Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 1985, Page 26

Description:	Miscellaneous, etc.Americans dominateLos Angeles OlympicsAlmost 8,000 of thegreatest athletes in theworld gathered in LosAngeles for the 1984Summer Olympics. Avivid opening ceremonysignaled the debut ofthe XXIII (23rd)Olympiad. For twoweeks in August,competitors of 140diverse nationalitiesstrove to win gold,silver and bronzemedals.Even with this manycountries, much of theworld was notrepresented because theU.S.S.R. and otherSoviet-block countriesboycotted theOlympics. Thesecountries claimed thatsecurity for the athleteswas lax.These reasons werequestioned by someAmericans, whospeculated that thereason for a Sovietwithdrawal from thegames was to spiteAmerica and itsathletes; the UnitedStates did notparticipate in the 1980summer Olympics,which were held inMoscow.This, coupled withthe home-courtadvantage, allowedAmerican athletes todominate Olympicevents. The mensgymnastics team wonthe first U.S. mensgymnastic gold sincethe 1932 Olympics,which were also held inLos Angeles.Greg Louganis madea big splash when he, soared away with themens springboard andplatform diving goldmedals. Tracie Ruizshowed her experiencein first year eventsynchronizedswimming to capture asolo gold, and teamedwith Candy Costie towin the duet contest.Swimming away with 9of 15 and 11 of 14Olympic golds were themens and womensswim teams,respectively. Individualstandouts were SteveLundquist, RowdyGaines, Tracy Caulkinsand Mary T. Meager.Indiana Universitycoach Bobby Knightled the nations mostaccomplished amateurbasketball players to agold medal. The teamwas composed ofnationally famousPatrick Ewing, MichaelJordan, WaymanTisdale, and I.U.s ownSteve Alford, amongothers. The U.S.womens basketballteam also dribbledaway from itsopponents for anothergold.Americas dazzling,49, 92-pound MaryLou Retton leapt,tumbled, and twistedaway with an all-around gold medal ingymnastics. Shecontended closelythroughout thecompetition withRomanias EcaterinaSzabo. Retton narrowlytriumphed by only .05points, thus becomingthe first Americanwoman to win anOlympic gold ingymnastics forAmerica.The mens andwomens track teamsdominated othercountries in their field.Winning three golds inthe 200-meters, 400-meters, and the 4 x400-meter relay wasValerie Brisco-Hooks.Blessed with the sameGod-given talent asJesse Owens, CarlLewis roared to fourOlympic gold medals.dominated events. Thejoy the athletes felt asthey received medalsoverwhelmedspectators while thetragedies madeAmericans cry.The exciting emotionthat American athletesfelt was best capturedand described inpictures. Thephotograph of thecrying Brisco-Hookstouched Americans.Grand smiles reachedacross athletes facesand then reached intoviewers hearts.Audiences worldwidewere amazed by theeffort demonstrated inthe 1984 Olympics.Runner Mary Deckersfall and swimmer JohnMoffats torn thighOlympic Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton competes with the American Olympic Gymnastics Team in Market Square Arena, Indianapolis.He won the 100-meter,200-meter, and longjump competitions. Healso anchored the 4 x100 relay to claim oneof his golds.From the fantasticopening ceremonies tothe wonderful yetmelancholy closingceremonies of the 23rdOlympiad, the giftedAmerican athletesmuscle meltedspectators feelings.Consoling defeatedathletes was almostunimaginable.Uniquesportsmanship wasshown from onecountrys athletes toanothers. Their friendlywaves, grins, and smilesuplifted the atmosphereof the games.26 Student Life
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/2193
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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