He has struck political gold as the maverick mayor who has steered London smoothly through the Summer Games (so far). Boris Johnson, a member of Prime Minister David Cameron's governing Conservative Party, is becoming a favorite for any future race to replace the current leader.

Unlike Cameron, who couldn't win Britain's 2010 election outright, Johnson has twice been voted in as the capital's mayor. Yet Johnson, known for his offbeat humor — but also for occasional remarks which have upset minority groups — insists voters couldn't take him seriously.

Last week, crowds roared with laughter as he tested out a 45-meter (148-foot) high zip line in an east London park — only to become stuck halfway along, dangling in mid-air.

Johnson is self-aware enough to realize this kind of thing: "How could anybody elect a prat who gets stuck on a zip wire?"

— David Stringer - Twitter http://twitter.com/david_stringer

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EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.