More than 10,000 athletes are expected to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil next month. The world’s best will compete for as many gold medals as they can earn to proudly bring back to their country.

Almost every major sport and event is represented. I certainly hope everyone here in Bainbridge will tune in, at least every now and then, and watch the greatest athletes from the greatest country in the world put their life’s training to work.

Being on a four-year cycle, I always love looking back at where I was in life the last time the Olympics rolled around. In 2012, I was in Milledgeville, paying my dues at Baldwin Bowling Center before heading to my final semester at Georgia College & State University. I remember who I was with while watching certain events, where I was watching and other arbitrary little details that my brain decided to remember.

In 2008 I was at the beach with my family. I specifically remember watching the archery event while spoon-feeding my brother (who was 8 months old at the time) some Gerber’s pears. I was drinking a can of Coke that had the Olympics advertised on it and my mom was asking which Ben & Jerry’s flavor I wanted from the store. Again, it’s those arbitrary little details that for some reason stick with me during the Olympics.

My oldest, and probably most vivid, Olympics memory was when I actually attended it in 1996. My parents and I went to watch one of the soccer games.

Which one, I don’t remember, but I do recall how delicious that frozen Minute Maid lemonade was.

Who knows what weird tidbits of life will cement themselves in my brain during this year’s Olympics.

Hopefully, it’s nothing but good news and gold medals for the U.S.