What is your favourite moment?

From Jesse Owens to Carl Lewis, from Fanny Blankers-Koen to Ben Johnson, from Bob Beamon to Steve Redgrave, the Olympics has hosted some of the greatest sporting moments.

What is your abiding image of the Games?

Then there are moving scenes such as Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic flame in Atlanta four years ago.

On the track there is no shortage of choice. Would it be a British moment, such as the Ovett/Coe duel in Moscow in 1980 or 100m gold from Alan Wells or Linford Christie?

What about Daley Thompson in 1984, dominating the decathlete and then whistling along to the national anthem after receiving his medal?

It may have been more than 50 years ago, but Fanny Blankers-Koen's achievements in collecting four golds in 1948 still ranks alongside the best, as do, of course, Jesse Owens immense success 12 years earlier.

In more recent times, Carl Lewis belongs among the ranks of the world's greatest ever athletes. 1984 was his heyday and it was also the year of Zola Budd, barefeet and Mary Decker.

And 1984 was also Steve Redgrave's first Olympic gold. Remember his exhaustion after winning in Atlanta?

Bob Beamon's phenomenal long jump in Mexico in 1968 was a record that stood for 22 years, 10 months and 12 days.

How do those great Olympic moments rank? Which is your favourite? Or is it Florence Griffith-Joyner or Ed Moses or Paavo Nurmi or Sergei Bubka or ...

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As a 15-year old in 1996, I went to the Olympics in Atlanta, and I saw the Opening Ceremony. Chills went up my spine when Muhammad Ali lit the cauldron. I will never forget that moment, and I will cherish that night of pageantry
Rashaad Jorden, United States

Nadia's perfection, grace and fluidity in 1976 is by far my most favourite Olympic moment. Another memorable, but not pleasant event, was the 28 minute wait at the 1980 Moscow Olympics for Nadia's beam score that would determine her All-around score.
Ana, Mexico

My best sporting moment...my brother winning the bronze medal in this year's badminton mixed event.

  Clare Archer, England ( visiting Sydney!!)

My best sporting moment...my brother winning the bronze medal in this year's badminton mixed event. Simon Archer and Jo Goode are Britain's 1st ever medallists in the sport of badminton...and although they had a chance at the gold a bronze medal is an enormous achievement in a sport dominated by China and the Far Eastern countries. The Sydney Olympics are an amazing feat of organisation ( I was also in Atlanta and these games far surpass that experience )and I can only commend all aspects of the games.
Clare Archer, England ( visiting Sydney!!)

My first memory is of the Rome Olympics when a friend of mine represented Great Britain in Gymnastics - Denise Goddard. When the team came back they were excited over a new American Boxer - Cassius Clay and I have some wonderful black and white photos of him and his two companions with their Olympic Medals taken in the Olympic Village. His medal in now at the bottom of the river - he threw it away. I have always loved these photos and I am so proud to own them.
Lana Smithen, England

There are some marvellous comments on this site. I have too many memories to mention. I urge all of the contributors: PLEASE GO TO SEE THE OLYMPICS AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE. WHATEVER IT COSTS, YOU WON'T REGRET IT.
Mark Fraser, UK

Pakistan's 8-1 thrashing of Great Britain has seen the resurgence of Pakistan hockey and has been my greatest memory, clearly remembering our bad times of late.
Shafqat Mahmood, Pakistan

Mohammed Ali in Atlanta in '96 has to be the defining moment in C20th sport. He was and still is the greatest!

  Shahid Hussain, UK

Coe, Thompson, Peters and Redgrave have all been great moments but the memory that changed me as a person was Tommy Smith and the US Black Power protest. I was a child and that was the first time I had any thoughts about what it must be like to be black. My parents taught me lessons about racism based on the protest that have stayed with me forever. Its great to see the one world spirit that reigns in Sydney and Eric the swimmer getting a cheer as big as Ian Thorpe. Maybe that's the greatest moment form these games!
Glynis Ford, England

Mohammed Ali in Atlanta in '96 has to be the defining moment in C20th sport. He was and still is the greatest!
Shahid Hussain, UK

I sweated and suffered with Daley Thompson when he won gold in the Decathlon in 1984. That flip on the pole vault mat summed up his enjoyment of the sport. He gave me two days of pleasure from his achievements - and I loved his tee shirt at the closing ceremony as well!
Amanda Hipkiss, England

I worked at the Games in Munich and remember the fun we all had - the village, the disco, meeting supreme athletes from countries I'd be hard pushed to find on the map. Mary Peters' gold, the roof on the stadium, the bright colours everywhere, even meeting Harry Carpenter! But unfortunately I also remember going to the village that dreadful morning after the attack on the Israelis. In all the euphoria of the Sydney Games, I hope the Olympic movement will not forget them.
Judy Howlett, England

It has to be the women's marathon runner who finished last in the 1984 Olympics.

  Sophia, UK

It has to be the women's marathon runner who finished last in the 1984 Olympics. I remember the ten minutes it took her to walk the 400m distance to the finishing line, her waving the paramedics who ran to help away and her collapse after the finishing line. An enduring image of perseverance. The point being participation, not just going for the gold.
Sophia, UK

Has to be the Searle brothers winning the coxed pairs in Barcelona. The commentator was convinced that they were dead and buried at the half way mark as they were so far down on the Italians; but then they started to pull back the lead and was gaining with every stroke. I can remember jumping up and down in front of the telly willing them on as time was running out. Amazing, absolutely amazing to watch.
Tracey Summerfield, UK

A young 400m hurdler from Australia named Rowan Robinson barely scraped into his semi-final at Atlanta, know one had ever heard of him so he should have just bowed out in his heat. He ran the race of his life in the semi to scrape in for fourth, and faced an anxious wait for confirmation of whether he was in the final. He scrapped into the final as the 8th qualifier, and as the Australian commentator relayed it to him he went crazy. For him to make the final was worth a lifetime of training, that is what the Olympics means to me, and should mean to all. Watching this young mans joy was the greatest sporting image I've ever seen, i truly cherish that memory. Incidentally he went all out for gold in the final by attempting to sprint the whole race as it was probably his only chance of taking medal and finished an amazing 5th.
Thomas, Australia

The heart stabbing moment when Derek Redmond's father helped him over the line to complete the 400m, despite the officials trying to stop him.

  Lucy Leadbeater, UK

I was not old enough to view Nadia Comaneci score the world's first perfect ten in the gymnastics events at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The score boards read 1, as they had not been programmed to score any higher than a 9.95. The crowd apparently went silent in shock. Y2k two decades early? This would have to be my favourite moment of the Olympic Games.
Michele Walliker, UK/Australia

The heart stabbing moment when Derek Redmond's father helped him over the line to complete the 400m, despite the officials trying to stop him.
Lucy Leadbeater, UK

When GBR scored a fantastic goal against Germany in the Hockey tournament in Seoul, prompting the classic line "Where on earth were the Germans, but quite frankly who cares?"
Duncan Gordon, Scotland

The greatest athletic performance of all time has to be Carl Lewis at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. I was fortunate to see him win 4 gold medals against the world's best.
Brian Halliday, USA

The greatest athletic performance of all time has to be Carl Lewis at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.

  Brian Halliday, USA

My favourite memory is when Nigeria won the gold medal in the football competition in Atlanta, as they weren't expected to do any good at all.
Luke Hahn, England

Definitely Al Oerter's four consecutive discus gold medal wins while breaking the Olympic record each time.
Andrew Finch, United States

When Steffi Graf won gold at the 88 Olympics on her way to the Golden Slam I had a feeling that I was watching a piece of history in the making.
Ann Downs, UK

The most vivid and moving Olympic memory for me is the Swiss female marathon runner who came last at the 1984 games in Los Angeles. The crowd went silent as she stumbled into the stadium apparently unaware of where she was and almost crawled around the track on her knees until she finished. The deafening roar from the crowd as she crossed the line and collapsed seemed to reaffirm that it is not always those who finish first who are the winners in life!
David Williamson, United Kingdom

1964, Tokyo, 10,000m. Billy Mills runs 46 seconds faster than his own personal record to win the Olympic gold. Absolutely amazing.

  Andy Beline, United States

It had to be Michael Johnson winning the 200 metres and the look on his face when he saw it was 19.32 - and that's not just because I'm American!
Andrew Santelli, United States

Kanu, Kanu, Kanu!!!! Nwankwo definitely brought joy to a country suffering from every bad thing known to mankind.
Hussein Wada, Nigeria

1964, Tokyo, 10,000m. Billy Mills runs 46 seconds faster than his own personal record to win the Olympic gold. Absolutely amazing.
Andy Beline, United States

Nothing can compare with Mary P in 1972; her gold was the spur for my own (minor) achievements. It's a sporting clip I could watch over and over and over again.
Steve Fleming, UK

The image of Redgrave and Pinsent with gold around their necks. The pair are the only reason I tune in to the Olympics and I'm not even a fan of rowing. If only the rest of Britan could follow their example.
Imran Lakhi, England

When Steffi Graf won gold at the 88 Olympics on her way to the Golden Slam I had a feeling that I was watching a piece of history in the making.

  Ann Downs, UK

I really enjoyed watching the Olympics when the American team won the gymnastics and performed at the gala, their performance was absolutely brilliant.
Angela Elcock, England

The glory of the 1996 Olympics and Haile Gebreselassie's crushing win - the man's a living legend.
Eyob, Ethiopia

It would have to be Kieren Perkins in Atlanta. After suffering an illness and being "written off" he just scrambled into the 1500m swimming final and then swam the race of his life to win.
Ron Ward, Australia

No doubt about it - the image of Seb Coe as he crossed the line with arms splayed, winner of the 1500 metres at Los Angeles in 1984. His expression was one of sweet revenge for his 800 metres defeat to Steve Ovett only days earlier.
Philip Studd, England

The glory of the 1996 Olympics and Haile Gebreselassie's crushing win - the man's a living legend.

  Eyob, Ethiopia

Ann Packer in 1964 at Tokyo! David Coleman's commentary was fantastic as usual - a great day for Britain all round!
Pete Roberts, South Africa

My favourite memory was the long jump battle between Lewis and Powell. Simply brilliant.
Key, England

My favourite Olympic moment - Lasse Viren's 5,000m and 10,000m wins in 1972 and 1976
Tom Mooney, Scotland

I was fortunate enough to be in the stadium when Linford Christie won the Olympic 100m gold medal in Barcelona. The atmosphere was electric. I have seen several other Olympics on TV and Michael Johnsons 200m victory in Atlanta was truly amazing, but to see the British flag flying high and watching Linford recieve his gold medal is my favourite Olympic moment.
Dan Davies, UK

One thing what sticks in my mind is Barry Davies commentating on the Hockey Final in 1992. When Britain scored, I think it was the third goal against Germany, he said something like "Where was the German defence, but really who cares, gold to Britain". Nice to really hear a commentator enjoying the moment as much as the supporters.
Pete, Bristol

Without doubt, my greatest moment was when Nigeria defeated Brazil in the semi-final of the soccer, in the 1996 Olympics.

  E.O Balogun, Nigeria

Michael Johnson winning the 200m in 1996 in a time of 19.32 seconds is something I will never forget. He produced the greatest sprint performance ever. That world record will stand forever. Awesome!
Oliver Mallen, UK

It has to be Carl Lewis with his haul of gold medals at the 1984 games. I think the track world will be hard pressed to be graced with an athlete so lithe, graceful and yet so fast. His technique was a work of art. The sprinters today are more powerful runners but they have sacrificed grace for speed. Pity.
Onuora Awunor, Switzerland

Without doubt, my greatest moment was when Nigeria defeated Brazil in the semi-final of the soccer, in the 1996 Olympics.
E.O Balogun, Nigeria

Seb Coe winning the 1500m in Moscow. After making a tactical error in the 800m, he was obviously disappointed. But he came back to beat Ovett at his rivals best distance. A fantastic race!
Steve Harrison, UK

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