Olympics 2012 - pleasures so far: let's hear it for the women

In no particular order, here have been some of my pleasures so far from the Olympics in 2012.  I know there have been others who have done everything they could --- cyclists, rowers, judo and more, whether on the podiums or not (I loved insomniac Lizzie Simmonds in the swimming) --- but these have been some of my favourite bits from watching the women Olympians.

• Gemma Gibbons in the judo - looking upwards an saying 'love you mum'

• Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins in the rowing - and good luck to them both for their PhD studies!

• Heather Stanning and Helen Glover: the first British Gold medals of 2012

• Victoria Pendleton in the cycling - proving to everyone that she could it

• Rebecca Adlington - the most successful British swimmer in 100 years

• Sophie Hosking and Katherine Copeland in the rowing - against expectations

• Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon - who really only needed to get around the 800m track, but stormed home first anyway

Well done everyone, including Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who glowed throughout her own heptathlon success in breaking the British junior record points scored.  

And beyond the British women:

• Lee Wai Sze in cycling - the biggest smile imaginable

• Missy Franklin in swimming - a storming physique for the future: the USA's female Michael Phelps

• Ruta Meilutyte in swimming - Lithuanian, training in Britain, looking so astonished by her own success

• Katie Ledecky and Ye Shiwen also in swimming - phenomenal achievements by young swimmers

• Tirunesh Dibaba in the 10,000 metres - running a brilliant race to retain her title

Congratulations to all the women from all the nations taking part in the London 2012 Olympics.  Taking part, competing: it is all part of the journey to full status in society for women.