Greatest Olympic Moment.

The most astonishing moment must be Bob Beamons long jump in Mexico. He leapt over 2 feet past the world record. I still remember that and i was only 5 at the time !

My favorite Olympic swimming race was Rowdy Gaines winning gold in the 100 free, the only individual fn he qualified for, considered past his prime, which would have been the boycotted 1980 Olympics.

My favorite experience was a winter Olympics experience. My wife and I went to one event at the Salt Lake City Olympics, the women's 4 X 5 KM Nordic ski relay (Nordic skiing is the other great sport). The Russian women were a cinch to claim the gold, so we just wanted to see some really good skiers in person. The US had no real chance but the Canadian women had done well in World's recently, so we were going to cheer for them. Then, a few minutes before the start, the announcer said that the Russians would not compete. Silence in the crowd. My wife & I both looked at each other and said DRUGS! Well, the upshot is that neither the Americans nor the Canadians did particularly well that day & it's not really important who won. What is important is what followed. The Russian women were found to have doped and finally, through the Court of Arbitration, were required to give up their medals. A Canadian skier, Becky Scott, had crossed the line 3rd in the pursuit race earlier in the Olympics. As the Russian women have slowly had to give up their medals, Becky has gotten first the Bronze Medal (on the spot), then the Silver Medal and finally (just this summer) the Gold Medal. She's the first North American ever to have done so well in a Nordic skiing event (not counting Nordic combined) and the only Olympian to have ever held all three medals for the same event! Sometimes I feel that a few dopers are sacrificed for the public to show that a sport is clean. The Russians were the best skiers there were at the time. Sometimes, there is justice and we were in the stands at the moment Justice tipped Her scales. -- Mel

Right now, I'm reading the book The Perfect Distance: Ovett & Coe, the Record Breaking Rivalry. So I'd have to pick Coe's wins in 1980 and 1984 in the 1500 (although I felt sorry that Ovett was so sick in 1984). I felt sorry for Jim Ryun in 1968 too. Altitude sucks. Swimming, I really enjoyed Misty Hyman's surprise victory over the OZs in the 200 fly in Sydney in 2000.

I have never understood how that guy qualified for the Olympics. They let that guy from Africa swim as an honor. ( I guess ) Seeing how he swam 50 meters in about 40 seconds I don't believe anyone else was prevented from advancing to the finals by his precense. Once I saw and exhausted woman finish the marathon and than almost collapse into others arms it was moving to see someone apply themselves so much,

Dave Wottle (the guy with the hat), 1972 olympic gold in the 800m, in last place at the 600m mark and won by .03 seconds. Michael Johnson world record in the 200m. May never be broken. Flo Jo at Seoul, a world record 21.34 in the 200. May never be broken. OK, swimming: Here is a great olympic moment....for the aussies. www.youtube.com/watch

Dave Wottle (the guy with the hat), 1972 olympic gold in the 800m, in last place at the 600m mark and won by .03 seconds. Flo Jo at Seoul, a world record 21.34 in the 200. May never be broken. I love your Dave Wottle pick, but FloJo? Arrrgh. I know she never tested positive, but c'mon ... That's almost like picking Ben Johnson. (Sorry, George, I know you like the guy, but ...) I

You have a point, I'm trying to ignore the drug thing. But many other suspected drug users since her performace are still several tenth's away, so it was still a great performance. Her 100 and 200 WR's are just so darn fast, it's truly amazing. My background is track and field so I'm more "desensitized" to the drug thing (sad). It seems more common there than swimming. The only time I can remember it coming up in swmming was China's womens swim team at Barcelona, they kinda looked like guys.

I can't believe no one has mentioned the 800 Free Relay in 2004. Klete Keller's final leg to clinch gold was one of the greatest races I have seen. Holding off the great Ian Thorpe was one of the gutsiest performances. He would not be beaten. I know it's recent but it was great!

Swimming Moment: When Jeff Rouse finally won gold in the 100 back. Klete Keller's 800 FR leg is a close second! Non-Swimming Moment: When Dan Jansen FINALLY won gold in speedskating!