Ecommerce Memories

About the Games (Sydney 2000)

### New Firsts

Triathlon and taekwondo were two new additions to the Olympic programme. Susanthika Jayasinghe became the first Sri Lankan woman to win a medal, claiming bronze in the 200m, whilst Birgit Fischer earned two gold medals in kayaking to become the first woman in any sport to win medals 20 years apart. Women also took part in weightlifting and the modern pentathlon for the very first time.

### Comeback Kings

There were some wonderful comebacks in Sydney, but none more so than the U.S. softball team. After losing three games in a row, they regrouped and won gold in stirring fashion by beating each of the teams they had previously lost to.

### Syndey 2000 Olympic Games Legacy

[Discover the lasting legacy](https://olympics.com/ioc/legacy/living-legacy/sydney-2000) that this edition of the Olympic Games created for its hosts.

### Memorable Champions

Ryoko Tamura had lost in the judo 48kg final in both Barcelona and Atlanta, but came back to win the gold medal in Sydney. Steven Redgrave gained sporting immortality by becoming the first rower to win gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. In the 400m freestyle, 17-year-old Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe won gold by breaking his own world record in front of a jubilant home crowd.

### Australian Unity

Cathy Freeman, the Australian athlete, had the honour of lighting the Olympic torch at the Opening Ceremony. This emotional moment helped symbolise the desire to reconcile with the Aboriginal populations of Australia. Ten days later, she won the 400m final before an ecstatic crowd.

**NOCs:** 199 (+ four individual athletes (IOA))

**Athletes:** 10,651 (4,069 women, 6,582 men)

**Events:** 300

**Volunteers:** 46,967

**Media:** 16,033 (5,298 written press, 10,735 broadcasters)

### The Rapprochement of the Two Koreas

Korea (South Korea) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) marched together under the same flag.

### Individual Athletes

Four athletes from East Timor took part under the Olympic flag as individual athletes (IOA : Individual Olympic Athletes).

### Weightlifting

The first gold medal for Colombia: Maria Isabel Urrutia, 35, Olympic champion weightlifting in the 69-75kg category.

### Taekwondo

The first medal won by Vietnam since it began competing in the Olympic Games in 1952: Hieu Ngan Tran, taekwondo, silver medallist in the women 49-57kg category.

### The EPO Detection Test

For the first time, tests to detect EPO and blood tests were performed.

### The Presence of WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), an independent body, was at the Games to monitor all the procedures followed by the International Olympic Committee.

### Ceremonies

#### Official Opening of the Games by:

Sir William Deane, Governor General of Australia

#### Lighting the Olympic Flame by:

Cathy Freeman (athletics)

#### Olympic Oath by:

Rechelle Hawkes (hockey)

#### Officials' Oath by:

Peter Kerr (water polo)

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