Greece welcomes the Flag and the Champions

Sunday, October 01. As we are always at the first hours of XXVIII Olympiade-an Olympiade in ancient times was a 4-year period wich ends with the Olympic games - the City of Athens and the whole Greece prepare for "Athens 2004". Today, at the closing ceremony of the unprecedented Olympics,  the greek delegation in Sydney took over the Flag of the Games and the countdown starts. Although the county is in mourning because of the ferry accident this week, an official function will be held on Tuesday to welcome the Flag and the Champions.

GREECE's OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS IN SYDNEY 2000 Constantinos Kenteris, Athletics, gold medal Katerina Thanou, Athletics, silver medal Mirela Tzelili, Athletics, silver medal Anastasia Kelesidou, Athletics, silver medal Stella Tsikouna, Athletics, 5th place. Constantinos Gatsioudis, Athletics, 6th place. Olga Vasdeki, Athletics, 7th place. Kaliopi Ouzouni, Athletics, 7th place. Pyros Dimas, Weighlifting, gold medal. Akakios Kachiasvilis, Weightlifting, gold medal. Michalis Mouroutsos, tae-kwo-do, gold medal Leonidas Sabanis, Weightlifting, silver medal. Victor Mitrou, Weightlifting, silver medal. Demosthenis Tambakos, Gymnastics, silver medal Ioanna Chatzioannou, Weightlifting, bronze medal. Irene Antitzili, Maria Georgatou, Hariklia Kariami, Anna Pilatou, Hariklia Pantazi, Eva Christodoulou, Rythmic Gymnastics, bronze medal. Alexandros Kardanov, Wrestling, bronze medal Constantinos Thanos, Wrestling, 4th place. Dimitrios Georgalis, Lambros Vassilopoulos, Kleanthis Barkas, Cycling, 4th place. Afrantil Xanthopoulos, Wrestling, 5th place. Dimitrios Georgalis, Cycling, 6th place. Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, Sailing, 6th place. Heidi Antikatzidi, Equestrian, 6th place. Valerios Leonidis, Weightlifting, 6th place. Christos Spyrou, Weightlifting, 7th place. Ioannis Melissanidis, Gymnastics, 7th place. Evmorfia Dona, Rhythm Gymnastics, 7th place. Panayotis Milionis, Vassilis Polymeros, Rowing, 8th place. AndreasKosmatopoulos, KonstantinosTrigonis, Sailing, 8th place.

Ethiopians dominated the Olympic Marathon, the last event of Sydney Olympics.
Sunday, October 01. Gezahgne Abera of Ethiopia won the Marathon race of the Olympic Games, followed by Kenyan Eric Wainaina and the other Ethiopian Tesfaye Tola. Excellent race for British John Brown who placed 4th, claming a medal for the most of the race. Greek runner Panayotis Charamis was 63rd. 

Marion Jones wins her third gold offering the crown of 4X400 m. to the US team
Saturday, September 30. The race of Marion Jones as third runner of the USA 4X400 m. team was the base for the American triump. USA won also both men's relayw while Bahamas' girls repeated their achievement to win the gold of women's 4X1000 m. relay. The 8th day of the Games was marked by the failure of Gabriella Szabo to win the 1.500 m. as he was third after Algerian Beninda Murah and her compatriot Violetta Szeckely. Yelena Yeleshina of Russia is the new Olympic Champion of high jump, while Ethiopians Derartu Tulu and Milon Wolde won the races of 10.000 m. and 5.000 m. 

Mirella Tzelili got silver after a fantastic competition with Trine Hattestad 

Saturday, September 30. Mirella Tzelili was in her best day on the appropriate time once again and proved ready to face with the big star of the event, the Norwegian world record holder Trine Hattestad. The Greek Champion set a personal best at 67,51 at her third event and equalled it at the last attempt. Hattestad had one attempt better than those of Tzelili, at 69, 81 m. enough to brought the gold medal. Cuban Menendez got the bronze medal

What a day!
Friday, September 29. It was the only person that has managed to put some pressure on El Guerrouj before. However, nobody believed that he could beat him in an Olympic final. Not only did he, but Noah Ngeny clocked an Olympic record, also. 3' 32" 07. is the time for the new Olympic Champion from Kenya, with El Guerrouj losing the Olympics final for the second time, after having fallen in Atlanta. He was never beaten since, until tonight in Sydney! Bernard Lagat was third, very close to the two top stars. The race was very fast, especially since there was no pace maker. At the Women's Long Jump, we had a fantastic competition with Heike Dreschler doubling her Olympic gold long jump medals. She won in 6, 99 m., leaving May second in 6, 92 m. and smashing Jones' dreams on a 5 gold triumph. Jones was third, also with 6, 92 m. On the 7th day of the Athletics action in Sydney, we also saw both the Greek teams of 4 X 100 m. to stay out of the finals. At the Men's Pole, the two Americans Hysong and Johnson made an upset, beating Tarasov. They all cleared the same height, 5, 90 m.At the 3000 m. Steeple, it was a close race. Reuben Kosgei was faster at the end, and beated Wilson Boit and Ali Ezzine. The Polish athlete Skolimowska wrote history today, being the first ever Olympic champion in Women's Hammer throw.

Superb double by Robert Korzeniowski. 
Friday, September 29. Robert Korzeniowksi, few days after the gold medal of the 20.000 m. race, made a historical double as he won also the race of 50.000 m. to become the first athlete in Olympics histoyr who won both walk races in the same Olympics. The morning events of the 7th day of the Games include also the unexpected disqualification of the British men's 4X100 team from the semifinals, the javelin American Record set by Menendez with 67, 34 and the qualification of both 4X100 Greek teams in the semifinals. Mirella Tzelili also passed the javelin throw qualification round sending the javelin at 63, 34 m. at her first attemp.

Kostas Kenteris is the new 200 m. Olympic Champion

Photo by Sportline

Thursday, September 28. He was getting better from race to race. He was running national records, he was winning his heats, beating the stars. But who could believe that in the end of it all, it would be the Greek national anthem to echo in the huge Olympic Stadium of Sydney? The most valuable gold for Greece will be brought home by its most brilliant star. The athlete, whose great capabilities were known in Greece since he was 16 years old, 9 years ago, whose luck however had turned his back to him for so many years. Coming round from injuries, health problems, having changed his event to 200 m. after many years as a 400 m. runner and seeing his own 400 m. NR taken away by a younger athlete this year, he still believed that his choice to become a sprinter was right. After his fantastic performnace in Gateshead, at the European Cup Super League this year he started to believe in an Olympic medal. He was the fastest white of the year and he knew he could get better. Now, after having run a new NR at 20" 09., after having beaten Campbell, Boldon and all the other stars, who can doubt that his choice was correct? Ladies and gentlemen, from Mitilini, Greece, introducing Kostas Kenteris, the new Olympic 200 m. Champion!

Exciting fights ia all the events of the 6th day...
Thursday, September 28. It was not only the 200 m. race that kept the interest of the Track and Field fans flamming. All the events of the day were great. Let's take a look: On the morning, the usual suspects of the Women's High Jump managed to qualify for the final of the event. Niki Bakogianni, 2nd in Atlanta, could not overcome her injuries and stayed at 1, 80 m. Amy Acuff anf Hanne Haughland were also disappointing and did not qualify. At the final of the 20 km Walk, Greek Athina Papagianni broke the NR. Wang Liping of China won in an Olympic Record. Marion Jones got her second gold (out of 5, that's her aim) at the 200 m., winning easily with a fantastic 21" 84. and followed by Pauline Davis and Suzanthika Jayasinghe. No upsets were seen at the 1500 m. semis... At the Long Jump, the competition was simply fanatstic. And the stars were two! Ivan Pedroso and home favourite Jai Taurima. The Australian jumped twice an AR but did not manage to beat the Cuban who came back at the last jump to fly at 8, 55 m. Taurima remained at 8, 49 m. and Schurenko with 8, 31 m. was third. At the Decathlon, Chris Huffins was leading the pack all the way until the 1500 m. And then Erki Nool and Roman Sebrle did it! They both had good runs, Huffins's 1500 m. was dreadful and the medals changed hands: Nool first, Sebrle second and the American third. Finally, a fantastic competition was held at Women's Shot Put. The Belarussian Korolchik won in 20, 56 m. at her last try, leaving the leader at that moment Peleshenko second and Kumbernuss, who also had thrown a great last shot, third. Popi Ouzouni was 7th in a new NR for Greece, at 18, 67 m.

Another silver for Greece

Wednesday, September 27. The fifth day of Athletics in Sydney brought Greece another Silver medal. It was Kelessidou who got it at the Discus Throw. In the meantime, Michalis Mouroutsos won a gold medal for Greece at the Tae Kwon Do! Natalya Zvereva was the Olympic Champion of the Discus and Irina Yatchenko was third, making it triumphal for Belarus. Stella Tsikouna at her last attempt managed to get the 5th position, while the third Greek Katerina Voggoli was 9th, losing the chance to be in the top 8 by Franka Dietsch.  (photo from Sportline)

Nils Schuman gets another slow race gold!
Wednesday, September 27. The race was slow as not even Bucher or Longo decided to drive it fast, so it was sure that the sprinters would profit from it. Borzakovskiy burnt his sprint too early as his usual tactics could not work this time. He started sprinting from last place with 300 m. to go. So it would be Kipketer or Schuman to get it at the end. Longo pushed Bucher out of the track, the Swiss came back but it was too late as the German was already in front. Kipketer tried, but his second defeat by the smartest of the Middle Distance runners was inevitable! At the other events, Olga Shisigina won the 100 m. Hurdles as Gail Devers abandoned -on a pulled hamstring- the semifinal and her chance of getting the olympic gold she so wanted. Angelo Taylor had a fantastic run from lane one and clocked a fabulous 47" 50. at the 400 m. Hurdles, in one of the fastest races ever, with Al Somayli a surpise in second in an Asian Record of 47" 53. and Herbert in third with a National Record. Irina Rivalova became one of the legends of the sport today, as she won gold in a brand new event for her, the 400 m. Hurdles. She ran classy in 53" 02. to beat Hemmings and Bidouane.

Costas Kenteris in the semifinals with an impressing national record at 20" 14.
Wednesday, September 27. Costas Kenteris was the third faster qualifier for the semifinals of 200 m. He broke his own national record for Greece with 20" 14. and became the 7th all time European Runner. Now Kenteris aims to a position at the start line of the final, which will be held tomorrow. Other results from the fifth day of Athletics in the Sydney 2K Olympics see Europeans Chepeda, Maffei and Pronin as well as Giannelis out of the Steeplechase final, as the Africans were at top form this morning, Nouredine Morceli clocking 4 minutes at the 1500 m. semis to finish yet another disappointing season in disgrace, Sergei Bubka unable to clear a height (it seems this was the "fall of the legends" olympic day -Masterkova also DNFed...) and the American Decathlon duo of Huffins and Pappas, leading after 4 events... Maggi and Xanthou were the best long jumpers to stay out of the final after today's qualification. Home favorite Melinda Gainsford won her heat at the 200 m. 2nd round and seems in good form for the final.

Svetlana Masterkova injured and out of the 1500 m.
Wednesday, September 27. The Olympic title defender Svetlana Masterkova was injured during the race of the qualifying round of the 1500 m. and abandoned the race. Favor-Hamilton, Szabo and Beclea had easy races, despite the bad weather. The fifth day of the games sees also the beginning of the Decathlon. Popi OUzouni qualified for the Shot Put final with a very good shot at 18, 56 m., only 3 cms from her NR and Kostas Kenteris won his 200 m. heat in an impressive way with 20" 57. at the early morning events.

Haile Gebreselassie wins the most exciting Olympic 10 km

Monday, September 25. Sonja O' Sullivan did not manage to overcome Szabo's sprint and the Romanian won the gold medal at the 5.000 m. However, Haile Gerberselassie, the master of distance events remained unbeaten and doubled his olympic gold medals, by surpassing an mazing Paul Tergat just on the finishing line. With 250 m. to go, Tergat seemed out of the race, blocked behing Korir, Gebreselassie and Mezegebu. In a brilliant show of nerve, he braked down, turned almost 90 degrees to the right and started an amazing sprint, maybe the fastest we have ever seen in a 10 km race. The others could not follow this finish, the others except for the olympic champion who followed Tergat by two meters. With 50 m. to go it seemed like Tergat was going to make it. Gebreselassie was closing the gap but with a very slow pace. And then, giving everything he had, in a last attempt to surpass his own limits, he managed to run even faster... Five meters before the finishing line he sided Tergat and then threw his body like a sprinter and won the olympic gold. The fourth day of the games included Stacey's Dragila triumph at the Pole Vault and a second medal for Australia, as Grigorieva was second at the same event. Maria Mutola was the 800 m. winner in on of the fastest races in the history of the event.

Three Greeks in the women's discus final
Monday, September 25. Anastassia Kelesidou, Stella Tsikouna and Katerina Voggoli qualified for the discus throw final after today's morning events. Nikoletta Grasu of Romania failed. Lamela, Cancar, Beckford, Sosunov out of the long jump final, where both Greeks, Kostas Koukodimos and Dimitris Serelis. also failed to pass.

Tereza Marinova and Denise Lewis are the big stars of the third day.
Sunday, September 24. As Greece rejoices for two more medals (Kakiasvili's third gold in weightlifting and Tampakos silver at the rings of gymnastics), the Track and Field athletes had to cope with difficult weather conditions in Sydney, as the rain and the wind made it hard for everyone in the stadium. Not for Tereza Marinova, however, who managed to get gold in Women's Triple Jump with her first attempt, at 15, 20 m., an exciting performance, her personal best and third best world performance ever. She was followed by Lebedeva who jumped 15 m. and Hovorova. Olga Vasdeki, despite all injury problems, managed to get seventh place. Denise Lewis won the Heptathlon competition with impressive results at the Long Jump and the Javelin. At the 400 m. finals, which are going to be held tommorow, we saw all the big stars qualifying easily. Kathy Freeman and Ana Guevara were the fastest women, and Alvin Harrison with Michael Johnson the fastest men.

Sergeij Klyugin gets gold
Sunday, September 24. Sergeij Klyugin of Russia was the High Jump winner with 2, 35 m., leaving Javoer Sotomayor 2nd with 2, 32 m. The heavy rain that suddenly started after the athletes had completed their jumps at 2, 32 m. ruined the event as it was almost impossible for any athlete to complete a jump.

Natalya Sazanovich leads Heptathlon after 5 events
Sunday, September 24. The Belarussian champion Natalya Sazanovich leads the Heptathlon competition with 2 events to go, folloewd closely by Denise Lewis. Eunice Barber had a very dissapointing Long Jump (only 5, 93 m., atlough she is a 7m. jumper) and fall at 10th place. At Men's 400 m. Hudles all the favorites proceeded to the semis. Periklis Iakovakis was 3rd in his heat, but did not manage to qualify among the 8 fastest times.

Naoko Takahashi of Japan won the gold of Marathon 
Sunday, September 24. Japanese Naoko Takahashi won the Olympic Marathon with a new olympic record at 2: 23' 14., followed by Romanian Slavuetanu - Simon and Kenyan Chepchumba. Defending Champion Fatima Roba of Ethiopia was 9th and the world record holder Tegla Loroupe was 13th. The men's events of the 3rd day started with the qualification round of 110 m. hurdles, where Dudley Dorrival of Haiti was the faster with a national record at 13" 33.

Katerina Thanou seizes silver

KATERINA THANOU Born in 1975 (February 01)  Personal best: 10" 83 (NR) - Season's best: 10" 91  2000 Olympic Games: silver medal 2000 European Indoor Champion  1999 World Championships: bronze medal  1999 World Indoor Champion  1998 European Championships: bronze medal  1997 Universiade: gold Medal  1996 European Indoor Champion  1995 Universiade: silver medal  1994 World Juniors Championships: 4th

Saturday, September 23. Katerina Thanou is the first Greek athlete of Track and Field to win a medal in the Sydney 2k Olympics. Thanou, who was 9th in Atlanta, competed in her first Olympic final and managed to remain second after Marion Jones as she did all the way till the final. At the same time, weightlifter Pyrros Dimas, won the gold medal for Greece and equalled Naim Souleimanoglou's olympic record of three consecutive wins! Marion Jones ran an impressive 10" 75. with a -0.4 headwind and Thanou was way behind at 11" 02. Tanya Lawrence of Jamaica was the surpise bronze medal winner, running 11" 18. in lane 1. In men's 100 m., Maurice Greene dominated easily the race, running 9" 87. with a -0.3 headwind. Ato Boldon was second with 9" 99. and Obadele Thompson third with 10" 04. Chambers, Drummond, Campbell and Collins followed the three medallists. The cool weather and the slight headwind did not let the athletes to achieve very good marks. 

Jan Zelezny wins 4th Olympic medal, third consecutive gold!
Saturday, September 23. What a game it was! With 6 athletes over 86 m. in the Javelin final, it would take an Olympic record to grab the gold. And it was the WR holder who did it. He threw 90, 17 m. at his third attempt and cleared the field. Steve Backley fought, but he had to restrain at second place. Makarov was third and big favorite Kostas Gatsioudis of Greece was only 6th, with a lot of stress and technical mistakes.

100 m. Semis: Jones and Greene dominate the spirints
Saturday, September 23. It was, as expected Marion Jones and Maurice Greene that easily dominated the 100 m. Semifinals. At the Women's event, Katerina Thanou was once again the second faster qualifier for the final, while the trio from Bahamas managed to qualify to the big race. At the Men's 100 m., Canada will be without a defender of Bailey's title, as Bruny Surin was also injured today. Greene and Boldon were the faster two, followed by John Drummond, while the British duo of Chambers and Campbell will mark Europe's appearance in the final. Men's Triple Jump Qualification brought three British athletes in the final! Achike, Philipps and Edwards were also the best three of all the triple jumpers... Except from Italian Donato, no other upset failures were seen in the event, although athletes like Friedek really struggled for the qualifying jump. All three Greeks, Meletoglou, Zalaggitis and Lenis were completely out of place and time, probably too excited for competing in the games... The Women's 800 m. Semis were also held with Stephanis Graf being the faster runner. Tommorow's final will see her fight againt Mutola, Benhassi, Fuchsova and Kelly Holmes. Catalyud, Langerholc and Hazel Clark were also qualified.

The second day of the Games in progress
Saturday, September 23. The events of the Heptathlon are in the schedule of the second day of the Olympic Games, while the morning timetable includes also the qualification rounds for the Hammer Throw and men's 800 m. Eunice Barber ran the 100 m. hurdles of heptathlon in 12" 97. the best time among the 25 competitors, while the defending Olympic Champion Shouaa of Syria was injured on her attempt to pass the third hurdle and left the competition. Barber was also the best in the High Jump and now leads the Heptathlon after the morning events. Yuriy Borzakovki was the faster of the 800 m. heats, running a time 1' 45" 39. while Wilson Kipketer set a 1' 45" 57. Mark Everett of USA failed, as he was just 5th at the last heat with 1' 49" 77. The Greek champion Panayotis Stroubakos was the slower of his heat with 1' 47" 96. At the Hammer throw, Alexandros Papadimitriou qialified easily for the final, but Christos Polychroniou failed to follow him. Other upsets were the failure of World Champion Kobbs of Germany, of Zsolt Nemeth, Heiz Weiss and Christophe Epalle.

Arsi Harju won the shot put with a throw at 21, 29 m. 
Friday, September 22. Arsi Harju of Finland won the Shot Put gold medal, leaving behind him the three athletes of the USA. Silver medallist is Nelson Adam with 21, 21 m., while John Godina, who replaced C.J. Hunter got the bronze, leaving his compatriot Andrew Bloom at fourth place. Marion Jones and Katerina Thanou were the best qualifiers for the semifinals of the 100 m., running at the same heat in 10" 83. and 10" 99. respectively. Meanwhile, Christine Arron not only appeared in the games, but also had no problem winning her heat and then going in the semis. Atlanta's gold medallist Donovan Bailey was injured during the race and placed last. European Indoor 60 m. vhampion, Jason Gardener won't be at the last 16 of the 100 m. as he placed 4th at his heat. Greek champion Georgios Theodoridis was unlucky, as he was 4th in his heat with 10" 29., the same time as the 3rd placer Deji Aliu and failed to continue to the semifinal. But, in this afternnon we had the unexpected failure to qualify for the men's high jump final of Charles Austin, Dragutin Topic and Tim Forsythe. Lambros Papakostas withdrew from the qualification round because of the health problems has last days.

Olga Vasdeki in the triple jump final

Friday, September 22. Sevilla's bronze medallist and European Champion of Budapest, Olga Vasdeki managed to overcome the injury problems she had during the last months and jumped a season's best at 14, 26 m. to qualify for the triple jump final. All the favorites of the event passed to the final with the only exception of Ina Lasovkaja. Tatyana Lebedeva was the best of all with a mark at 14, 91 m. Chryssoula Iakovou was 30th at 5.000 metres with 15' 46" 48. Marta Dominguez also failed to qualify for the final.

Polish Robert Korzeniowksi won the first gold of Sydney Oympics although Segura crossed the line first!
Friday, September 22. Atlanta's 50.000 m. walk Olympic Champion Robert Korzeniowski won the first gold, dominating the 20.000 m. walk in Sydney in 1: 18' 59. Bernardo Segura ïf Ìexécï was disqualified after he crossed the line in first place, because it was considered that he was running at the final stages of the race. Mexican Noe Hernandez and Russian Vladimir Andreyev shared the other two medals.

Impressing throws by Jan Zhelezny (89, 39 m. ) and Costas Gatsioudis (88, 41 m.)
Friday, September 22. The Greek javelin throw champion was impressive in the qualification round, as he threw 88, 41 m. at his first attempt, while Zhelezhny was the winer of the other group at 89, 39 m. Gatsioudis who was silver meddalist in Sevilla '99 and bronze in Athens '97 aims at an Olympic medal.The first round of women's 100 m. did not hide any surprises. Chritistie Gaines was the faster qualifier (11" 06.) while Katerina Thanou (11" 10.), Marion Jones (11" 20) had to face with strong negative wind readings. In men's event Aton Bolton was the best (10" 04.) while Maurice Greene ran a 10" 31. Georgios Theodoridis qualified for the next round.

First day qualification rounds go on
Friday, September 22. The Shot Put competition was a very hard one with 37 athletes to compete for the 12 spots of the final. All the grand favorites are in, with some very good marks, too. Only Italian Dal Soglio did not make it to the finals. Greek Vaios Tigkas was 35th. At the 400 m. the upsets were more visible. Jamie Baulch quitted his try some meters before the end. His compatriot Sean Baldock was also very slow. However, all the other stars were easy qualifiers for the quarter finals. M. Johnson ran 45" 25., but Alvin Harisson was the fastest this morning, at 44" 96. Tasos Gousis was 41st.

Easy qualification for the top 800 m. runners, except the really top ones!
Friday, September 22. Natalya Tsiganova failed to qualify to the semis of the 800 m. after a slow race that kept her out of the two automatically qualifying spots. She had to wait for the times of the others to see that she remained out. All the other favorites did not have any problems. Ludmilla Formanova had to step out of the race!

Off we go!!
Friday, September 22. Athletics, the king of the Olympics, came into the scene with the first qualification rounds. The morning events includes the final of the 20.000 men's walk as well as the qualification rounds for 100 m., 400 m., shot put and javelin throw for men, 100 m. and 800 m. for women. The Greek team is represented by Giorgos Theodoridis (100 m.), Tassos Goussis (400 m.), Vaios Tigkas (shot put), Costas Gatsioudis (javelin throw), Katerina Thanou and Voula Patoulidou (100 m.).