Tara McCormick has an aura about her that is infectious, even beyond the fact that she’s a stellar 17 year-old athlete. It’s hard to imagine what the nation’s top junior track cyclist would be like, so one shouldn’t hold expectations. But she is, through and through, a bubbly, authentically convivial athlete.

Following the initial six medals the Post reported were won by Long Beach athletes at the Olympic Games as of last week, nine more were added before the closing ceremonies on Sunday, bringing Long Beach to a total of 15 Olympic medals and making the city one of the lagest medal-winning regions in the world.

Bryshon Nellum—the sprinting superstar from Long Beach whose career was interrupted by gunfire four years ago—completed his comeback odyssey last night by walking with the American flag for the US Olympic Team at the Games’ closing ceremony in London.

Maybe it is the 2012 So Cal shake and bake—earthquakes and really high heat—but this version of Notes on My Napkin has a theme, we call it “Past, Present and Future.”

Between gymnastics, swimming, rowing and cycling, athletes from Long Beach have already won six Olympic medals—and  many sports have not even completed competition.

CSULB alums Misty May-Treanor and Armando Hart forged a bond many years ago that is now paying big dividends. Hart has been instrumental in helping May-Treanor recover from a catastrophic injury, regain her championship form and make a bid for a 3rd consecutive Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball.

The popular alum has led the 49ers to four NCAA Tournament berths and two Big West Conference championships in her six years at the helm.