Who's+Who

 Over the years, millions of people have witnessed some of the most impressive athletes change the world. This page gives tribute to those to have had an impact on the world through participating in the Olympic Games. Below is a list of people and teams that have changed the course of history.

1. Jesse Owens

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Jesse Owens was an American track and field athlete that achieved international fame after being in the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. Jesse was the first American to win four Olympic gold medals in track and field. Owens was one of the first African American athletes to have success in the Olympics. His achievements showed Hitler's Germany that there was no supreme Aryan race and that every race is equal. Even with his success, Jesse Owens still faced discrimination when he returned to the United States. Jesse Owens' accomplishments were part of the first steps in getting equal rights for African Americans. =====

I got this information at http://www.geocities.com/dblimbrick/owens.html



2. Michael Phelps

With 8 gold medals in the 2008 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps broke the record for the number of gold medals won in one Olympics. Mark Spitz had the previous record with 7 gold medals at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. Since his olympic career started at the age of fifteen at Sydney in 2000, Phelps has participated in 18 swimming events and received a total of 16 medals. 14 of these 16 medals are gold medals. That is the second most number of medals in an Olympian's career. Larissa Latynina received 18 career medals. 9 of the medals were gold medals. 5 of Phelps' 8 gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics were individual gold medals. That ties the record for individual gold medals. I found this information on this web page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Phelps



3. Usain Bolt

At only age 22 Usain "lightning" Bolt set three world records in the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. He participated in the 100m, 200m, and 4x 100m relay races and took home the gold in all three. Bolt also set records in all three races. This is rare for olympic track athletes because many do not run the 100m and 200m due to the different conditioning and training for both races. Bolt broke the world record for the 100m race by nearly a half a second despite slowing down in celebration at the end and never running this race in earlier competitions. Taking home three gold medals is always impressive, but at his age it is even more mind-blowing. He will be 26 at the next Olympics and it is hard to imagine what he will be able to do then. Info from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usain_Bolt



4. Redeem Team In the 2004 Olympics, many were disappointed in the US Basketball Team for not getting the gold when the United States is clearly superior to all other countries in basketball. It all started there. From then on, all players on the US team had to make a commitment that they would play as a team and practice as if they were a real team. Then, in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, their hard work paid off. They beat Spain for the gold medal in Basketball, reclaiming their prize!

5. Herb Brooks

Herbert Paul "Herb" Brooks, Jr. was an American ice hockey coach. He is most known for his "Miracle on Ice" win in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Herb had to coach an amateur, collegiate team in the semi-final ice hockey game against the soviet union, the best international hockey team at the time. The American team had little to no chance of winning the gold medal. After an outstanding comeback win over the soviet union Sportscaster Al Michaels, who was calling the game, picked up on the countdown in his broadcast, and delivered his famous call: "Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" After this outstanding performance by America in the the semi-finals they went on to beat the silver medalists, Holland and take home the gold medal for the united states. Info from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice

6. Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Jackie Joyner-Kersee may be the greatest female athlete ever. When she went to college at UCLA, she had played basketball and ran track. Jackie had won 6 total career medals of any kind in the Olympics. At Los Angeles, in the 1984 Olympics, Jackie won a silver medal for the heptathlon. In 1988, she received a gold medal for the long jump and heptathlon. In the 1992 Olympics, she had won a gold medal in the heptathlon and a bronze medal in the long jump. Her last medal was won in the 1996 Olympics. She had won the bronze for the long jump in these Olympics. Jackie has made many more people appreciate women because of her accomplishments. Nobody ever thought that women could accomplish the tasks that Jackie had accomplished. This information was from: http://www.pocanticohills.org/womenenc/kersee2.html

This is a picture of Jackie Joyner-Kersee competing in the long jump during the 1988 Olympic Games, where she won gold for the long jump and for the heptathlon.

7. Carl Lewis-

Carl Lewis was a track and field star in the Olympics. He won 10 medals in all, but 9 of them were gold medals. Carl was at the top of the records for the 100 meter, 200 meter, and long jump events. Track and Field News made Carl athlete of the year in 1982, 1983, and 1984. Carl set world records in 100 meter, 4 x 100, and 4 x 200 meter relays. Since 1984, Lewis has held the record for the long jump. He had victories in the long jump 65 consecutive times in 10 years. He was named sportsman of the century by the International Olympic Committee and was named the Olympian of the century by Sports Illustrated. I found all of this info. at- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Lewis



8. Mark Spitz-

Mark Spitz was one of the greatest Olympic swimmers. He competed in the butterfly and freestyle Olympic events and is currently retired. He has won 7 gold medals at the 1972 summer Olympics, which is what he is famous for. Michael Phelps recently beat his record of 7 gold medals in one Olympics with 8 gold medals in the 2008 summer Olympics. Mark won 9 gold medals, 1 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal from 1968 to 1972. Also, he won 5 Pan American gold medals, 31 National U.S. Amateur Athletic Union wins, and 8 U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships. In total, he set 33 world records.In 1969, 1971, and 1972, Mark was named the World Swimmer of the Year. This info was found on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Spitz



9. Mary Lou Retton-

Mary Lou Retton was one of the greatest American gymnasts. In the 1984 Olympics, she won the all around gold medal. This Olympics was held in Los Angeles, California. She was the first American woman to win a gold medal in gymnastics. Mary Lou Retton won five medals in the 1984 Olympics, which was more than any other athlete in those Olympic Games. Mary Lou Retton watched many great gymnasts when she was younger and was determined to reach her full potential. Mary Lou Retton started the breakthrough for American female gymnasts. This information is from http://www.marylouretton.com/new_site_biography.htm