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Farewell to Athens
Every Olympic Games provides us with defining moments. Some are obvious — like Cathy Freeman’s golden run in Sydney and Muhammad Ali’s lighting of the cauldron in Atlanta. Others are a matter of personal preference.
Athens was no different. In almost every sport there were memories to cherish. From the feats of Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps and Jodie Henry in the pool to unforgettable victories by Kelly Holmes and Hicham El Guerrouj on the track, every winner had a story to tell. And so did most of the losers. Losers like Jana Pittman, Wilson Kipketer and Alex Popov, who weren’t losers at all, but were winners without gold medals.
For the Greeks, these Games were a triumph. Not because they were the best ever, but because in the main, they went without a hitch (故障). Because, despite the doubters, they opened on schedule, and because — perhaps against all odds in today’s world — for a little more than two weeks they recaptured the spirit of the ancient Olympics.
The centrepiece of these Games was the thoroughly modem stadium with its Santiago Calatrava designed roof. But while every Olympic city has a fabulous stadium, nowhere else in the world could events be held at Ancient Olympia — the home of the ancient Games — and the magnificent Panathinaiko Stadium, home of the first Games of the modem era back in 1896.
In 2004, the Olympics came home. How fitting then that in 2008, they go to what is in sporting terms at least, the new world order. Beijing, China. Medal Tally (奖牌榜)
On the medal tally, the United States reigned supreme in Athens, winning 35 gold, 39 silver and 29 bronze for a total of 103 medals.
But ominously just behind, with the Olympic baton (接力棒) having passed to Beijing for 2008, was China. The world’s most populous nation won 32 gold medals, 17 silver and 14 bronze for a total of 63.
Russia was third (27, 27, 38, 92) and Australia hung on to fourth place — the same as Sydney in 2000 — with 17 gold medals, 16 silver and 16 bronze for a total of 49 — nine shy of the record 58, won four years ago.
Japan (16), Germany (14), France (11) and Italy (10) were the only other countries with gold medal tallies in double figures.
The hosts finished in 15th place on the medal ladder with six gold medals, six silver and four bronze, a total of 16 medals.
From an Australian perspective the Athens Games were astonishing — the nation’s most successful Games ever, our 17 gold medals bettering by one the number won on home soil in Sydney four years ago.
In addition, there were some famous victories, perhaps none more so than Thorpe’s in swimming’s "race of the century", the 200 metres freestyle. Not only was it a magnificent performance in the hottest of hot fields, but it also made Thorpe Australia’s most successful Olympian. Ever. And he’s only 2 t. Also magnificent was world champion 400 metres hurdler (跨栏运动员) Pittman. Less than three weeks after knee surgery most of us would still be on crutches (拐杖). But Pittman was launching a bid for Olympic gold. She ultimately fell short, finishing fifth, but this was no loss — Pittman showed beyond doubt that she is a winner.
However, not all the Greek memories will be rosy. Despite Australia’s unprecedented success, one story threatened to overshadow all others during these Games — the "no row" affair. Sally Robbins was an unknown before the Games began. But when she stopped rowing with the finish line in sight in the final of the women’s eight, she became a household name. It didn’t cost the team a medal — they were out of contention anyway — but the reaction to the affair polarized (使……两极分化) opinion back home. Robbins’ team mates turned on her with a stinging attack. In at least some quarters, public sympathy was with the WA 23-year-old. Others accused her of being a quitter, and "un-Australian". After a behind-closed-doors-tongue-lashing by Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates, the team emerged united, but there were plenty of commentators who saw this as simply papering over some pretty obvious cracks.
Outside the Australian scene, the Athens Games were remarkable for the emergence of Phelps — the US superfish. The 19-year-old’s haul of six gold medals — including four in individual events — and two bronze was an amazing effort, falling just short of Mark Spitz’s record seven golds, won in 1972. To put that in context, Phelps has won more Olympic gold medals than Thorpe. Epoch-making
But perhaps the two epoch-making developments to come out of the 2004 Games are more esoteric (不为人知的). Through the prism (棱镜) of history, the Athens Olympics may come to be seen as the Games at which two major trends emerged — the rise of Asian nations as Olympic powers and the time the war on drugs became serious.
By the time Beijing rolls around, China will almost certainly be the dominant Olympic nation. The Chinese have always been strong in sports like gymnastics and table tennis but in Athens they have emerged as powers in sports across the board from tennis to handball and all points in between.
Athens also marks a watershed (分水岭) in the fight against drug cheats. Sure, Ben Johnson’s disgrace in Seoul put doping on the map, but in some quarters — the U.S. in particular drug testing has been treated as a joke in the intervening years.
Not any more. The IOC has already told Greek sprint (短跑) idols Kostas Kenteris, the Sydney 200 metres champion, and Ekaterini Thanou not to bother turning up for Beijing. Both pulled out of the Greek team in the lead-up to the Games after twice failing to meet appointments with drug testers. The authorities have stripped medals from a handful of tainted (服用禁药的) winners and even pursued gold-medal winning Hungarian hammer thrower Adrian Annus across Europe on suspicion that he’d switched urine tests after his victory — a stunt (举动) which cost his friend and compatriot Robert Fazekas his discus gold.
More than twice as many drug cheats were caught here compared with Sydney. The message is clear — drugs will not be tolerated.
It’s All About the Sport
But to focus on the cheats would be to besmirch (弄污) the Games. And that would be unfair because, as always, they have given us moments not just to remember, but to cherish.
It’s impossible to list every highlight in every sport, but here’s a sprinkling.
As always, the Olympic track and field program highlighted the undeniable fact that at the highest level, sport is theatre. And in Athens, the leading man was Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj. The legendary 1,500m runner had failed in two attempts at Olympic glory, falling in Atlanta and being run down in Sydney. But in Athens he was not to be denied, shedding a tear on the podium (领奖台) after winning first his pet event, then the 500m as a bonus.
Starring opposite El Guerrouj in Athens was Britain’s Kelly Holmes. Injured by much of her career, she revived memories of Seb Coe and Steve Ovett by winning her own double — the 800m and 1,500m.
Elsewhere the U.S. continued its dominance on the track, winning all three medals in the 200m and the 400m and finishing 1, 2, 4 in the 100m.
There were two world records — Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva in the pole vault (撑杆跳) and China’s Liu Xiang equalled Colin Jackson’s mark in winning the 110m hurdles.
Greece ranked ______ on the medal ladder in 2004 Olympics.