Beijing Olympic Games

Top eight world moments of 2008 Olympic Games

By Matt Santillo PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

The number eight is one held in extremely high regard in Chinese culture, with prosperity and wealth linked very closely to it.

So it was no surprise that the Beijing Olympics began on August 8 in the year of 2008 at precisely 8 p.m.

Therefore, here are the top eight moments from the spectacular fortnight of the 29th Olympiad for all nations of the world outside of the United States.

No. 8 – BEST FOR LAST: Australian comes up with dive of a lifetime with gold on line.

Reason: Here’s the situation, your are down to your last dive and it needs to be a big one if you are going to prevent China from sweeping the men’s diving competition. That was the circumstance surrounding Australia’s Matt Mitcham in the 10-meter platform final on Saturday night. Instead of shrinking under the pressure like most of us would, the 20-year-old came up with a near-perfect back two and a half somersault with two and a half twists to notch a score of 112.10 to propel himself past China’s Zhou Luxin, the leader through the first five of six rounds. The score was the highest scoring dive in Olympics history, giving Australia its first male diving gold medalist since Dick Eve in 1924.

Medal count: Gold (men’s 10-meter platform, 537.95 points).

Did you know: Despite a degree of difficulty of 3.8, Mitcham nailed down three perfect 10s on his gold-medal winning plunge.

He said it: “It’s absolutely surreal. I never thought that this would be possible. I wasn’t even sure of my medal chances at all. After I did my last dive and I saw I was in first, I thought, ‘That’s it, it’s a silver medal, I am so happy with this’ and then I won. I can’t believe it, I’m so happy.” – Mitcham.

No. 7 – DOUBLE THE PLEASURE: Ethiopia claims record doubles in long distance

Reason: Normally when long distance excellence in track and field is brought up, the first nation that comes to mind is Kenya. While that is normally true, the Beijing Olympics were dominated by a pair of Ethiopian runners in Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba, who both claimed gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Ethiopia became the first nation to have both a man and woman sweep those events in the same Olympics. A three-time gold medalist, Bekele was denied the feat in Athens, getting pipped by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in the men’s 5,000 by two-tenths of a second. The 26-year-old would not be stopped this time, setting Olympic records in both wins en route to the first men’s double in 28 years. At 23, Dibaba carried over her success from the previous two world championships in the 10,000, notching an Olympic record. She also used a late burst to also claim the 5,000, becoming the first women to complete that double.

Medal count: Bekele: Gold (men’s 5,000 meters, 12:57.82); Gold (men’s 10,000 meters, 27:01.17). Dibaba: Gold (women’s 5,000 meters, 15:41.40); Gold (women’s 10,000 meters, 29:54.66).

Did you know: Tirunesh is engaged to Ethiopian runner Sileshi Sihine, who placed second behind Bekele in the 10,000 for his second straight Olympic silver medal in that event.

He said it: “It’s very special. It’s very special for me. It’s not easy to achieve this for me, after hard work, after so much effort.” – Bekele said of his double.

No. 6 – BIG SHOT: Shooter Abhinav Bindra becomes India’s first gold medalist

Reason: With a population only rivaled by China, one would think that India has the resources to become a sporting power. However, it failed to record its first individual gold until Bindra, who captured the men’s 10-meter air rifle by edging China’s Qinan Zhu on the third day of the Olympics. The win made him an instant celebrity in his home country, and one of the most eligible bachelors at the tender age of 25.

Medal count: Gold (men’s 10-meter air rifle, 700.5 points).

Did you know: India had previously won gold in men’s field hockey in Moscow in 1980.

She said it: “This makes him an even more eligible bachelor. But I think it’s a bit too early to talk about him getting married. He should enjoy his win and when the time comes we’ll talk (about a wedding)” – Babli Bindra concerning her son’s elevated marriage prospects.

No. 5 – THE NEW ENGLISH ARMADA: Swimmer Rebecca Adlington captures two golds.

Reason: With her surprising wins in the women’s 400- and 800-meter freestyle, Adlington became the first British swimmer since 1908 to claim two golds in a single Olympiad. With both American Katie Hoff and Italian Federica Pellegrini more heavily favored, the 19-year-old stole the show, helping Great Britain recorded its highest gold medal count at an Olympics in 100 years. Adlington really made a name for herself in the 800, snapping American Janet Evans’ world record from 1989 – the second-longest standing record in the history of swimming.

Medal count: Gold (women’s 400-meter freestyle, 4:03.22); Gold (women’s 800-meter freestyle, 8:14.10).

Did you know: Rebecca will have a swimming center named in her honor in her hometown of Mansfield when it reopens from refurbishing in September of next year.

She said it: “My main target was always 2012; it wasn’t actually these Olympics. I’m only 19, this was my first Games and people tend not to win anything at their first Games.” – Adlington said of her surprising showing.

No. 4 – A LEG UP TO NATALIE: South African swimmer inspires with effort.

Reason: When she had to have lower left leg amputated following a road accident in 2001, swimmer Natalie du Toit did not figure to ever have an Olympic career. Apparently, that though never crossed her mind. After just failing to qualify for Athens in 2004, du Toit was one of the top heart-felt stories in Beijing, as the 24-year-old competed in the inaugural 10-kilometer marathon swim. She placed 16th out of a field of 24 in the open water, finishing less than a 1 1/2 minutes behind the winner. A five-time gold medalist in the Paralympics, du Toit drew a rave of compliments for her courage and true Olympic spirit.

Medal count: None, but achieved so much more.

Did you know: By carrying her nation’s flag during the opening ceremony, du Toit became the first disabled athlete to have that honor at a regular Olympiad.

She said it: “I would go as far as to award her a separate medal. I have enormous respect for what she has done and just looking at someone like her is an inspiration.” – Russian Larisa Ilchenko, winner of the women’s marathon swim, about du Toit competing in the event.

No. 3 – JAMAICAN RUN: The tiny Caribbean island dominates the sprints in track and field

Reason: Prior to Beijing, Jamaica had just three golds and 25 total medals over the previous six Olympics in the sprints (400 meters and less). Paced by Usain Bolt’s three golds, the Jamaicans hauled in 11 total medals, including a record six golds. While Bolt’s world records in the 100 and 200 meters were a grand sight, the fact that Jamaica swept the women’s 100 meters, leaving the two of the three U.S. runners to place fourth and fifth, was much more impressive. It is hard to think about, but the Jamaicans might have had a bigger showing if Veronica Campbell-Brown, the defending world champion, had been able to qualify in the 100, the women’s 400 relay team had not messed up an exchange in the final and Asafa Powell had not struggled in the men’s 100 again.

Medal count: Gold (men’s 100 meters, 9.69); Gold (men’s 200 meters, 19.30); Gold (men’s 400-meter relay, 37.10); Gold (women’s 100 meters, 10.78); Gold (women’s 200 meters, 21.74); Gold (women’s 400-meter hurdles, 52.64).

Did you know: That six of Jamaica’s 13 medalists in the sprints attended American universities, including 200 champion Campbell-Brown (Arkansas) and 400 winner Melaine Walker (Texas).

He said it: “All I can say is, ‘Yo, Jamaican sprinters (are) taking over the world,’” – Bolt.

No. 2 – GOLD RUSH FOR THE RED MENACE: The Chinese take most golds of Games

Reason: Normally a nation gets a boost with its medal count when it hosts the Olympics, but China went well past that as it continues to develop a sports program that may overcome that of the United States. To think, just 20 years ago China tied for 11th in gold medals with five in Seoul. With 51 total golds, the Chinese became the first nation beside the U.S. or any version of Russia to win the gold race since host Germany in 1936. China won all but one of the eight golds in men’s gymnastics and three of the four given away in men’s diving. This was also done with national hero Liu Xiang, the defending champion in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, crashing out in the heats with an Achilles’ tendon injury. Despite all the glory, questions of fraud, be it the age of their women gymnasts or favorable scoring, remain.

Medal count: Too many to count, and expectedly way more to come.

Did you know: China has more than 3,000 sports schools that are run by the state.

He said it: “I admit the system is good at getting medals, but it is too focused on competition.” – Bao Mingxiao, director at the Chinese Institute of Sport Science.

No. 1—INSAINE SPEED: Bolt sets world records in winning 100, 200 meters.

Reason: Bolt completely took hold of the world’s attention with his blazingly easy wins in the 100 and 200, becoming the first man to complete the sprinting double at a Games since Carl Lewis in 1984. While it may be easy to awe the majority of the world, the 22-year-old even shocked former Olympic champions like Donovan Bailey, who saw his record of 9.84 seconds in the 100 nearly crushed by two-tenths of a second if Bolt had not broke into a premature celebration. The 6-5 Bolt also figured into a third world record in the 400-meter relay, as the Jamaicans snapped the U.S.’s 16-year-old mark. That sounds like more than enough reason for him to dance a little despite what IOC president Jacques Rogge thinks.

Medal count: Gold (men’s 100 meters, 9.69); Gold (men’s 200 meters, 19.30); Gold (men’s 400-meter relay, 37.10).

Did you know: Bolt’s first sporting love is cricket, stating he “was a good fast bowler.”

He said it: “I don’t know how fast I can go. I’m not really worried about that.” – Bolt on what is ahead for the future.