — Cloe Axelson, Senior Editor, Cognoscenti

I covered the 2010 Winter Games as a journalist and it was one of the most special assignments of my career. It was incredibly challenging but so much fun. My family jokes that I caught "Olympic fever" after that assignment. I absolutely love the perseverance of the athletes, the stories within the stories of the road to the Olympics, the often breathtaking precision and strength that's on display and the absolute joy that many athletes bring to the competition. I also love the drama. My family watches as much as possible, but we're partial to the water sports like diving and surfing. I love the equestrian events, archery, and of course the gymnasts. —Tiffany Campbell, Executive Editor, Digital WBUR

The stars? This is the year of Simone Biles 

I'm there for breaking [break dancing], and while it would have been interesting to host the equestrian events in Franklin Park, I have to admit it feels fitting to watch dressage in Versailles. C'est la vie! — Joanna Weiss

Simone Biles! She's the best. I don't think breakdancing should be an Olympic sport, but I'll watch it anyway. Bring it on! We need the Olympics right now. — Barbara Moran, Correspondent, Climate & Environment 

What I love most about the Olympics is the storytelling. Will Ecuador's Angie Dajomes be able to join her sister Neisi (the first woman and 3rd ever gold medalist for my Peace Corps home-country) on the podium this year? How exactly did Flava Flav become so committed to women's water polo? And what nails and hair will Sha'Carri be dazzling us with this year as she runs so fast she could (scientifically) be doing it on water?

I love the back stories, and even more than that: I love the side stories. So, honestly, what I'm most excited about the behind-the-scenes reels on Instagram. The other night I spent at least an hour watching videos of athletes showing us their Olympic Village rooms, the dining halls, the village store — anything! I wanna know who has whose pin? Who's giving who an emergency hair cut? And more importantly: Will (everybody's favorite new hot bombshell) Ilona Maher meet anyone in the Villa? — Theresa Okokon 

I'm really excited about the return of Simone Biles. I think she was treated poorly by the public when she got the twisties in 2021, and I expect a strong comeback. Skateboarding is also great to watch. Those kids (and I say "kids" intentionally because they're so young) look like they're just there to have fun. I love how humbly and gracefully they recover from mistakes. —  Kate Neale Cooper, Editor, Cognoscenti

I love when some athlete from a smaller country does something amazing. Hokey, but true. — Steve Almond 

Breaking for sure! The Olympics are one of the few times when women's sports are just as easy to find as men's sports — so I'm excited to see and cheer for athletes of all genders. — Joanne Barker 

I'm a huge Elle Purrier St. Pierre fan! I'm so excited to cheer her on in the 1,500, as well as Nikki Hiltz and Emily Mackay. I'll also have my eyes glued to the screen for the women's marathon. I could actually keep going on and on with all of the running events. — Dianna Bell, Senior Editor,  Arts & Culture WBUR

I've become a bit of a football (soccer) fan, thanks to TV: “Ted Lasso,” of course, and more recently, “Welcome to Wrexham.” I'll be watching the women on the pitch, and rooting for team USA. — Anita Diamant 

I am fully on the Stephen Nedoroscik bandwagon. No notes. — Sara Shukla

Follow Cognoscenti on Facebook and Instagram .