Four years earlier, competing for West Germany, Georg Hackl had missed out on a gold medal in the luge by just under 0.4 seconds. Having analysed his performance in detail he came to the conclusion that it had been his start that had cost him, and duly set about improving his speed at the top of the run.

Prior to the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, no American man or woman had won the all-around artistic gymnastics gold medal.

Debbie Armstrong became the USA’s first victor in the women’s giant slalom at the Olympic Winter Games since 1952 when she took the gold at Sarajevo 32 years later.

Somewhat surprisingly, up until 1984 no Canadian male competitor had ever won an individual gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games. Speed skater Gaétan Boucher broke his country’s duck at the Sarajevo Games in 1984 in spectacular style, leaving with two gold medals and a bronze.

After his gold medal-winning heroics at the 1976 Games in Innsbruck, downhill star Franz Klammer became an Austrian hero and an international sporting celebrity. Such was his status that four years later, Olympic squad coach Karl Kahr was forced to explain on national TV his decision to leave the ace performer out of his Lake Placid team.

Robin Cousins arrived at the XIII Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid as the British and European champion, and was considered the best amateur free skater in the world – a worthy and popular heir to his compatriot, the legendary John Curry.

Eric Heiden arrived at Lake Placid as a national hero and favourite to win all five men’s speed skating events. In the four years since he had appeared on the scene from nowhere as a callow 17-year-old, he had pulled off a shock World Championship victory in 1977 and successfully defended the title twice.

The USA’s decathlete Bruce Jenner aimed for Olympic gold with a focus so strong and determined that in hindsight his opponents had little chance of success.

Fearless luger Dettlef Günther became the sport’s youngest gold medallist in Olympic history when he took the men’s individual title at the 1976 Winter Games.

American figure skater Dorothy Hamill became the media darling of the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics – and was crowned queen of her sport on the ice.