schmiggens
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Registered: Apr 2003
Local time: 05:39 PM
Location: In The Zone
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It was just like old times — well, almost
Shot putters return to ancient site of first Games
OLYMPIA, GREECE - It was a day when the actors took a back seat to the scenery, when the question of who won and who took part was not as significant as where they competed.
After more than 1,600 years, the Olympics returned to their roots Wednesday as the men and women's shot-put competitions were held inside the stadium where the ancient Greeks founded the concept of the Games.
For the record, Yuriy Bilonog of the Ukraine won the men's contest and Irina Korzhanenko of Russia was the top woman.
But the real winners were Greece and the Athens Olympics for turning back the clock with a concept that was part history lesson and part summer picnic mixed into a setting that resembled an outdoor concert.
Call it Olympicstock.
"This is better than anything I could have dreamed," said Adam Nelson of the United States, who equaled Bilonog's winning distance of 69-5 1/4 but lost out on the gold medal because of more fouls. "This facility is absolutely world class. It has been for thousands of years, so why would it change now?
"Talk about an Olympic experience. There's something special about this place. It brings out a certain emotion in me as an Olympic athlete. It is something that is pretty powerful. You feed on it and let it take you to another level."
It was almost surreal to see the athletes occupying the same dirt field where Korivos won the first Olympic event — a foot race — in 776 B.C., to have a crowd of more than 15,000 spectators (all admitted free) sitting on the gentle hillside where ancient fans once admired their heroes, where this multibillion-dollar modern undertaking of cutting-edge technology and massive logistics had its humble and noble beginnings.
For one hot morning and one searing afternoon under the Aegean sun, the stadium that was constructed in a glen, surrounded by olive and poplar trees and just yards from the now-fallen temples of the gods Zeus and Hera, was alive again with 21st century cheers and echoes of a glorious past.
The site was plain and simple, nearly Spartan. There were no electronic scoreboards. There was no advertising signage, no concession stands, no hawking of $8 beers, no selling of T-shirts or souvenirs. Not even programs were sold.
The only concessions to modern technology were a laser instrument to measure the throws, a loudspeaker and folding chairs for the assorted swells of the International Olympic Committee.
And one more thing — the competitors weren't naked.
The athletes made their entrance beneath a stone arch and through a tunnel entrance at the south end of the stadium while the Greek and Olympic flags flapped in a hot wind and the throng of fans roared approval.
"I go from the farm to the ruins and to the ancient stadium," said Edis Elkasevic of Croatia. "I felt like I was in Gladiator. It is my favorite movie."
Korzhaneko's winning toss in the women's competition was 69-1 1/4 . The silver medal went to Yumileidi Cumba of Cuba and the bronze to Nadine Kleinert of Germany.
Americans Kristin Heaston and Laura Gerraughty did not qualify for the finals, but Heaston made history as she opened the women's session, thus becoming the first woman ever to compete at Olympia.
"It was just exciting to be a part of it," Heaston said. "Who knows when another woman will ever take part here again?"
The U.S. men had a particularly disappointing finish considering they began the day pondering the possibility of a medals sweep. However, Reese Hoffa failed to qualify for the afternoon session. American John Godina, a three-time world champion, did not reach the finals and finished in ninth place.
Nelson had only one legal toss all afternoon — his first — and fouled five times. But he still led the competition until Bilonog's last chance. The Ukrainian then uncorked a heave that exactly duplicated Nelson and won on fewer fouls.
"I felt it was my day, and I felt it was my year," Nelson said. "I really enjoyed the venue, but I didn't perform today as I should have. I can only blame myself for what happened today. I couldn't find my competitive rhythm. So hats off to Yuriy."
Not to mention the Athens Organizing Committee.
From somewhere on Mount Olympus, the gods were smiling.
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08-19-2004 07:23 AM
