U.S. Wins Gold Medal in Harry Potter’s Quidditch

Michael Parada of Montvale, part of the United States Quidditch Team, scoring against the United Kingdom in the Quidditch Summer Games 2012 held in Oxford, England to coincide with the 2012 Summer Olympics Games in London.

BY ALEXIS TARRAZI

STAFF WRITER

The Olympics haven’t begun yet and the United States has already won gold — in Quidditch.

The U.S. team won the Quidditch Summer Games 2012, held July 8 and 9 in Oxford, England, to coincide with the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, which begin Friday.

“It’s a lot more intense than people would think, as it is full speed and full contact,” said Michael Parada of Montvale, who played on the U.S. Quidditch team. “No one can grasp how intense it is until they watch. Originally, I didn’t want to play because I thought it was a nerdier sport, but once I played I had to keep playing.”

Check out the full article in The Record Newspaper today.

Trampoline Helps Launch Athletes Dream of Competing for Olympics

Do you have Olympic fever? Want to know everything and anything that revolve around the world games?

Taking a unique perspective into the summer games, each reporter at The Record Newspaper covered a specific sport to give you a snap shot and to offer you places for you to try the sport yourself!

My sport: The Trampoline.

One bounce off the trampoline and the nimble gymnasts take to the air with hopes of one day competing in the Olympic Games.

“Of course we are striving to be in the Olympics,” said Samantha Marion, 13, of Franklin Lakes, who has been competing in gymnastics since she was 3. “It’s a dream.”

Check out the full article in today’s Record Newspaper here.