Word: medalist
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...takes a decathlon athlete to truly appreciate what Jenner has done," summed up 1968 Decathlon Gold Medalist Bill Toomey. "It was total artistry, a beautiful composition." Citing the controlled intensity of Jenner's performance, Toomey added: "He was like a hand grenade ready to explode. And he held the pin until the Olympics. He was hungry, extremely motivated. That element was missing from a lot of American performances...
Less rewarding, according to some U.S. gold medalists, was their lot at home. Their refrain became a familiar-and unsettling-one at the Games. "America expects its athletes to wave a flag and win a medal every four years," complained Discus Champion Mac ("Wolfman") Wilkins. "But then you're supposed to take off that silly underwear and go out and make a decent living." Long-Jump Winner Arnie Robinson, whose wife Cynthia held down two jobs so that he could devote the past three years to training, warned, "There will be some big surprises in 1980, when...
...events themselves. Nadia Comaneci performing her flawless routines in a trance of innocence. Olga Korbut turning into an instant Edith Piaf. Gymnast Shun Fujimoto's kamikaze dismount with a broken knee. The victory lap after the 400-meter hurdles when Gold Medal Winner Ed Moses and Silver Medalist Mike Shine loped round the track in joyous exhaustion. Weightlifter Vasili Alexeyev looking like the Buddha meditating over 561 I=lbs. of iron...
Years from now I will no longer remember that the defending gold medalist had coasted along in second place before making his move at the beginning of the bell lap, ending the mounting suspense with a blistering finish. The controversy over blood doping will be forgotten. But that victory tour of the massive stadium will remain in my mind, not because of the uproar raised by Puma and Adidas over Viren's "blatantly commercial" display of his shoes, but because of the spontaneous surge of nationalist feeling by flag waving, chanting Finns for their tired hero. The only reason that...
...star running back on the girls' flag football team at Rice University. Her 50-yard near-touchdown run (she slipped three yards from the goal line) made the front page of the Houston Chronicle. In Montreal last week, Schreiber tested her speed against the former U.S. Olympic gold medalist Wyomia Tyus; after an interview, they were caught in a sudden downpour and had to race for cover. Who won? This time Schreiber is keeping the results "a deep dark secret...