Sydney 2000 collection

New firsts

Triathlon and taekwondo were two new additions to the Olympic programme. Susanthika Jayasinghe became the first Sri Lankan woman to win a medal, claiming bronze in the 200m, whilst Birgit Fischer earned two gold medals in kayaking to become the first woman in any sport to win medals 20 years apart. Women also took part in weightlifting and the modern pentathlon for the very first time.

Comeback kings

There were some wonderful comebacks in Sydney but none more so than the US softball team. After losing three games in a row, they regrouped and won gold in stirring fashion by beating each of the teams they had previously lost to.

Memorable champions

Ryoko Tamura had lost in the judo 48kg final in both Barcelona and Atlanta, but came back to win the gold medal in Sydney. Steven Redgrave gained sporting immortality by becoming the first rower to win gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. In the 400m freestyle, 17-year old Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe won gold by breaking his own world record in front of a jubilant home crowd.

Australian unity

Cathy Freeman, the Australian athlete, had the honour of lighting the Olympic torch at the Opening Ceremony. This emotional moment helped symbolise the desire to reconcile with the Aboriginal populations of Australia. Ten days later, she won the 400m final before an ecstatic crowd.

NOCs 199 (+ four individual athletes (IOA))
Athletes 10,651 (4,069 women, 6,582 men)
Events 300
Volunteers 46,967
Media 16,033 (5,298 written press, 10,735 broadcasters)

The Rapprochement of the two Koreas

Korea (South Korea) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) marched together under the same flag.

Individual Athletes

Four athletes from East Timor took part under the Olympic flag as individual athletes (IOA : individual Olympic athletes).

Weightlifting

The first gold medal for Colombia: Maria Isabel Urrutia, 35, Olympic champion weightlifting in the 69-75kg category.

Taekwondo 

The first medal won by Vietnam since it began competing in the Olympic Games in 1952: Hieu Ngan Tran, taekwondo, silver medallist in the women 49-57kg category. 

Athletics

The first Sri Lankan woman to win a medal: Susanthika Jayasinghe, bronze medallist in the 200m.

New on the Programme

Triathlon and taekwondo were two new additions to the Olympic programme.

The EPO detection test

For the first time, tests to detect EPO and blood tests were performed.

Modern pentathlon for women

Women took part in the modern pentathlon for the first time in Olympic history.

Weightlifting for women

Women took part in the weightlifting for the first time in Olympic history.

The presence of WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), an independent body, was at the Games to monitor all the procedures followed by the International Olympic Committee.

Ceremonies

Sydney, Olympic Stadium, 15 September 2000. Opening Ceremony, general view during the show "Nature".
© Getty Allsport/Adam Pretty

Official opening of the Games by: Sir William Deane, Governor General of Australia

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: Cathy Freeman (athletics)

Olympic Oath by: Rechelle Hawkes (hockey)

Official Oath by: Peter Kerr (water polo)