The US are once again the undisputed kings of sprint.

In particularly in 1996 when they claimed just three medals.

1998, at Seoul, the Americans swept eight of the nine But, in Athens, they have one every medal but one in the
sprint medals. Since then, they have been struggling — men's 100m, 200m and 400m.

JUSTIN BERNARD SHAWN

GATLIN WILLIAMS (26) CRAWFORD (26)
200m 200m 200m GOLD
BRONZE SILVER 19.79sec
20.03sec 20.01sec The self-named “Cheetah
Man”, he is best known
for racing a giraffe and
zebra on TV. In April
2002, he stated he
wanted to run 18.99sec
in the 200m and 9.72sec
in the 100m.

JUSTIN GATLIN (22) JEREMY WARINER (20)

100m GOLD 9.85sec; 400m GOLD 44.00sec
In 2001, he tested positive for Proving that white men can sprint,
amphetamines and was banned for two despite his scrawny body. Models
years, but this was later halved as the himself after Michael Johnson, the
medication was for attention deficit 400m world record-holder.
disorder.
“I’m not disappointed with “We wanted to go
the bronze at all. I’m 22 1-2-3. We worked
and have two Olympic hard, fought hard and
medals, one of them gold.” came out on top. I’ve
got a lot more Olympics
to come.”

MAURICE OTIS DERRICK

GREENE (30) HARRIS (22) BREW (26)
100m 400m 400m
BRONZE SILVER BRONZE
9.87sec 44.16sec 44.42

THE SPOILER:
FRANCIS OBIKWELU (25) “I’m happy to get a medal
100m SILVER 9.86sec for them. This is the fastest
Became the first Portuguese man or woman to win an Olympic 100m race I have ever run
100m medal. He was born and raised in Nigeria but, frustrated
with the poor treatment of athletes there, moved to Portugal in my life.”
in 1994.
NOTE: The only time the US claimed nine out nine medals was in 1904.
Pho to : A L BE RT SIM(main pho to ), REUTE R, AP, A F P G ra phic s : T IEN C HUNG PING