Not only do I know what my three are (plus one which technically wasn’t about the competition itself but is so awesome I had to include it), they fit perfectly into my categories of what makes a moment great.
#3. Greg Louganis’ final event
Theme: The passing-of-the-crown moment
Louganis, the diver of divers, faced the toughest challenge of his life in his final contest, a 14 year old Chinese beanpole with the grace of a ballerina and the precision of a neurosurgeon. His final dive alone was one of the ten best I’ve seen in my entire life. Of course I, being a good little patriot at the time, was rooting for our man, but I knew that he’d need to pull off something truly epic to beat him. And he did. One of the most amazing sports duels ever. I hope that afterward Louganis complimented the kid and said that he had a phenomenal future ahead of him. That would’ve made this absolutely perfect.
#2. Sarah Hughes winning gold in the women’s all-around
Theme: Any given Sunday
Ten years prior, had you predicted that Michelle Kwan and another American would finish 1-3 in the all-around, you’d be accused of being on crack (which was something people said a lot back then, much like “Chuck Norris” and “arrow to the knee” today). Had you also predicted that it would’ve been the unknown American taking the gold, they might’ve gone after you with straitjackets. And yet the young, plucky Hughes, knowing that she was up against skating royalty, never flinched, turning in a stellar long program. Kwan’s gold hopes would tumble when she did, and Irina Slutskaya, who went last and should have nailed it shut, turned in the most lackluster, unimpressive, feeble routine imaginable; the commentators knew from the first moment that she was dragging it. Her complacency would end up costing her dearly, as Hughes, who stepped up when it mattered, scored an upset for the ages. Bonus points for the headline “American Beats Kwan”, which in terms of headline howlers rivals “Cloth Diapers Saved By Full Dumps”.
#1. Some Australian takes gold in short track speed skating
Theme: Crap happens…BOY, does it ever happen
I don’t remember his name. I don’t remember who his opponents were. I don’t remember what the distance was. I don’t have the slightest clue what caused that ridiculous pileup just meters from the finish. But the sight of that also-ran Aussie, who trailed badly for the entire race, casually circumventing disaster and raising his arms in triumph, every bit as shocked as the spectators as to what he just pulled…well…defining moment of the Olympics. Summer and winter, for all time. Look, I’ve railed long enough about how years of dedication, effort, and sacrifice could be undone by a bonehead ruling, venal judge, or petty technicality; isn’t it nice when Olympic chaos produces something positive for a change?
Honorable mention: Korean skater is disqualified for illegal move
Theme: Justice is (finally) served
In one of Apolo Ohno’s final short track events, a Korean skater, their best (and last chance) for gold that Olympiad cut across the ice directly in front of him. This was “cross tracking”, a disqualification offense. Now, if you’ll remember, Koreans have had something of a history of getting the benefit of slanted officiating, from a jaw-dropping boxing decision in '88 to roughly 375 favorable bad calls in the 2002 World Cup (they came within an eyelash of making it to the finals over BRAZIL, just to put it in perspective). Most of us knew exactly what was coming: Officials ignore the cross track, Korean takes gold, we point out the cross track, we get shouted down, we file official protest, Korea sticks its cronies on the board, toady journalists say we should just get over it, and nothing ever gets done ever. Well, imagine our surprise when the officials deliberated, and determined that the Korean did indeed cross track…BUUUUUUTT…but…but nothing, he’s disqualified, and Ohno takes the gold. Naturally, the Korean contingent, including the coach, railed about this, a couple of them even demanding “co-golds” (nice precedent you set there, pairs figure skating officials, but that’s a subject for another thread). The IOC’s response? “The decision stands. Quit bothering us about it.”
And if it didn’t sink in for them that the gravy train was over, it certainly has now.
There should be a name for this. The iconic sports moments all have names: The Miracle on Ice, The Play, The Catch, The Immaculate Reception, The Shot Heard 'Round The World. How about: The Correct Call. Simple and effective.