Participation is more important than Winning

'Participation is more important than Winning' is the main objective of olympics.

Here I like to provide few achievements about some of the most prolific olympics gold medalists.

Alexander Popov of CIS(1992) and Russia(1996) was hurt by a coconut seller. This incident happened between 1992 barcelona olympics and 1996 altanta olympics and he has won gold medal in 50m and 100m in both 1992 and 1996 olympics.

Steve Redgrave of Great Britan is the only one to win 5 gold medals in rowing in 5 consecutive olympics ie.. from 1984 to 2000 (Los Angeles, Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney).

Lance Armstrong is a gold medalist in cycling in Sydney olympics and a six time 'Tour de France' winner.

Ian Thorpe of Australia won gold medal in 400m swimming in Sydney olympics. But for Athens olympics he was not qualified because of bad performance in the qualification round held in his country conducted by their swimming association.

In Barcelona olympics Vitaly Scherbo of Russia has won 6 gold medals in gymnastics.

In mid 1990s, Sergi Bubka of Ukraine was creating world record almost every fortnight in pole vault. He won the gold medal in Seoul in 1988.

In Seoul Olympics, Steffi Graf of Germany won the gold medal in ladies tennis. In the same year she finally finished as golden grand slam winner.

Mats Beondi of United States won the 50m swimming in 1988 while Alexander Popov of Russia won the 50m swimming in 1992 and 1996 and 2000 saw Gary Hall Jr and Anthony Ervin of United States as joint winners.

Jan Zelezny, a Czech athlete, has won three gold medal consecutively in 1992, 1996 and 2000 olympics in javelin.

Shannon Lee Miller of US is the most decorated gymnastics professional ever. She has won 2 gold medals in 96 olympics.

CIS , Commonwealth of Independent State (Russia + 13 Countries that got split from former Soviet Union) won the highest number of gold medal in Barcelona olympics.

Leander Paes of India won the bronze medal in Atlanta olympics by defeating Fernando Meligeni if Brazil while Andre Agassi of US won the gold medal and Sergi Bruguera of Spain walked away with the silver.

Kerri Strug, with torn ligaments and a bad sprain, was barely able to walk. But she came up wih a heroic performance that won the US Gymnastics team its first ever Olympic gold in Atlanta 96.

Greg Louganis, a US diver, smacked his head on the springboard in the prelimiary round in the Seoul Olympics. Days later, with stitches on his head he made a dramatic comeback to defend his gold medal.

Courtesy : Sharada N, my office colleague, for last two informations.