Athens 2004 -- Highlights
El Guerrouj matches Nurmi
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR-athletics) became the first runner since Paavo Nurmi in 1924 to win both the 1,500m and the 5,000m. In the 1,500m, he was passed by Bernard Lagat in the homestretch, but came back to win. In the 5,000m, he came from behind to defeat 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele. In Athens, El Guerrouj was also voted a member of the International Olympic Committee.
Taylan sets world record
Nurcan Taylan (TUR-weightlifting), only 1.50m tall, won the gold medal in the 48kg women's weightlifting category by doubling her bodyweight and setting world records in both the snatch (97.5kg) and the total (210kg). She was the first Turkish woman in any sport to win an Olympic championship.
Sung-Hyun Park extends Korean streak
Sung-Hyun Park (KOR-archery) defeated her teammate Sung-Jin Lee 110-108 in the individual final to extend Korea's victory streak in the event to six in a row, as she set a 72-arrow world record of 682. She also helped Korea win the team event and set a team world record.
US swimmers break oldest world record
The US women's 4x200m swimming team of Natalie Coughlin, Carly Piper, Dana Vollmer and Kaitlin Sandeno finished the final 2 ½ seconds ahead of China. Their time of 7:53.42 broke the 17-year-old world mark, established in 1987 by the German Democratic Republic.
Argentina upsets US superstars
Argentina's men's basketball team put an end to the domination of the US professionals, defeating them 89-81 in the semifinals. The Argentineans, led by Emanuel Ginobili, lost two preliminary matches, but beat Greece 69-64 in the quarterfinals and Italy 84-69 in the final. Before 2004, Argentina had not won a team gold medal since polo was in the Olympics.
Late bloomer pleases local fans
Fani Halkia (GRE-athletics) came out of retirement to compete in the 400m hurdles in Athens at the age of 25. Although her pre-Olympic personal record was only 53.99 seconds, Halkia set an Olympic record of 52.77 in the semifinals and then won the final by more than half a second.
Cuba regains baseball title
Cuban dominance in Olympic baseball appeared to end with its loss to the US in 2000. However the Cubans rebounded in 2004. After losing a preliminary game to Japan, the Cubans regained the title by winning six straight games, including an 8-5 victory over Canada in the semifinals and a 6-2 defeat of Australia in the final.
Zijlaard-van Moorsel remounts
Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel (NED-cycling) won three gold medals and one silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In Athens she took a bad fall in the road race and looked to be finished. Instead, she came back to defend her title in the time trial and then add a bronze medal in the individual pursuit.
Birgit Fischer rewrites record book
Birgit Fischer (GER-canoeing) earned a gold medal in the K-4 500m and a silver medal in the K-2 500m. In so doing, she became the first woman in any sport to win gold medals in 6 different Olympics, the first woman to win gold 24 years apart and the first person in Olympic history to win two or more medals in five different Games.
China on the rise
In preparation for hosting the 2008 Games, China had its most successful Olympics ever, with Chinese athletes winning 63 medals including 32 gold medals. (They won 59 total and 28 gold in 2000). Their victories came in 14 sports and included first-time championships in tennis, men's athletics, wrestling and canoeing.
