There is a difference between memorable and momentous, between what inspires us and what is athletically airtight. The Olympic Games sometimes blur the line. We love the stories of overcoming and forget the pure athletic achievement often rendered by the games. These are the 20 best athletic moments of London 2012.

-- Jen Floyd Engel

Phelps is leaving the sport the way he always played—as a winner. The way the Games started for Phelps, with a loss, it looked like he would limp to the record for most ever medals with bronzes and silvers. Instead he walked away with four golds, two individual, two relays and the title of greatest Olympian of all time.

It was not simply that he won both. It was not simply he was fast. It was the apparent ease in which he did so, like he did not even have to try, and the show he put on.
 

If the team of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter had just won the relay and broken the world record, it would have been amazing. The fact that Jeter pointed with her baton at the clock (and possibly the Jamaicans) made it Bolt-ian.

 

British running legend Sebastian Coe called it the standout performance of the Games. This is not hyperbole. It took him 1 minute and 40.91 seconds to do two spins around the track. There was nothing as impressive.
 

Gabby Douglas with her infectious smile had an Olympics of her dreams, winning the individual all-around on guts and talent and helping propel the U.S. team to only their second all-around gold, the first on foreign soil.

 

They lost to Japan in the 2011 World Cup. They beat them for the gold behind Carli Lloyd and Hope Solo. And much like the 1999 team, this group forced a number of Americans to watch.

 

They have been together for so long they became like a single person, every four years winning gold medals in beach volleyball. This was their last Olympics together and Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor exited with yet another gold.
 

Swimming world records fell like rain in Beijing, in part because they were wearing supersonic suits. The suits were banned, the records have not been touched. Until Americans Dana Vollmer, Rebecca Soni (pictured) and Missy Franklin, as well as China’s Ye Shiwen assaulted them.

 

There are feel-good stories. There are moments of athletic achievement. Sometimes they merge, as was the case with the South African double amputee who advanced to the semifinals in the 400 at the Olympics, a place most believed he’d never be able to reach.
 

A victory by The Dream Team is hardly surprising, and probably expected. But LeBron throwing down a triple double — the first in Team USA history — is pretty impressive.
 

They both obliterated their competition, one further underlining her place as one of the greatest athletes going at the moment and one finally proving he belongs among the greatest by beating a longtime nemesis. It made for two great days at Wimbledon.
 

Americans Ashton Eaton (left) and Trey Hardee went 1-2 in the men’s decathlon, the first US duo to do so since 1956. What was more impressive was how dominant they were in the event that kings have said crowns the best athletes.
 

Day 2 at the track belonged to the Brits, really, with Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah lighting the place up. But Ennis’ picture had been everywhere, hopes were so high and she delivered and did so big.

 

How sweet of a two-week spin has this been for the Brit cyclist? He won the Tour de France then a gold medal and, according to the British tabloids, then went and medaled in best celebratory drinking.
 

Harrison's story is touching. Her performance was dominant. She is the first US Olympic judo champion.
 

They were there when you walked in and when you left, saying hello and goodbye and reminding everybody to smile. Few did a better job, except for maybe the British troops handling security detail.

Kim Rhode became the first American to medal in five consecutive Olympics, winning gold in skeet shooting. Even more impressive was her score of 99 out of 100 targets hit.
 

OK, it was not really her. But the feat required athletic prowess by somebody and a gigantic sense of humor — which is not usually found in royalty or octogenarians.
 

Women’s boxing became a sport and immediately won our hearts thanks to Ireland's Katie Taylor (left) and American Claressa Shields. These ladies were fierce. They were determined. They were the best.

Alistair won gold. Jonny won bronze. And their brotherly teamwork decimated the field and brought back the medals for Britain. How hard was it? They had to delay the medal ceremony because Jonny could not stand afterward.