Countdown to the Olympics - 46 days [19]

Courageous and outrageousBy Annesley Ferreira

In the past one hundred years the Olympic Games chronicled events of courageous and outrageous human drama in several publications. Some of them could easily occupy as a part of Ripley's "Believe it or not" volumes. A recount of some of the courageous and outrageous episodes are phenomenally interesting: A competitor once lost out on a gold medal because of a garbage bag, a swimmer set an Olympic record though finishing ninth, a basketball team lost by a 100-point margin in successive games, a hurdler raced to a gold clutching a Bible in hand. Here are some of those courageous and outrageous events of human drama.

Eddie Eagan of the United States was a member of the winning four-man Bobsled team at Lake Placid. To this day Eagan is the only athlete to win gold medals in both the summer and winter games. Eddie a Yale Graduate and Rhodes scholar, won the light heavy weight bout in boxing at the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games.

Emil Zatopek and wife Dana Zatopkova were born on the same day, September 19, 1922, and fittingly they won gold medals as husband and wife on the same day in 1952 Helsinki Games, with Olympic record performances. On July 24 Emil won the 5000 metres, his second gold of the games. Soon after the award ceremony, Dana rushed to Emil and asked to see his medal and borrowed it for luck in her javelin event. In her first throw the javelin sailed to record 167.7 feet. Emil feigned wounded pride, as the medal count was 2-1. To restore pride and prestige, he ran the marathon in an Olympic record time.

Roman Emperor Theodosius's place in Olympic history is so recorded: He aboslished the ancient games in 393 AD, charging that the games were riddled with corruption. Originally Olympics took the form of a local festivity, designed to provide a forum for friendly competition. As its popularity rose, athletes flocked to Olympia from all corners of the then known world. Elaborate prizes triggered widespread cheating - its Nadir occurred in the first century AD, when Roman Emperor Nero fell from his chariot during a race - only to declare himself the winner.

The 4x400 metres relay is an exceptional race where four powerful quarter metric milers thunder one full circle of the Olympic Stadium. United States usually dominates this event with remarkable success.

The event was not held between 1896 and 1906, at the 1908 London Games it was a medley relay: 100, 200, 400 and 800 run, USA winning with a time of 3:29.4, of the twenty Olympiads, United States won the relay 15 times and established a World record on 9 separate occasions. At the 1972 Munich Games the US relay team was banned for bad behaviour on the victory stand by two of its relay members in their respective events. The Olympic record is held by the United States with a time of 2:55.74 established at the 1992 Barcelona games.

To improve on this record, each lap of 400 metres must be run faster than 44 seconds. Since the first 4x400 relay run in 1908, the time has been lowered by more than 34 seconds, ten seconds shy of a record pace 400 lap.

Citius, Altius, Fortius: Johny Weismuller won the 100 and 400 metres swimming events at the 1924 Paris Olympics and was one of the stars of the games. By 1972, he would not have even obtained a place in either of men's or women's teams representing the US. In 1984, Edwin Flack, Australia, who won the 1500 metres track event in 1896, would have been lapped, not only by Sebastian Coe, Great Britian, the winner in an Olympic record time, but also by most of the other finalists.

Olympic Solidarity: In September 1973 the IOC established a programme to assist the development of NOCs. Olympic Solidarity is the development arm of the IOC and is headquartered in Lausanne. It gives support to the NOCs each year for the training of coaches, athletes and administration.

The objectives of the Olympic Solidarity are: [a] To promote the Olympic movement and its principles; [b] To increase sport technical knowledge of all sports on all continents; [c] To encourage sport participation; [d] To encourage developed NOCs to assist underdeveloped NOCs; [e] To assist the international federations in achieving common objectives.

Tens of millions of Olympic Solidairty Funds have been pumped to the Sri Lankan NOC.

The lifestyles of the profligate officials in charge of these funds should be able to shed some light as to where have all these monies gone?

[In association with C. Vijitha Fernando, Trustee, Duncan White Sports Foundation]

Little Miss Perfect Nadia

By Thushara Kumarasinghe

She was the little Miss Perfect, a phenomenon who took the gymnastics world by storm. Looking so much younger than her 14 years at the 1976 Olympics.

This diminutive darling towered over the other better known names. Never before had the sport seen such magnificence as Nadia Comaneci displayed at Montreal.

Nadia went on to be the star of the youngest-ever gymnastics brigade at the Games. She overshadowed her much talked about opponents like Olga Korbut and Ludmila Turischeva with 9.90 in the first event, the beam; followed it up with an amazing repertoire on the symmetrical bars. In fact, the computerised scoreboard, not programmed to show a perfect score (10 on 10) displayed 1.00! Nadia born on, November 12, 1961, in Gheorghe Gheorghiu - Dej (formerly Onesti) had a rare combination of infantile innocence and intelligence beyond her age. Absolutely unafraid of dangerous moves and seemingly oblivious of millions watching her. She looked unstoppable at Montreal, While she reached height of excellence, achieving 10.0 three times on separate days, she also proved that the sport was not about just repetition of routines. Her total of seven perfect scores is unprecedented in the sport's history.

In the next Games at Moscow, she failed to reproduce much of the magic and it grew evident that she had become a mortal again. When she needed 9.9 to out do the 4-foot, 10 inch. Yelena Davydova on the balance beams, she scored only 9.85 but she did win gold in the beam and floor exercises to take her Olympic medals tally to five golds, three silvers and a bronze.

Her journey to achieve the acme of perfection began when she was six, impressed by their daughter's energy, the parents decided to channelise it. In Romania, where the state then groomed sports persons she got the opportunity and the equipment. In Montreal alone, Nadia, later awarded with her country's highest honours, carved herself a place among the greats in the sport. But there are a few others like Korbut and Turischeva who need focus as well.

At 17, Olga had the world standing up and applauding, darling and innovative, she at times went in for near suicidal routines. But the numero uno Russian entry was Ludmila, who was the personification of consistency. She lacked the charm of Olga, but her achievements were much more. A worthy successor to great names like Larisa Latynina and the Czechvera Caslavska, when Ludmila bowed out at Montreal, it was with a record of four golds, three silver and two bronzes in three Olympics.

Not to forget Nelli Kim of the USSR (as it was then known) who also endured the fact of being overshadowed by Nadia at Montreal even after having recorded three perfect 10's. It is said there was a sensuality about her routines which Nadia lacked. And unlike Little Miss Perfect, she lasted.

The glamorous of them all it is believed, was Vera, who finished with seven golds and four silvers during her illustrious career. It was indeed a 'perfect week' for Nadia at Montreal where she carried all before her, but alas, she was not a stayer.

Umpiring puts game to shame

By Bernie Wijesekera

The umpiring standards in the recent triangular series and in the Test series against Pakistan and in the on-going Test series against S. Africa had much to be desired. Some of the local umpires with their dubious decisions have not only put themselves to shame but have also tarnished the country's image. A senior official of the Cricket Board, too endorsed the views. He further said that the local standards have deteriorated no doubt. Some of them were blind decisions, which caused much heartburn to the players when they were battling out to pull the game around. There's no point winning when the whole cricketing fraternity be at home and away was watching the match on the electronic media.

The same source said the umpires concerned were given a dressing down. They were told that they had to be consistent and not act in a manner thereby putting the game to shame. The main offenders apparently were the seniors. A repeat performance will see them out of the panel. The match referee's findings and his report to the ICC will see them out of the international panel.

Bad umpiring is seen only when the match is lost and the umpires are at the receiving end. But atrocious decisions could make matters worse and cannot be condoned.

This is one reason why the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Lt. Gen. Tauquir Zia said that even for a home series both umpires should be neutral.

Apparently in the past the administrators and players had a hand to this effect by making overtures on and off the field forcing umpires to make these dubious decisions. One learns by errors but not forcing them to make errors. This isn't cricket.

There was an incident in the past when the players were making gestures on the field. The umpire got carried away. In the end the visiting team management made a scathing report and he was instantly removed from the international panel. It should have been better that the players confine themselves to the game and leave the umpire alone. In the end the umpire concerned suffered.

"The players must be honest to themselves. They are the best judges to know whether the catch was clean or not. Especially for a bat-pad catch. If this is not forthcoming then the umpire should make use of the technology which is now available. Unlike in the past it's professional cricket at its best. And no longer a gentleman's game, worldwide. It's a relentless battle of attrition in the middle at times marred by ugly remarks, when the batsman is digging out too long. Our cricketers should not get carried away or emulate others. Play hard but not dirty and maintain its spirit at all times.

Rhodes Gesture

Sportsmanship is something which must come from the player himself. A good example - S. Africa's Jonty Rhodes, who made his first tour here in 1993. At present he is on tour with the S.A. team. "His sportsmanship in recalling Sanath Jayasuriya signalling to the umpire that the ball touched the ground despite the umpire ruling the batsman out off a snorter. He was greatly commended for his gesture. He not only did proud for himself by being honest, but also did proud to the country. When asked for his comments, 'Why should I cheat. The game is more important than the outcome This is not something that not only I could do, but also all sportsmen must also do. Here again I owe it to my parents who have instilled in me to be truthful in life," he added.

The first lesson is taught at home, but not at school. Jonty thanks his parents. On that tour he made an epoch-making 100 not out to stall Sri Lanka from winning at the Moratuwa Stadium, whilst batting with the tailenders.

He played a similar role at Galle with Nicky Boje scoring 61 not out but Sri Lanka won.

For Rhodes 'Truth is the greatest religion'. One has to be honest in any walk of life.

Ananda to meet St. Peter's in Under 15 semi-final

Ananda qualified to meet St. Peter's in the under 15 inter schools division 1 semi-finals defeating S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia by 4 wickets in their quarter-final encounter played at Ananda Mawatha. The Thomians batting first totalled 219 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs while Ananda helped by two good contributions 96 not out by Thilina Kumarasinghe and Thilina Dissanayake 44 reached their victory losing 6 wickets in 45.1 overs.

Return to Sports Plus Contents