subject: The Top Ten Moments Of Sydney 2000 [print this page] Lithuania, Men's Basketball; This would have been the No. 1 moment if Sarunas Jasikevicius' shot had fallen as time expired in the semi-final game against the United States. This game was a nailbiter, and it demonstrated one of two things; The U.S. team is a lazy, self-righteous group of of His world has learned how to play. 2.#Andreea Ruducan, Romania, Gymnastics: The women's all-around champion Romanian style. Before fiie competition, however, a doctor slipped her a Sudafed-like substance * which did not enhance her performance in any way. But the substance was banrtsdy andler W6d8* was stripped. Bottom line; The drug policy needs to be reformed. Marion Jones, United States, Tracks Field; She did not win five gold medals as she set out to do, but her three gold and two bronze medals earn her a spot in our top ten. By winning the 100- and 200-meter sprints in spectacular fashion, .tones established herself as a track great for tire ages. Korea, Opening Ceremony, Sydney 2000- The best opening in the history of the games got even better when the South Korean and North Korean contingents let bygones be bygones and came together in the spirit of the games. A new flag and one name, only the Olympics can combine politics and sports in style.
United States, Baseball: For the first time in Olympic History, Cuba was beaten, and it happened twice. The United States avenged its earlier loss to the Cubans with a shutout victory in the final. Hopefully U.S. baseball coach Tommy Lasorda stays away from the "Olympic Slim Fast" marketing campaign. Misty Hyman, United States, Swimming; Until Misty Hyman's shocking Olympic upset, Susie 0' Neill had not lost a 200- meter butterfly race at a major competition since September 1994. In Australia they call the butterfly the "Susie Stroke", but it's soon to be renamed the "Hyman Hurl". Laura Wilkinson, United States, Diving: Laura Wilkinson ended China' s 16-year dominance of the Olympic women' s platform diving event. She nailed her final dive to oust the Chinese and become the only U.S. diving medallist and the first American woman to win gold in the event in 36 years. Men' s 50-Meter Freestyle: In the defining moment of the swimming competition, the best race was better than ever as U.S. swimmers Gary Hall, Jr. and Anthony Ervin tied for gold. The event capped the best swim meet ever by a country as a whole. In the end, the Aussie Air Guitar was no match for the amplified American dominance Rulon Gardner, United States, Greco-Roman Wrestling: Rulon Gardner did the unthinkable : He beat Aleksandr Karelin, who hadn' t lost in international competition in 13 years. This re-living of David vs. Goliath played out perfectly as Gardner won a 1-0 victory over the mighty Russian.
Cathy Freeman, Australia, Track and Field: After lighting the Olympic torch, Freeman went on to capture gold in the 400 meters. 110, 000 people watched in awe as the Aboriginal Australian circled the track for her victory lap, carrying both the Australian flag and the flag of her native people. This was truly the defining moment of the Sydney Olympic Games.
