In this series looking back at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, we have so far examined how Sydney won the Olympic Games, the Torch Relay, and last week's Opening Ceremony.
This week, I will share some newspaper front pages that captured some of the highlights of the Olympic Games, focusing on the successes of the Australian team.
September 17 2000
An early edition of The Sunday Telegraph (printed the evening before) featured Michelle Jones becoming Australia's first medallist at the 2000 Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in the women's triathlon.
The Sun Herald, in its morning edition, captures the victorious Men's Freestyle 4 x 100 metre relay team (Swimming) that defeated the United States the night before in a world record time.
The afternoon edition had a victorious Ian Thorpe on the front cover after he won the 400 metres Freestyle (Swimming) the previous evening as well.
September 19 2000
On September 18, Ian Thorpe was defeated by 0.48 seconds in the 200 metres Freestyle (Swimming) by Pieter van den Hoogenband (Netherlands). The winning time was 1 minute,45.35 seconds. The Australian captured the moment of defeat for Thorpe on its front page.
The Sydney Morning Herald captured van den Hoogenband's leap into the air as he claimed victory.
September 20 2000
September 19 saw Australia have one of its greatest days in Olympic History - three gold medals:
- Three-Day Eventing Team (Equestrian)
- Susie O'Neill in the 200 metres Freestyle (Swimming)
- Men's 4 x 200 metre Freestyle Relay (Swimming)
September 21 2000
Susie O'Neill may have won silver in her pet event (200 metres Butterfly - Swimming), but her 200 metre Freestyle Gold Medal (Swimming) proved to be the catalyst for her to retire from professional swimming.
September 24 2000
On September 23, Grant Hackett claimed Gold in the Men's 1500 metre Freestyle (Swimming), defeating two-time Gold medallist Keiren Perkins. Perkins, who won the event in 1992 and 1996, claimed Silver despite qualifying fastest.
The previous evening, Cathy Freeman won Gold in the Women's 400 metres (Athletics).
September 28 2000
Jane Saville in the Women's 20km Walk (Athletics) is disqualified metres from entering Stadium Australia. TV replays show that the viewers found out around one to two seconds before she actually did. The image is captured straight off the TV feed via Channel Seven.
On September 27, 2000, Lauren Burns won Australia's first gold medal in Taekwondo in the Women's under 49 kg class. The Australian had a page one feature, but a drugs scandal involving athletes and officials dominated much of the page. A record 18 Athletes and two coaches had been sent home after positive drug tests. It also dominated the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald in its morning (Metropolitan) edition.
September 29 2000
Jane Saville's disqualification in the Women's 20km Walk (Athletics) the previous day is captured in four frames on Page 1 of The Australian, along with her in tears.
The evening edition of The Daily Telegraph captured the disappointment of the Australian Women's 4 x 100 metre relay team (Athletics) after they were disqualified after dropping a baton.
Next week, I will conclude the series by examining the Closing Ceremony.
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