History-making Kayla Harrison Fields Q's On Usain Bolt, Being A Woman In A Games Where Females Won Most U.S. Medals And More

Team USA’s Kayla Harrison, the nation’s first athlete to bring home a gold medal in judo, was among a panel of U.S. Olympians who participated in a closing press conference today in London, fielding questions about everything from Usain Bolt to what it was like to be among the women winning the majority of medals for the United States. Following are some of Harrision’s responses.

What are your impressions of Jamaican sprinting star Usain Bolt?

"My impression is that he is wicked fast! … It’s amazing when one person can literally bring the entire world to look at one stage for 10 seconds. It’s amazing and he does a great job of making it entertaining."

Did you get to watch and enjoy the Olympic Games outside of competing in your own sport, did you have a chance to watch other events and what was that like?

"I got to go watch the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team take home the gold medal vs. Japan which was amazing, seriously a great, great match, one of the most exciting parts of the Games for me, and also there was a record attendance at that game, over 80 thousand people, and last night I got to watch Jordan Burroughs win a gold medal in wrestling. So for me it’s been fun to watch USA go out there and show what they are capable of."

What was it like competing against British athletes with their home crowd?

"I actually fought a British girl in the final gold round and it was it was a little nerve wracking to hear the entire crowd against you. But up until that point I felt like they were all on my side and they were cheering for me. Gemma Gibbons (British athlete who lost against Harrison in the finals and took silver in the 78 kg division) is a fierce, fierce competitor and she had a great day but at the end of the day I did just a little bit better than her, and having that crowd behind her was amazing and something that I will never forget."

What are your thoughts about the attention given in the media to appearance, hairstyle and other characteristics not typically mentioned about male athletes?

"I think our society puts a lot into women and sometimes how they look or what they wear or how they dress, and I think that being a strong female competitor is the best thing we can do in order to fight that. It doesn’t matter how we look when we win the gold medal – we just won the gold medal. It doesn’t matter what we wear – we’re part of Team USA and there are no greater colors than the American flag."

Will you be walking in the closing ceremonies?

"I am definitely going to walk in the closing ceremonies. Like I said, this has been the highlight of my life. This is my first Olympic games. I had the opportunity to walk in the opening ceremonies. I had the opportunity to take home a gold medal. And I’m going to have the opportunity to walk in the closing ceremonies with the best of the best in the entire world so I’m really looking forward to it. And my roommate and I have been practicing our Spice Girls."

What does it feel like to know that one of the biggest storylines of this Olympic Games is the success of the female athletes? And do you feel a connection to the other sports because of that?

"Absolutely, I am thrilled to see how well women have done. I’m thrilled to see how well the United States has done and it feels amazing to be a part of something that is so much bigger than myself. I definitely feel connected. To be able to say that I am a strong confident woman and Olympic Champion is amazing and I hope that we have a million little girls that are inspired right now."

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