This week in Olympic history: 26 August – 1 September: Argentina’s golden day in Athens

Welcome to This Week in Olympic Sports History, where Olympics.com remembers the most significant sports events of the past. This week, we'll cover 26 August – 1 September.

On this day – 28 August 2004: Argentina win two team golds in one day

Going into Athens 2004, Argentina had not won an Olympic gold medal in 52 years. So it was a monumental achievement when they won not just one, but two golds at the birthplace of the Games – on the same day, no less.

First up was football, Argentina’s spiritual sport where they were then two-time World Cup winners, but in Olympic football were just two-time silver medallists. La Albiceleste were after that elusive gold in Athens with their best shot in decades.

Leading the young men was the legendary Argentine defender Marcelo Bielsa, who had been at the helm of the senior team for six years before the Olympic Games.

Bielsa’s squad included icons Gabriel Heinze and Roberto Ayala as overage players, as well as future Argentine stars like Carlos Tevez. Also in the squad was a young Javier Mascherano, who recently managed Argentina at Paris 2024 as they reached the quarter-finals.

Argentina faced Paraguay in the gold medal match, which kicked off at the unusual time of 10am local time. Tevez scored the only goal of the game with an early near-post flick, his eighth of the tournament to finish top scorer and secure Argentina’s first ever Olympic football gold.

Twelve hours later, it was the turn of the men’s basketball team who were already on an all-time run.

In their opening match, Argentina’s Manu Ginobili beat the buzzer to edge out Serbia and Montenegro 83-82, before knocking out hosts Greece in the quarter-final. Their standout result was the stunning semi-final victory against the United States, the 89-81 defeat hitting them so bad that it sparked a turning point in American basketball.

The South Americans barely had time to celebrate that historic win with a further shot at destiny the next day, when they met Italy in the gold medal match. Luis Scola inspired the nation with a superb 25 points, and an astounding late 12-1 run in the fourth quarter, including two three-pointers from Alejandro Montecchia, secured gold.

Argentina were made to wait over half a century for the taste of Olympic gold, but their golden day in the Greek capital made the wait all the worthwhile.

That historic double also sparked a new era of Argentine sporting success – since Athens 2004, Argentina’s seven gold medals are more than they managed in the previous 15 Olympic Games. Twenty years on, it remains one of the greatest days in the history of Argentina’s sporting history.

Quote of the Week | Javier Mascherano, Athens 2004 Olympic champion

“We won the first Olympic gold medal in football, so it was an unforgettable day for Argentina’s sports world.”

Notable Olympic birthdays: 26 August – 1 September

• Therese Alshammar (Sweden, Swimming, six-time Olympian) born 26 August 1977
• James Harden (USA, Basketball, Olympic champion) born 26 August 1989
• Tori Bowie (USA, Athletics, Olympic champion) Born 27 August 1990
• Rosannagh MacLennan (Canada, Trampoline, two-time Olympic champion) born 28 August 1988

• Kjetil Jansrud (Norway, Alpine Skiing, Olympic champion) born 28 August 1985
• Bob Beamon (USA, Athletics, Athletics, Olympic champion) 29 August 1946
• Felix Sanchez (Dominican Republic, Athletics, two-time Olympic champion) 30 August 1977
• Tianna Bartoletta (USA, Athletics, three-time Olympic champion) born 30 August 1985
• Barbara Kendall (New Zealand, Sailing, Olympic champion) born 30 August 1967
• Edwin Moses (USA, Athletics, two-time Olympic champion) born 31 August 1955

Make sure to check back on Olympics.com next week for more sports and Olympic history.