What would be your most memorable Olympic moment?

The day the olympics die!

Come on it is all one big farce and showboat, no longer about 'just entering' but rather about winning and beeing rather expensive.

The money (and water) beeing spend by China for the Olympics can be much better allocated to their people and/or other nations in need.
Much more constructive than some 'olympics', what do we have European/Asian etc Championships and Worl Championships for?? Right! Same thing!

Let it BURN !

We probably miss most of the memorable moments in the US. Our TV coverage thoroughly sucks. More human interest stories about athletes than actual competition. Pisses me off every time, but I still watch.

2 words: Kerry Strugg.

Greg Louganis hitting his head on the diving board.
I still wince when I think about it.

Kieren Perkins winning the 1500 metre swim in Atlanta and Mary Lou Retton at the LA games for the gymnastics.

When I think of Greg Louganis and the notorious head hitting, I think of all the controversy regarding the 2 male US divers of that era. Bruce Kimball (won silver to Louganis gold in 84) killed a couple of teenagers while driving intoxicated shortly before the 88 trials. Then Louganis "comes out" and further reveals he had AIDS when he struck his head, bleeding on the diving board.

And the media had a lot of fun when Tonya Harding (husband's hired goon) beat the crap out of Nancy Kerrigan's knee, who went on to beat Harding in the olympics anyway. That was a pretty amazing come back.

What would be your most memorable Olympic moment?

The opening ceremony.........................

Women's Beach Volleyball always brings a tear to my eye.

The US beating the Soviets in Hockey in 1980 was a great moment for me.

Kieren Perkins winning the 1500 metre swim in Atlanta.

Must admit, this is probably mine, for shear determination, this one's hard to beat

2 words: Kerry Strugg.

Couldn't agree more. This happened when I was only 10 and I still remember vividly watching it on TV. Even if you despise America you had to somewhat respect her willingness to go for another vault with a bad ankle to help secure gold for the US.

Did you hear Bush going on about human rights and freedom and free religion?
He forgot to mention "except those we hold in Guantanamo bay"

That to me summed up the hypocritical USA.

Also, what the hell is GWB senior doing there?

But - todays opening ceremony was absolutely brilliant, well done China, knocked the USA effort into touch within two or three seconds of the start.

Col

2 words: Kerry Strugg.

5 words - never heard of him/her.

Col

I think Mark Spitz is hard to beat getting 7 golds.

Col

Did you hear Bush going on about human rights and freedom and free religion?
He forgot to mention "except those we hold in Guantanamo bay"

That to me summed up the hypocritical USA.

Also, what the hell is GWB senior doing there?

But - todays opening ceremony was absolutely brilliant, well done China, knocked the USA effort into touch within two or three seconds of the start.

Col

I notice Chairman Mao was a notable absentee from the the ceremony - it seems China has had another memory lapse of their history

Even if you despise America.

Why would anyone hate AMERICA?:confused:

My favorite - Nadia Comaneci getting the 10s in 1976.

Heroic performances and scandal capture the world's attention at the Olympics.
From the surprising gold medalists and inspirational athletes to the judging and drug controversies that taint the spirit of the Games, USA TODAY has chronicled the events.
1Retton vaults to fame

Sixteen-year-old gymnast Mary Lou Retton entered the 1984 Olympics with no major international experience. She became the first American, woman or man, to win the all-around after earning perfect 10s for the floor exercexercise and vault.
.http://images.usatoday.com/news/graphics/top25/week20/images/retton.jpg




In the 1996 women's gymnastics team competition, little-known Kerri Strug injured her left ankle on her first vault but gamely attempted a second and stuck the landing to ensure the U.S. women got their first team gold.


http://images.usatoday.com/news/graphics/top25/week20/images/strug.jpg

Howzit

For mine it was Hicham El Guerrouj' 1500 metre win in Athens 2004.
To be so dominant over the distance but somehow missing out on the Olympic title until then, weas hard to believe.

So seeing him actually do it was pretty memorable.

Eric Heiden who won all the long track speedskate events in the 1980 Lake Placid games, one record that will never be broken. :cool:

JR

yes of course - greatest/most notorious Olympic moments were

Russia beating USA at Basketball

Bob Beamon's long jump

Torvill and Dean in Sarajevo

John Walker winning the 1500 metres

Seb Coe winning the 1500 metres (twice)

The British Cycle Team 2008

The closing ceremony.

It means the TV schedules will get back to normal. Thank christ it only happens every 4 years - it'll be better if was every 10 years.

Col

The Canadian Men and Women winning Hockey gold at Salt Lake City.
The men of course were expected to win.
The Canadian women were assessed 14 minor penalties to the American's two in the final match. Canada still won. The referee in the ladies final was an American.

The Munich Massacre in 1972

In 1960, Wilma Rudolf of the US winning gold in the 100M, 200M and the 4X100 relay. She had given birth a few weeks before.

The Jamaican bob sled team in 1988

The mens field hockey final in 1976 (Australia v New Zealand), It was the first time either India or Pakistan had not won gold.

Definitely, the 1980 Winter Olympic Hockey semis and finals. But not for the sports.

My dad didn't know beans about ice hockey, but he knew how important the USA/USSR game was from a viewpoint of national pride. We watched the game together, with me explaining the few rules that mattered. Icing, two-line pass, and a couple of penalties. Then, the USA/Finland game for the finals. My dad and I spent quality time together watching those two games even though he was lost half the time. I miss him dreadfully now that he's gone, but I have moments like that to remember.

As to the "sending shivers down your spine" moment, the performance of Torvil and Dean, the pairs ice-dancing bolero that was hotter than a pistol and left the announcers babbling almost incoherently about how it was either the stupidest or most brilliant performance ever. Then they got straight 6.0 for their artistic merit and a very long standing ovation from the audience - and we had our answer.

Paula Radcliffe winning the marathon in 2012.