Not a conventional choice maybe, but when you think about it, The Olympics really did provide some of the most memorable telly highlights of 2008. I know a lot of people moan about the number of reporters, presenters, commentators and behind-the-screens staff which the Beeb send to these types of events, but personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Related: The BBC Olympics Ident | TV Review: The Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

It was great to wake up in the morning, stick the telly on and catch up with the night’s action while eating your cornflakes. And you’d find yourself caring about sports you’ve barely heard of, of course (Greco-Roman wrestling, anyone?), and forming opinions on the finer points of the judo scoring system after watching two bouts. Or matches. Or rounds. Whatever.

The Olympics always throw up some brilliant moments, but this year was extra-special for us Brits because, well, we won stuff. Lots of stuff. And we kept winning. It was quite a strange experience actually: first we were pleasantly surprised, then slightly freaked out, then we thought it couldn’t last, then we started believing in ourselves, and finally we just expected to win everything.

Or at least, any sport which involves sitting down, as the Aussies delighted in pointing out – though that was clearly sour grapes.

Stars were created overnight. Sure, we might have known Chris Hoy and Christine Ohuruogu, but how many of us can honestly say we’d heard of Becky Adlington? Now we all know her favourite type of shoe.

Yes, there were some exceptional British performances, but for me, the highlight of the week still came from the blue ribbon event – the men’s 100m final. Who’d have thought that running 100m in under 9.7 secs could look so…. easy? Usain Bolt was out in front after a few strides and by 60m he clearly thought that his work was done (he was right), and started celebrating and slowing down. If he wasn’t so utterly brilliant you’d have called it arrogance. Instead, he instantly became the coolest guy in athletics.

Wall to wall coverage, those little packages that the BBC do so well, enthusiastic and knowledgeable comment – this year’s Beijing Olympics were what BBC Sport is all about.