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On the topic of Atlanta, who can forget Muhammad Ali lighting the flame...
I also thought the "flame tower" looked a lot like a McDonald's french fry box:
The irony with Strug's vault is that unlike Fujimoto, Strug did NOT have to do it to win the gold medal. The US would have ended up winning even if she had not vaulted. Her vault meant that mathemitcally it became impossible for the Russians to win, but it was an extremely remote possibility they would have anyway. Of course, it was nice to seal the deal and Strug did have a personal reason to do it. The "All-Around" only take the top three of each team. Strug was behind Moceanu in points but when Moceanu messed up her vault, it gave Strug the chance to beat her out for the third spot, something Strug had lost out on in 1992. Also, if she skipped the vault, she would have been barred from the individual vault finals. Her performance has become a little mythological. She didn't need to do it for the US to win and while she was questioning doing it in between her vaults, the opportunity for personal achievement most likely influenced her a bit.
We also need to mention Phelps, who became the winningest athlete ever in a single games with 8 gold medals in 2008:
We also can't forget the first modern Olympics in 1896 in Athens. At the time the winners were each given a silver medal, diploma and olive branch while the second place finishers received a copper medal, diploma and laurel branch. The IOC has since updated the standings to reflect the current gold, silver, bronze standings. The country with the most silver (gold) medals at those first modern games...the United States. The country with the most medals overall, Greece.
The Olympic Hymn/Anthem, which we all get sick of hearing constantly was composed for the 1896 games by Greek composer Spyridon Samaras. The Greek poet Kostis Palamas provided the words:
Quote:
O Ancient immortal Spirit, pure father
Of beauty, of greatness and of truth,
Descend, reveal yourself and flash like lightning here,
within the glory of your own earth and sky.
At running and at wrestling and at throwing,
Shine in the momentum of noble contests,
And crown with the unfading branch
And make the body worthy and ironlike. (twice)
Plains, mountains and seas glow with you
Like a white-and-purple great temple,
And hurries at the temple here, your pilgrim, (twice)
O Ancient immortal Spirit, every nation. (twice)
I also always have a soft spot for the countries who send a lone athlete to compete. Like Itte Detenamo from Nauru. I can't imagine what it must have been like for him to walk into the stadium in Beijing by himself carrying his nations flag surrounded by the other massive delegations other countries send.
Two of my favorite Olympic athletes both won Gold medals in Munich. Both competed for the Soviet Union. Valeriy Borzov (sprinter) and Ludmilla Tourischeva (gymnast). Borzov was know for the style and fluidity of his running. Ludmilla was known for the serenity she radiated while competing and her killer attitude. An unusual combination which spoke to the heart she has as an athlete. Both incredible athletes and individuals. They later married.
Last edited by DewDropInn; 07-24-2012 at 09:41 AM..
There isn't a PROHIBITION on commenting about the '36 or '72 Olympics just a warning that your post won't be considered (at least by me) as demonstrating over the top history acumen unless you come up with some aspect of either that hasn't been rehashed to death.
Stockholm, 1912. Jim Thorpe, first Native American to win gold in the Olympics. 2 Gold medals for running.
1964 Tokyo Olympics, Billy Mills, 2nd Native American to win gold, first American ever to win gold for the 10,000 meter run.
Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Ivanov (Russian: Вячеслав Николаевич Иванов) (born July 30, 1938, Moscow) is known to most of the non-Russian speaking world as Vyacheslav Ivanov, was one of the most accomplished rowers of his generation. He rowed for the Soviet Union, and he won the Olympic Gold medals in the single scull at 1956 Melbourne Games, 1960 Rome Games and 1964 Tokyo Games.
I happened to meet the guy and I knew from my mother that he was some "Olympic champion" but I didn't have a clue about all that.
( He was very modest, down to earth person.)
The word scull is what the type of oars/paddles are called. Sculling is a single person using "sculls" to propel a small boat. It's basically just a form of rowing.
Anyone remember the first Woman's Marathon in 1984? You would be hard pressed to find someone who could identify the winner, but anyone who watched recalls Swiss runner Gabrielle Andersen who finished 37th....but she did finish, needing more than five minutes to complete the finishing lap inside the stadium..
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