200m

With Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene, the men's 200m turned out to be one of the most open athletics events of the Games. It managed to throw up a surprise winner and some well-earned British success.

Ato Boldon was the pre-race favourite, while Obadele Thompson looked to have been given a huge shot of confidence by his 100m performance.

But two less heralded sprinters eclipsed them. Konstantino Kenteris came from nowhere to win gold with a powerful run of 20.09, followed by Britain's Darren Campbell who fulfilled all the promise he has show over the years by winning silver.

Britain was given further encouragement for the future by the performance of Christian Malcolm who took his excellent form in the heats into the final to finish fifth.

The women's event was all Marion Jones, especially after the only woman who could give her a decent race, Inge Miller, pulled out on the eve of the Games with an injury. This meant the others were racing for second place.

Jones duly won in 21.84, followed in by Pauline Davis-Thompson of the Bahamas and, the surprise package of the event, Sri Lankan, Susanthika Jayasinghe, who won bronze.