0:00:04 > 0:00:08The Olympics. The greatest show on earth.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12A sporting carnival of athleticism and prowess.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15An extravaganza of drama, spectacle and passion.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Yes, The Olympics.
0:00:17 > 0:00:2050 most amazing moments.
0:00:20 > 0:00:26Welcome to our choice of the very best the Olympics has to offer.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34And here's the top 25 coming right up.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Athletes will go to great lengths
0:00:42 > 0:00:44in order to earn their moment of glory at the Games
0:00:44 > 0:00:47and none more so than American David Neville
0:00:47 > 0:00:49who did his best Didier Drogba impression
0:00:49 > 0:00:52to secure a bronze in the 400 metres in Beijing.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59He dipped really early which meant he was falling through the line.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01You must feel awful if you're the guy behind him going,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04"really, that's how you're going to beat me?"
0:01:04 > 0:01:06There should be an asterix in the Olympic records,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08this is how he came third.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13At the day, when he looks in the mirror in the morning,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15he's got an Olympic bronze medal, so fair play.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Superman dive or not, he got through the line just right.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21All that matters is that he finished third and got bronze,
0:01:21 > 0:01:22and what a way to do it.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Which other bronze medallist do you remember?
0:01:27 > 0:01:30This guy is remembered for being a bronze medallist,
0:01:30 > 0:01:31because he did a dive for it.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35# Spread my wings
0:01:35 > 0:01:36# I can fly... #
0:01:40 > 0:01:43To become supreme champions,
0:01:43 > 0:01:47athletes must draw on superhuman reserves of cool, calm and collectedness.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51But doesn't always pan out that way.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54At Seoul in '88, local hero Jung-Il Byun
0:01:54 > 0:01:57took on Bulgarian boxer Alexander Hristov.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00But rather than trying to outpunch his opponent,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04he decided to use his brain and the rest of his face to earn victory.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07COMMENTATOR: There's the head of the Korean going in again,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09he's an untidy little boy.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Standard rules in boxing, you can't head-butt.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12You'll get points deducted.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19COMMENTATOR: There again, up and down he goes.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20When it came to the judges' decision,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22it was Hristov who was celebrating,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25prompting Byun and half of Korea to lose their heads.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28COMMENTATOR: The crowd don't like it at all.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32As soon as they lift Hristov's hand, all hell breaks loose.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35COMMENTATOR: There's all sorts of trouble in the ring.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40This is most unprecedented from the normally calm and sane Koreans.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44It looks like a mix between Wild West fight and a martial arts movie.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49It's fabulous entertainment, completely disgraceful.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57At one point I thought it was a world Guinness attempt
0:02:57 > 0:03:01to see how many Koreans you can fit in a boxing ring.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03By the end of it, there was 112 in that ring.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05COMMENTATOR: This is absolutely disgraceful.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09I've never seen anything like this in any amateur contest whatsoever.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Not content with starting a riot,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Jung-Il then decided he wanted to get his point across
0:03:18 > 0:03:21in a more peaceful manner with a sit-in protest.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Looks more like a lie-in, though.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Let's look at this. You head-butt your opponent, you lose the fight,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31and you think the best thing to do is stage your own sit-in protest.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Which was hilarious because you've got the most aggressive sport,
0:03:34 > 0:03:35which is physical boxing,
0:03:35 > 0:03:40and you've chosen the most peaceful protest, to have a sit-in.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42The great thing is how they handle it.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44They don't try and remonstrate with him.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47They turn the lights off and go home and leave him. Brilliant.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54If you behave like a brat, that's what's going to happen to you.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58They left on one spotlight on him in the corner
0:03:58 > 0:04:02and he looked like the saddest clown. Nothing would ever be right again.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Byun lost the fight, but he did at least break one record,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09staging the longest sit-in in Olympic boxing history,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11before disappearing into the night.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Of course, behind almost everyone who takes part in an Olympic event
0:04:19 > 0:04:22there is a story of dedication and hard work.
0:04:22 > 0:04:27Yes, have I ever told you how much hard dedication and hard work I put in?
0:04:27 > 0:04:28Yes, several times.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32But there are some who take part who do not deserve to be there
0:04:32 > 0:04:37and who have no right to share a stage with some of the world's greatest athletes.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Do you mean...?
0:04:41 > 0:04:44No, much worse than that.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Of all the Olympic events,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52the steeplechase is one of the more unusual.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57It's a 3,000 metre race, but they have four hurdles and one water jump.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00In a way, it's like the Grand National.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06It's OK to watch, but what makes it exciting? Crazy guys!
0:05:08 > 0:05:09In 1984 it did get a bit crazy,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13when this guy decided to mount a late challenge for gold.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18He was dressed in the full gear and it looked like he was late for the race, "oh, my God!
0:05:18 > 0:05:21"I just got out of bed, so sorry I'm late, I'll just catch up."
0:05:21 > 0:05:24COMMENTATOR: There's an idiot come on the track there.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26I hope someone gets hold of him.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32They're primed for terrorism attacks and chemical warfare
0:05:32 > 0:05:35and they can't stop one loony jumping out of the crowd.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40To everyone's surprise, he was almost as good at hurdling as he was at outrunning the security guards.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45Everyone was going, "Oh, terrible, a protester on the track, awful.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46"Oh, he can hurdle!"
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Goodness, he can hurdle too. Get him.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52To this day, we still don't know what he was protesting about
0:05:52 > 0:05:54or if they ever caught him.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05When it comes to Greco-wrestling, the Yanks love it.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08And one man they love to see wriggling around
0:06:08 > 0:06:12whilst not wearing very much, is former WWF star Kurt Angle.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17I watched him when I was young being WWF champion,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20doing bodyslams to the Undertaker and Hulk Hogan and stuff.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25But it was at the 1996 Games on home soil in Atlanta
0:06:25 > 0:06:29that Kurt shocked the world by beating Iranian beast Abbas Jadidi
0:06:29 > 0:06:30to claim the gold.
0:06:30 > 0:06:37Kurt Angle, Hollywood bronzed god up against the mean, evil Iranian with the moustache!
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Mwa-ha-ha-ha!
0:06:41 > 0:06:43I'll stop now.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47But what really made Kurt Angle's victory so amazing
0:06:47 > 0:06:49was that he did it with a broken neck.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Yes, you heard me. An actual broken neck.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57What was surprising for me was he even had a neck. I couldn't see it.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59You'd have to hit him with a bus to break it!
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Kurt fractured his neck prior to the Games, but still competed.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08This would debilitate most men, but most men aren't Kurt.
0:07:08 > 0:07:14No doctor was going to stop him from grappling with some tough Persian ass.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Imagine what he's going to say to his kid if he stubs his toe.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Hey, you stubbed your toe?
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Oh really? I did a wrestling match after I broke my neck!
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Now eat your peas!
0:07:31 > 0:07:34When it comes to the freestyle relay,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37the Americans are the biggest fish in the pond.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40There's only been a few times they haven't won
0:07:40 > 0:07:42the four by 100 metres freestyle relay.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46It was their property, almost, that was the way they felt about it.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48But at the Sydney Games they were up against the Aussies
0:07:48 > 0:07:52and the all-American cowboy of swimming, Gary Hall Jr,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54decided to raise the pool temperature just before the race
0:07:54 > 0:07:56from lukewarm to boiling.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58When asked to about the host's chances of a victory,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01he said the Americans would smash the Aussies like guitars.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05It's a rubbish metaphor and he probably should have gone for a better one.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10He should have said I'm going to mess you up with a pile of laundry.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15It was like a public spat between large salmons and tunas,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19and with the big race approaching, all eyes and hopes were on the Aussies,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22to see if they could upset the Yanks.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27It was cat-and-mouse all the way through,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29nobody could really call it.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32COMMENTATOR: US second with their fastest swimmer going in,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35surely the Americans are going to win this one.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37By the third relay, the Yankees were looking good for the gold,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41leaving a final length show-down between America's Gary big mouth Hall Jr
0:08:41 > 0:08:43and the Aussies' Ian Thorpe.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45I thought, "This is game over".
0:08:45 > 0:08:48COMMENTATOR: I can't believe that Thorpe's going to hang on to him.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Somehow, Thorpe pulled the swim of his life out.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54COMMENTATOR: Thorpe is coming back!
0:08:54 > 0:08:56I can't believe he is going to do this, he's done it!
0:08:58 > 0:09:00The Australian crowd was just going mental.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03COMMENTATOR: I cannot believe he's done that.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06The goosebumps, tingles down the spine,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10that's the best feeling I've ever had in a swimming pool.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15COMMENTATOR: It is a new world record. They stuffed the Americans, this is outstanding.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18When the Australians won, they did this fantastic thing,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20where they all played the guitars, and made them eat their words.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Which was brilliant.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29The contrast between the American team and their forlorn faces
0:09:29 > 0:09:34and these Aussies on the blocks, it was fantastic.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37You know Gary Hall Jr is getting this throughout his life.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39"Hey, Gary, how's it going?
0:09:39 > 0:09:41"Gary, nice to see you."
0:09:41 > 0:09:43MIMICS GUITAR SOLOING
0:09:51 > 0:09:57The Sydney Games in 2000. It was an Olympics that went down as a roaring success.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00It was by far the best Olympics ever.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04But not everyone was having a great time. For some reason,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06the Vault gymnasts couldn't rise to the occasion.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12There was a couple of good wipeouts on that vault.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18I was competing, and I just couldn't figure out what was wrong.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21No-one could put their finger on it.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Running up, vault. You're like,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28"What's going on? I don't understand."
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Then someone thought to measure the vaulting horse,
0:10:32 > 0:10:37and discovered it was set 5cm lower than the standard 125,
0:10:37 > 0:10:41upsetting years of meticulous training.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I reckon it was just the guy with the overalls
0:10:45 > 0:10:49and the spanner. "Did you set the vault at the wrong thing?" "No."
0:10:51 > 0:10:55It was like a more aggressive version of You've Been Framed.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58They didn't get gold but they got £250 from Harry Hill.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01So, you know, every cloud.
0:11:01 > 0:11:07Those poor gymnasts, some of those falls looked REVAULTING. Sorry.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Mark Spitz's record of winning seven golds in the 1972 Games
0:11:20 > 0:11:25was thought to be unbeatable, but as the 2008 Games in Beijing approached,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28rumours were that one man might just be able to top that achievement.
0:11:31 > 0:11:32Michael Fred Phelps.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Everyone knew in Beijing that Michael Phelps was going for eight.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40So many people said he can't do it.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43He looks like the lovechild of Carlos Tevez and Seal.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Not that one. That's the one.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Thanks to feet the size of Alaska,
0:11:49 > 0:11:51he can swim faster than an electric eel.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56He has huge lungs, gangly arms and big, long feet,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58massive levers to help him through the water.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02The dude is built for swimming.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06But could the merman live up to the hype?
0:12:06 > 0:12:10The first final of the Olympic Games. He's ready.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17COMMENTATOR: Michael Phelps takes the gold medal. A stunning swim!
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Well, the French are trying to hold on, but coming back is Lezak.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Jason Lezak's got the gold!
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Michael Phelps is still on for eight.
0:12:25 > 0:12:26That is unbelievable.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Every time he won a medal, it was, "He's got his first, second."
0:12:30 > 0:12:33COMMENTATOR: Number three is in the bag,
0:12:33 > 0:12:34it's just whether he breaks the record.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37People were counting down his medals.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Four golds. Four races, four world records.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43He was bulletproof. There was no-one going to beat him.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48COMMENTATOR: The USA are going to take the gold in the 4X200 freestyle relay.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50He was just absolute lightning.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Another world record.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Six golds, six world records in six days.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00He's got it! Oh, he's got it!
0:13:00 > 0:13:01I was completely shocked.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05One one-hundredth is the smallest margin of victory in our sport.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08COMMENTATOR: I cannot believe he's just done that.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Not only must he have been knackered, but that's some achievement.
0:13:11 > 0:13:16COMMENTATOR: Michael Phelps, in the last race of these Olympic Games.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18That is it, eight straight gold medals.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Michael Phelps is the greatest.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Absolutely brilliant.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32If I could pick a gold medal to win,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36my country's first-ever gold medal, it would definitely be in football.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40In 2000 in Sydney, that was the dream of little old Cameroon.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43After qualifying as runners-up in their group,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46they drew samba kings Brazil in the quarter-finals.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49No-one gave them a hope.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Everyone thought they would walk out against Brazil and get thumped.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Oh, that's brilliant!
0:13:57 > 0:14:01But they didn't. They beat them, despite having two players sent off.
0:14:02 > 0:14:03And he scores!
0:14:05 > 0:14:08To beat Brazil with nine men is impressive. 11 is good,
0:14:08 > 0:14:12but with nine? If anything, it's arrogant.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18In the final they faced Spain, featuring World Cup winners Xavi and Carles Puyol.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19The game was a cracker.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22We didn't give them a hope against Spain,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25because Spain has talent queueing down the block.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27We all know how good Spain are.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30They were 1-0 down after two minutes.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31Oh, what a stance!
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Then they went 2-0 down.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38COMMENTATOR: This is the chance for 2-0. And it's taken!
0:14:38 > 0:14:42At half-time it seemed Cameroon would have to settle for silver,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44but the Africans had other ideas.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46COMMENTATOR: It's an own goal!
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Samuel Eto'o!
0:14:53 > 0:14:57It went all the way to spot kicks, where Cameroon became Germany...
0:15:05 > 0:15:07..and Spain became England.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18COMMENTATOR: Cameroon have never known celebrations like it!
0:15:18 > 0:15:23The great thing about the Olympics is that on the day,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26if you have luck going your way and everything goes right, you win.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29And that was a huge, huge thing for football in Africa.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39Now, some people say that true love is inspired by Cupid's arrow.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43But what a lot of folk don't realise is that a rifle
0:15:43 > 0:15:45- can do the job as well. - GUNSHOT
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Yeah, I just got rid of that bloke who was hanging around the back.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56- The skier? - Yes, he's been a right nuisance.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02Meet Matthew Emmons.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05In 2004, he was regarded as the fastest,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08bestest shooter in the West, and at the Athens games the gold medal
0:16:08 > 0:16:12was his if he could just nail his last shot.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18Unbelievably, he hit someone else's target.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19How could he miss his target?!
0:16:19 > 0:16:22All he had to do was hit the target and he'd win!
0:16:22 > 0:16:26It's like a footballer kicking it in the wrong goal.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31Luckily for Matthew, he was approached later that night by Czech shooter Katerina Kurkova
0:16:31 > 0:16:33offering him some kind consolation.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38# Celebrate good times, come on. #
0:16:38 > 0:16:41He was drowning his sorrows in a bar and he found love.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43That's preying on the vulnerable.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48He's a bit down, he's a bit insecure, lacking in confidence.
0:16:48 > 0:16:49Move in and marry him!
0:16:49 > 0:16:51I reckon he was hitting on her best friend,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53but his aim was so bad he married her!
0:16:54 > 0:16:58At Beijing four years later, now-wife Katerina cheering him on,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00it was redemption Michael wanted, not just love.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Once more he found himself a shot away from gold.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05All he had to do was score an easy shot.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10COMMENTATOR: He only has to hit the target to win the gold medal.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Ready...aim...
0:17:13 > 0:17:14D'oh!
0:17:14 > 0:17:19COMMENTATOR: Oh, no. I don't believe it.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21And I think he's surely blown it.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26I think the second time it happened, he was just feeling cocky,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29thinking, "This is never going to happen.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32"I can close my eyes and turn my head and shoot
0:17:32 > 0:17:34"and I will never do what I did last time."
0:17:34 > 0:17:37COMMENTATOR: There is no rhyme or reason for Matthew Emmons
0:17:37 > 0:17:41to repeat what he did four years ago, but incredibly he has.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45But what he lacked in medals, he made up for in love.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Win or lose, I know she is always going to be behind me.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49That's what really matters.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54What happened in Athens, if for some reason that led us
0:17:54 > 0:17:56to get together, I would do it a million more times.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57I wouldn't change a thing.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02He is definitely the best standing shooter out there.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05There is going to be a reason why this happened,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I am just curious why.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10No gold medal amounts to that, that's the truth.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18It's 1984 and American Evander Holyfield is favourite
0:18:18 > 0:18:23to win the gold medal in the light-heavyweight competition.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25He demolished his other opponents. He was knocking people out.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27He was a shoo-in for gold.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36He's an amazing fighter, and a real success story for America.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41However, in the semi-finals it all goes pear-shaped against Kiwi Kevin Barry.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Kevin Barry versus Evander Holyfield
0:18:47 > 0:18:49wasn't just shocking, it was confusing.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52- Stop! - COMMENTATOR: Oh, he's got him.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Just as the referee said "stop",
0:18:56 > 0:18:58so this man threw another punch.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Barry was caught by a left hook that was deemed illegal.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07COMMENTATOR: I have a feeling he is going to disqualify
0:19:07 > 0:19:11the American for hitting Barry after the command to stop.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Holyfield gets disqualified, but the rules are,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17because the fella was knocked out,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20he can't box for 28 days, so he's out.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21There was no final.
0:19:22 > 0:19:23That's right.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Holyfield couldn't go to the final due to disqualification,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and nor could Barry after being knocked out.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31What do you do?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33So Barry goes down as a bronze medallist, and comes up
0:19:33 > 0:19:35as a silver medallist,
0:19:35 > 0:19:40Holyfield's disqualified but given the bronze medal, and some other guy wins the gold medal.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44The gold medal was given to a guy who said, "It should have gone to Holyfield."
0:19:44 > 0:19:49On the podium he lifts Evander Holyfield's hand, signalling he was actually the champion.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53He was in no doubt who was the best in the light heavyweight division.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58It was a truly sporting gesture in the proud tradition of the Olympic spirit.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Now, it is time to see a true British legend.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09He may never have won a gold medal, but the whole nation
0:20:09 > 0:20:13can agree his contribution to the cause has been outstanding.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17It is hard to overestimate his importance.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- It's my silver medal from Seoul, is it?- No.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24I'm talking about Boris Johnson.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34Just as the Chinese closed the Beijing Games with style,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37panache and theatre, it was time for the world to get a first glimpse
0:20:37 > 0:20:41of what we would have to offer four years later in London.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42The world held its breath.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47# Always look on the bright side of life... #
0:20:47 > 0:20:50When a bus went out to Beijing,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53there was something slightly crap about that, it has to be said.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56I think they should have been more realistic,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58and had the bus turn up late
0:20:58 > 0:21:02due to unattended luggage found on it
0:21:02 > 0:21:03somewhere on the way to China.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07We don't want you to think it's going to be a slick event with CGI fireworks.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Get a bus, get Boris in, and mess it up. That's fine.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13They were introduced to Boris Johnson
0:21:13 > 0:21:17and they weren't just pointing at him because he was big and blond.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21He looked like he'd been picked out at random from the audience,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24"We need someone to come up and wave the flag!"
0:21:24 > 0:21:25"Go on, Dad!" "OK."
0:21:25 > 0:21:29Boris comes up, he's getting it wrong. Great!
0:21:31 > 0:21:34COMMENTATOR: Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, receives the flag
0:21:34 > 0:21:36and waves it enthusiastically.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41Forget fireworks and laser displays, we've got A level dance students,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44a lollipop lady, and Optimus Prime's inadequate younger brother.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47# Transformers!
0:21:47 > 0:21:50# More than meets the eye. #
0:21:50 > 0:21:55And what more do you need to really up the Olympics ante?
0:21:55 > 0:21:58None other than the musical dream team of Leona Lewis and a gurning Jimmy Page.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02You had Led Zeppelin, who the Chinese have never heard of before,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05and Leona Lewis who they wanted to turn into soup or glue.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09And then the big showstopper. Arise David Beckham in a shell suit,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12doing his bit to represent the British skinheads.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15All he had to do was put the ball into a huge goal
0:22:15 > 0:22:19and everything would be forgotten in one glorious Olympic moment.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23He missed.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Inevitably, on the big stage, he bottled it.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33I think you'll probably find that there'll be a similarly Carry On style spirit
0:22:33 > 0:22:37and as long as we manage that, then I don't think anybody will mind at all.
0:22:42 > 0:22:472008, Beijing, our track cycling team was phenomenal.
0:22:47 > 0:22:5213 went. 12 won medals. How amazing is that?
0:22:54 > 0:22:56I don't think we'll ever see
0:22:56 > 0:22:58the likes of the performance
0:22:58 > 0:22:59that we saw in Beijing again.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04We had more medals than most countries in one small cycling team.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06# Bicycle! Bicycle! #
0:23:06 > 0:23:11All our big guns were on top. There was this fellow...
0:23:11 > 0:23:13'The Olympic champion is Chris Hoy.'
0:23:13 > 0:23:15..this girl...
0:23:15 > 0:23:19'Rebecca Romero is the Olympic champion and gold-medal winner.'
0:23:19 > 0:23:20..and this guy.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21'Bradley Wiggins!
0:23:21 > 0:23:25'He's the gold medal winner and Olympic champion.'
0:23:25 > 0:23:26It was a truly incredible achievement,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Great Britain excelling at the Olympic Games.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32But despite all the glory,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35there was one man left feeling a little empty-handed.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Everyone did so well but a lot of people talk about the one athlete
0:23:39 > 0:23:41who didn't come home with a medal.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44The one man who didn't, our best cyclist, Mark Cavendish.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45Sucks to be Mark.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49# I am the one and only! #
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Officially the fastest man on two wheels...apparently wasn't.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56That was proved wrong.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- Everyone knew.- He just hated the fact he was the only cyclist without a medal.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02In the eight months leading up to the 2008 Games,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Cav had won the track world championships
0:24:05 > 0:24:06and become the first Brit
0:24:06 > 0:24:09to win four stages of the Tour de France.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12The disappointment of not winning a gold medal in Beijing
0:24:12 > 0:24:15is what has probably driven on Mark Cavendish
0:24:15 > 0:24:17to do as well as what he's done.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19The guy is talented beyond belief,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22but what happened then has certainly spurred him on
0:24:22 > 0:24:25to being a much better cyclist and a world beater now.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27He's having the last laugh now,
0:24:27 > 0:24:32because he's the fastest man in the world in road racing.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35But one burning ambition remains unfulfilled.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Can he grab gold in London?
0:24:36 > 0:24:39# We can rule the world... #
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Colin, you've run a lot of races at the Olympics.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50- What kind of shoes do you wear? - Running spikes, of course.
0:24:50 > 0:24:55- Would you ever run in bare feet? - Nobody would run at the Olympic Games with no shoes on.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59All right! Maybe a South African with a British passport
0:24:59 > 0:25:02running the 3000 metres, for one.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10It's 1984, and at the LA Olympics,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13all eyes were on Britain's newly-adopted medal prospect
0:25:13 > 0:25:17South African runner Zola Budd, the shoeless wonder.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19It looked like adults were competing
0:25:19 > 0:25:22with a child who'd forgotten its games kit.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Just vest and shorts but no socks and shoes.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Fast-tracked to a British passport
0:25:26 > 0:25:29at the height of South Africa's apartheid sporting ban
0:25:29 > 0:25:33by a newspaper campaign, Zola was a controversial figure
0:25:33 > 0:25:35and that controversy followed her
0:25:35 > 0:25:38all the way to the women's 3000 metres final.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40But Budd truly found a place in Olympic history
0:25:40 > 0:25:43when she stood toe to toe with an American
0:25:43 > 0:25:45and was the only one left standing.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47'And Decker's down!'
0:25:47 > 0:25:52Zola Budd and Mary Decker, great rivals. They clashed in a tangle.
0:25:52 > 0:25:53Mary Decker fell down.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59One of the favourites is now flat out on the field.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Zola Budd was in front and Decker was behind
0:26:01 > 0:26:04and she ran into the back of her.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07If you're driving and you pile into the back of someone, it's your fault
0:26:07 > 0:26:09and it's the same in athletics.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13I think she'd heard an instruction, not a name. I think she'd heard,
0:26:13 > 0:26:14"Mary, deck her."
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Mary Decker, Oscar nomination for that drop that she took?
0:26:17 > 0:26:20She didn't even have any shoes on.
0:26:20 > 0:26:21Get over it.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25'Mary Decker is now being helped from the track.'
0:26:25 > 0:26:28And yet, just when we were starting to really like her,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Zola dropped down the field and finished seventh.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Daley Thompson proved in 1980 and 1984
0:26:40 > 0:26:44that he was the man by winning gold in the decathlon at both Olympics.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48But as everyone knows, all good things come in threes.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50# Three is the magic number... #
0:26:50 > 0:26:55So the world's eyes looked to Daley once more to defend his gold medal
0:26:55 > 0:26:57and world record at the Seoul Games.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Daley Thompson was set for an unprecedented third gold at '88.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Daley would not have started that unless he felt he could win gold.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Come on, Daley, come on. You're the best.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11'Oh, it's broken!'
0:27:11 > 0:27:14I don't know how you break one. I mean, their design,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17I think the number one thing would be not to break.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22It was unthinkable. Daley's pole, dreams and crown jewels
0:27:22 > 0:27:25were in pieces as he injured himself in the process,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28meaning he missed out on the medal places.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30He came fourth in this Olympics, didn't he?
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Nothing wrong with fourth in an Olympics.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34No, Dean, as well you know.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37He would have got three Olympic golds in a row
0:27:37 > 0:27:41in probably the most demanding track event and he got injured doing it.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43He didn't retain his title.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45You'd be heartbroken, devastated.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53Apart from ice hockey, Canada were completely unknown at the Olympics.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56This is their one guy, one guy, Ben Johnson.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58This is their one chance at a gold medal.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00And it came in the 100 metres final
0:28:00 > 0:28:04which was shaping up to be the greatest race in history.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07In the red corner there was Ben Johnson.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10In the blue corner was our Linford
0:28:10 > 0:28:13and in the other red corner was Carl Lewis.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Someone was looking particularly intense.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19He looks odd.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21The mad, bulging eyes, and he was just huge.
0:28:24 > 0:28:29His eyes looked like the baddie in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' when they come out of his face.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33He looked like he could have gone on that day
0:28:33 > 0:28:37and won all of the Olympic events twice in one day.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41'They go first time and Ben Johnson got a brilliant start.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44'It's Johnson away and clear.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46'Lewis is not going to catch him.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48'Johnson wins it. Lewis second.
0:28:48 > 0:28:49'Christie third.'
0:28:49 > 0:28:51And in the blink of an eye, it was over,
0:28:51 > 0:28:54with Johnson crowned Olympic champion,
0:28:54 > 0:28:58not just breaking the world record but smashing it to smithereens.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01'There's no question who is the fastest man in the world.'
0:29:01 > 0:29:04# You're simply the best... #
0:29:04 > 0:29:06He'd beaten the poster boy at the Olympics,
0:29:06 > 0:29:10the American dream, Carl Lewis. He creamed him, he annihilated him.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Linford and all the boys were absolutely smashed
0:29:13 > 0:29:15by this little bullet of a man.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21The mood went from one of celebrating a new tyro appearing on the scene,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23like a guy who was going to reinvent the sport,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26into thinking, "Hang on. What actually happened here?"
0:29:26 > 0:29:30It seemed too good to be true and sadly for Canada it was.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33Just two days later, Johnson was disqualified
0:29:33 > 0:29:35for having a banned substance in his blood.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40This guy was on drugs.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Not just some drugs, it would appear, ALL the drugs.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45Johnson's face said it all.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48In recent years he's denied any wrongdoing,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50even claiming he had his drink spiked by an American agent.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55If that's what happens when you get your drink spiked,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58I want my drink spiked on a regular basis.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02Win a gold medal in 9.79 seconds? Yes, please. Thank you.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04No matter what the truth is,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07BJ claims he was more proud of the gold medal than the world record,
0:30:07 > 0:30:11as no one could take it away from him. You were wrong. They could and they did.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14Lewis got gold and Linford, silver.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16I would have sold the medal straight away. I would have pawned it.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19He must have known he'd get caught!
0:30:19 > 0:30:21The world's disappointment was palpable.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24He'd been an unforgettable athlete.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Yes, he cheated. Yes, he was on drugs.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29But his legs still ran that quickly and it was unheard of.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32At least he took drugs and he won races.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Dwain Chambers took drugs and came fifth in his races.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36What are you taking? Red Bull?
0:30:40 > 0:30:43- It's Barcelona, 110 metre hurdles final.- Right?
0:30:43 > 0:30:47- Eight men, all of us in different lanes. Ready to go.- Go on.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49The gun goes bang. All of us explode out the blocks.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51I take the first hurdle. We keep going.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55Second, third hurdle, which seems like it's an eternity.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59- As I'm getting closer to the line and ready to dip...- Where did you come?
0:30:59 > 0:31:03- Seventh.- Oh, right.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06- What about in that other race? - Oh, I picked up a silver medal there.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12Yes, that's right.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16My Welsh friend Colin Ray Jackson has his own Olympic story to tell,
0:31:16 > 0:31:18and what a story it is.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21In 1988, Jacko lined up in lane one
0:31:21 > 0:31:23in the 110 metres hurdles final
0:31:23 > 0:31:25as an inexperienced youngster,
0:31:25 > 0:31:28up against the best opponents on Mother Earth,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30including world record holder Roger Kingdom.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32He did Blighty proud.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35'Kingdom comes through. Kingdom's going to win it
0:31:35 > 0:31:39'and Jackson's going to get silver. Kingdom wins it, Jackson second!'
0:31:41 > 0:31:43A silver medal in the Olympics
0:31:43 > 0:31:46and only beaten by a happy-slappy Power Ranger. Incredible.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50But four years later in Barcelona, he was red-hot favourite to win
0:31:50 > 0:31:53the king of bling, the gold, and he was certainly talking the talk.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56To know that you're the best 110 hurdler
0:31:56 > 0:32:01in 1992 in the Olympic Games would just be a wonderful feeling.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04I think I would definitely earn more respect straight away
0:32:04 > 0:32:08from most people when they say, "Colin Jackson, Olympic champion."
0:32:09 > 0:32:13But in the semi-final, Jackson looked rusty,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16seemingly forgetting that the idea is to jump over the hurdles
0:32:16 > 0:32:18rather than hit them.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20# Hit me! Hit me! #
0:32:20 > 0:32:23'Jackson coming through. He hit that one but clean now.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26'McKoy goes through to win it. Jackson second, Blake third.'
0:32:26 > 0:32:29But if you're going to make a mistake in the Olympic Games,
0:32:29 > 0:32:32better to do it in the semi than the final, right?
0:32:32 > 0:32:37Surely Colin in lane three would be on his game when it mattered most?
0:32:39 > 0:32:41'And Colin's struggling now. He's gone.'
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Um, maybe not.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47'McKoy's Olympic champion and Jackson run right out of it.'
0:32:49 > 0:32:54'Colin Jackson, when it really came to it, hadn't quite got it.'
0:32:56 > 0:33:00Colin's dream of gold medal glory was never realised
0:33:00 > 0:33:04as he finished seventh with Mark McKoy of Canada triumphing instead.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06Despite this, Jacko will go down in history
0:33:06 > 0:33:09as an Olympic silver medallist, an awesome athlete,
0:33:09 > 0:33:13and after Tom Jones, the greatest ever thing to come out of Wales.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25It's 1996 and the big news?
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Chris Evans has blighted our screens with TFI Friday. Horrendous.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Thankfully there was one man on hand to lift our spirits
0:33:32 > 0:33:34during this dark, dark time.
0:33:36 > 0:33:37Michael Johnson.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40At that time, Michael Johnson was the best.
0:33:40 > 0:33:45If I was a runner I'd hope I was something like Michael Johnson.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47As a human being I wish I was more like him.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51Johnson wasn't your shy and retiring type.
0:33:51 > 0:33:52He put himself at a disadvantage
0:33:52 > 0:33:55because he was wearing Mr T's gold jewellery.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57He's got a massive gold chain around his neck.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01He had gold, he blinged up, gold shoes.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05To wear gold shoes, you've got to know you're going to win. He knew he was going to win.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09First up for MJ - no, not that one - was the 400 metres.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11Johnson delivered in style,
0:34:11 > 0:34:14that weird running style he made famous.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16Everyone was criticising his racing technique
0:34:16 > 0:34:19because he runs like a chicken.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23What they don't realise is it's 300lb weight of gold jewellery from Argos.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26His upper body does not move.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Nothing moves apart from his arms and legs going like Road Runner.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32'It contradicts all the stylists.'
0:34:32 > 0:34:35Up, like that, arrogant, just taking it, taking it, taking it.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38'Absolutely bolt upright.'
0:34:40 > 0:34:43He ran completely wrong and still won.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45'Johnson away and clear!
0:34:47 > 0:34:50First up, he brought home the bacon in the 400 metres.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52'He ran the perfect race.'
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Then he kicked some keister in the 200 metres.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58'Johnson is blistering away.'
0:34:58 > 0:34:59The man was on fire.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08I literally must have been like, "Look at him. I can't believe it."
0:35:08 > 0:35:12'And Johnson is going away. Johnson by a yard!'
0:35:14 > 0:35:18You couldn't quite believe that somebody could run that fast.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19He was a god of the track, really.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22He may have run in his own unique style,
0:35:22 > 0:35:25but his 200 metres time smashed its way into the record books.
0:35:32 > 0:35:37The bond between father and son is unbreakable, unless you're this guy.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39And at the 1992 Olympic Games, we saw a prime example
0:35:39 > 0:35:43of a dad and the fruit of his loins working together.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45GB's 400 metre runner Derek Redmond
0:35:45 > 0:35:48had suffered an injury-ravaged season
0:35:48 > 0:35:50but had won both the qualifier and the quarter-final
0:35:50 > 0:35:52and hopes were high.
0:35:52 > 0:35:53Derek Redmond is our great hope.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Starts off the race amazingly well.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58"Dez, you're going to win this. You're going to smash it."
0:36:00 > 0:36:01'Redmond got off very fast indeed.'
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Pulls his hamstring.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05'Redmond has broken down.'
0:36:07 > 0:36:10He said, "I heard this pop. I thought it was in the crowd."
0:36:10 > 0:36:14And then suddenly he realised it was his own leg.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18'He's hopping his way to complete. May not be the wisest thing to do.'
0:36:18 > 0:36:22Pull yourself out of the race. Are you going to do that, Derek? No.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26The stretchers are there. Just walk off, everyone else would.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29But he just refuses to give up.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33He wasn't really running. He was kind of hopping towards the finish.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38Somehow his dad gets through security,
0:36:38 > 0:36:42which is worrying in itself, gets onto the track, goes up to him,
0:36:42 > 0:36:44and I think Derek leans on his dad.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48'His father has been so close to him. They've been battling through it.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52'He just can't hold it. He knows he would have had a chance.'
0:36:52 > 0:36:54The applause starts to build up
0:36:54 > 0:36:57and there's a real feeling this is a real human moment.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Father and son complete the race together,
0:37:01 > 0:37:03an iconic moment and a beautiful story.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07Yes, he didn't win the race, but he was still a winner.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10It's not about winning. It was just about his determination.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14And then he was disqualified for being helped by his old man.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17'He's won nothing but admiration.'
0:37:18 > 0:37:23I don't think Derek Redmond or his dad actually give a toss that they were disqualified.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26The fact of the matter is they did what was right in the moment
0:37:26 > 0:37:28and everyone, bar none, everyone would stand up
0:37:28 > 0:37:30and applaud them for that, regardless of the result.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37Derek Redmond, he may not have won a medal
0:37:37 > 0:37:40but he's a true Olympic hero nonetheless.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49It's 2004 and in Athens,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Kelly Holmes is desperate for Olympic glory,
0:37:52 > 0:37:54but no one gave her a hope.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57She was 34. So many people would have retired before then.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01Injury-wise, she'd been through the mill so many times.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Ruptured calf, torn Achilles, stress fractures, torn calf,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06damaged back, glandular fever.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09# One foot in the grave... #
0:38:09 > 0:38:13I just think nobody expected or had any idea
0:38:13 > 0:38:16that this 34-year-old woman could come back
0:38:16 > 0:38:18and get on the medal podium.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24First up was the 800 metres and proving to be quite the Brit,
0:38:24 > 0:38:26she was miles off the pace.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29'Kelly Holmes absolutely dead last.'
0:38:29 > 0:38:33You can imagine at that moment that you could completely lose the plot
0:38:33 > 0:38:35and change everything and I didn't.
0:38:35 > 0:38:36I just stayed there.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39'Kelly Holmes and Maria Mutola are doing the right thing,
0:38:39 > 0:38:41'sitting off the pace.'
0:38:41 > 0:38:44But she wasn't last for long, and as the race reached a climax,
0:38:44 > 0:38:47our Kelly was all over it.
0:38:47 > 0:38:48As I came around the bend,
0:38:48 > 0:38:51I remember trying to overtake Maria Mutola.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53'Mutola won't let Kelly Holmes past.'
0:38:53 > 0:38:54I was trying to go round her
0:38:54 > 0:38:58and she was trying to go round the one on the inside and she barged me.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01That probably was the moment that made me win the gold.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04'Kelly Holmes fighting for the gold medal!'
0:39:04 > 0:39:09I just remember saying to myself, "Relax." As I did it, I took that one crucial step.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13'Kelly Holmes bringing it home for Britain. Can she get there?
0:39:13 > 0:39:15'Come on, Kelly! One more go.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Come on, Kelly Holmes. It's gold!'
0:39:17 > 0:39:20# You're unbelievable! #
0:39:20 > 0:39:23When she crossed the line she didn't know if she had won or not.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27She checked the board and Steve Cram, who's commentating, is going,
0:39:27 > 0:39:31"Kelly, you've won, you've done it," as if she could hear him.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33You've won it, Kelly, you've won it!
0:39:33 > 0:39:39That face will live as one of the greatest reactions
0:39:39 > 0:39:43to an Olympic gold medal, purely because of the out-and-out surprise.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50Next up for Kelly was the 1500. This time she was the favourite,
0:39:50 > 0:39:54but only two women had ever done the 800/1500 double before.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Surely, she couldn't join them?
0:39:56 > 0:39:59Can Kelly Holmes do it again?
0:39:59 > 0:40:03This was my dream since the age of 15 to be Olympic 1500 metre champion.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06COMMENTATOR: Kelly Holmes moves to the back of the field.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09Kelly Holmes now needs to just dig in there.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Can she run as controlled as she did in the 800 metres?
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Kelly coming on the outside. It looks so easy.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19The way she came through it was unreal. She was like a machine.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23And then she was on the home straight.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28COMMENTATOR: Kelly looks around to see where the danger is.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31I remember thinking in my head, "Go!"
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Kelly Holmes for Great Britain wins the 1500 metre title.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40You are the double Olympic Champion.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43I don't think she could believe it,
0:40:43 > 0:40:45everyone watching couldn't believe it.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Throughout the years of the Olympics,
0:40:59 > 0:41:02the chances of a gymnast ever scoring a perfect ten
0:41:02 > 0:41:05have been as likely as Jedward saying something that isn't stupid.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07'Another disaster.'
0:41:07 > 0:41:10But all that changed at the Montreal Games in 1976,
0:41:10 > 0:41:14when a certain 14-year-old Romanian achieved the impossible.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23How can you be perfect?
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Surely there's always got to be a little glitch in there
0:41:26 > 0:41:28that's not impeccable?
0:41:32 > 0:41:34She's an absolute legend.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39She was this young girl that came into this woman's sport
0:41:39 > 0:41:42and completely transformed the whole world of gymnastics.
0:41:44 > 0:41:49This young girl goes out there and just blows everyone away,
0:41:49 > 0:41:52getting the first perfect tens in gymnastics.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58COMMENTATOR: Ten she's got. It is quite incredible.
0:41:58 > 0:41:59She made history.
0:42:03 > 0:42:04She was a perfect ten.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07The size of a tadpole and the bendiness of a slinky
0:42:07 > 0:42:10mixed with the balance and agility of a smug cat.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16It was not just one, but one after another and another.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21It was amazing as she scored a perfect ten seven times
0:42:21 > 0:42:23in the uneven bars, the balance beam and floor exercise.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27It was just a shame there wasn't a proper score board built
0:42:27 > 0:42:30that could show four digits and go above 9.99.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Before the Games, Omega, who made those clocks,
0:42:33 > 0:42:35got in touch with the organisers,
0:42:35 > 0:42:38and said, "What if you're not going to be able to show this?"
0:42:38 > 0:42:41And they said, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it,
0:42:41 > 0:42:42"because, let's face it, we never will."
0:42:46 > 0:42:48'And she's got it again.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51'Twice in succession.'
0:42:51 > 0:42:53They had to do 1.0.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56The commentator had to keep explaining that she hadn't got 1.0,
0:42:56 > 0:42:57she had actually got ten.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01ANNOUNCER: Nadia Comaneci, Roumanie.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03The Olympic Champion steps up, and a real smile.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08Even now it still makes you go...
0:43:08 > 0:43:11She was just a natural star.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14COMMENTATOR: An extraordinarily composed young lady of 14.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23Hey, look at this, it goes all the way 12.
0:43:23 > 0:43:27Yes, it's a clock, Colin. A clock.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35We're back down under for the 2000 Olympic Games,
0:43:35 > 0:43:38where it was all about one woman.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Come on, Cathy, you can do it!
0:43:40 > 0:43:44As one of only 11 Aboriginals out of 628 Australian athletes,
0:43:44 > 0:43:47the world was looking to Cathy Freeman
0:43:47 > 0:43:49as the poster girl for the Sydney Games,
0:43:49 > 0:43:52and to lead Australia out of its troubled past.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54She was this symbol of a united Australia.
0:43:54 > 0:43:59It sounds cheesy to say the hopes of a whole nation were resting on her,
0:43:59 > 0:44:01and it's such a cliche.
0:44:01 > 0:44:05But in this case it's true. I'm sorry to use that.
0:44:05 > 0:44:07In Sydney, Cathy Freeman, poor girl,
0:44:07 > 0:44:11she had everything. She lit the flame and done the lot.
0:44:13 > 0:44:16But lighting the flame was just the start.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19The world excepted her to run away with the 400 metre gold,
0:44:19 > 0:44:22but could she take the pressure?
0:44:22 > 0:44:27Yes, she could, especially as she was dressed as a superhero.
0:44:28 > 0:44:33I do think, if I knew that the whole world was watching me,
0:44:33 > 0:44:35I might have chosen a different outfit.
0:44:35 > 0:44:39She looked so cute with the little hood thing on.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43I think she wore it to get into her own little cocoon, a little bubble.
0:44:43 > 0:44:48Forget the world, she wanted to run from A to B as fast as she can, and that's what she did.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50COMMENTATOR: To quote a phrase which has caught on here,
0:44:50 > 0:44:56Cathy has the world at her feet and a nation's soul on her back.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59The women's 400m final under way.
0:45:03 > 0:45:06The crowd roaring Freeman on and the response is there.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09On the near side it's Freeman.
0:45:09 > 0:45:13The nation expected and she has not disappointed.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18She handled it and with grace.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21If you watch that back and don't have a lump in your throat
0:45:21 > 0:45:23there is something wrong with you, I think.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27There was a good moment when she had the Australian flag
0:45:27 > 0:45:30and the Aboriginal flag. Everyone thought, it's about time.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33Out of generations of all this mess between native Australians
0:45:33 > 0:45:35and these white clowns who came along,
0:45:35 > 0:45:37all we needed, was someone to run really fast.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39Hat off to Cathy Freeman, legend.
0:45:46 > 0:45:51Now, this next one is something that everybody remembers.
0:45:51 > 0:45:55Yes, it's a real classic. Something that sticks in your mind for ever.
0:45:55 > 0:45:59- Tell the viewers what it is. - Of course...what is it?
0:46:03 > 0:46:05Man U versus Man City.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Jolie versus Aniston. Alien versus Predator.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11But in the 1980s, what really divided the nation
0:46:11 > 0:46:13was middle-distance running.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17And two gangly gentlemen were at the forefront of the battle.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19Everyone was talking about this huge rivalry
0:46:19 > 0:46:21between Seb Coe and Steve Ovett.
0:46:21 > 0:46:23This massive head-to-head.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26Such different personalities.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28It was like Starsky and Hutch, you had to love one or the other,
0:46:28 > 0:46:30and it was the same with Ovett and Coe.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34They didn't look like they'd be friends.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37One looked like he could be in Chas and Dave
0:46:37 > 0:46:41and the other looked like, well, a Tory MP.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45Seb Coe, very clean-cut image,
0:46:45 > 0:46:46Cambridge University student,
0:46:46 > 0:46:50the model athlete on and off the track.
0:46:50 > 0:46:52Ovett was a bit more rock'n'roll and edgy.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55# Here we go, here we go, here we go... #
0:46:55 > 0:46:58I remember him winning a race and 30 metres to go,
0:46:58 > 0:46:59he was waving to the crowd.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01I was an Ovett man.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04He looked like he could have been a keyboard player in a prog rock band.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06Children fought in playgrounds.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09Families were split. Not quite, but you get the picture.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12These two didn't like each other very much.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14But come the 800 metre final in Moscow,
0:47:14 > 0:47:18Coe was dead cert to win gold, in his favourite event,
0:47:18 > 0:47:22over his old rival, Ovett. Nothing could go wrong. Nothing.
0:47:22 > 0:47:26They were both very good athletes at the 800 and 1500 metres.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29They were going to double up and do that at the Games.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32Coe was clear favourite for the 800, world record holder,
0:47:32 > 0:47:33and everyone thought he would win it.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36'Ovett hits the front. Coe can't get through,
0:47:36 > 0:47:40'Steve Ovett coming home to take the gold medal for Great Britain,
0:47:40 > 0:47:43'to beat Sebastian Coe who gets the silver.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45'And Ovett looks up in triumph.'
0:47:49 > 0:47:52It was, like, a massive talking point,
0:47:52 > 0:47:54the fact that we knew he was good, but that's Coe's event.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57How dare he come in and win the 800.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01I suppose I must have compounded more cardinal sins of
0:48:01 > 0:48:05middle distance running in 1.5 minutes, than I have in a lifetime.
0:48:05 > 0:48:07It was like night was day and day was night,
0:48:07 > 0:48:10cats were barking and dogs were meowing.
0:48:10 > 0:48:13The very fabrics of what we knew had been shifted.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17Days later, the two met again, this time in Ovett's favourite event,
0:48:17 > 0:48:19the 1500 metres.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21Could Ovett do the double?
0:48:21 > 0:48:26COMMENTATOR: And Ovett is on the near side.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28Could this be Ovett's first defeat?
0:48:28 > 0:48:29Ovett is in trouble
0:48:29 > 0:48:30and Coe gets the event he wants.
0:48:30 > 0:48:32Coe wins.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35In a result that shocked the world, Coe struck back.
0:48:40 > 0:48:42It shows the mental strength of Coe that he'd got over
0:48:42 > 0:48:46the disappointment of not winning his major event and won the 15.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49How much could the British public take?
0:48:49 > 0:48:52They won the races that no-one expected and swapped over.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55They both came home with an Olympic gold medal, but in the wrong event.
0:48:55 > 0:48:59Who knew middle distance running could cause so much chaos?
0:48:59 > 0:49:03People are talking about who should light the flame in London 2012.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05People are saying it should be a race between those two
0:49:05 > 0:49:10and whoever gets there first. I think that's a brilliant idea.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16Usain Bolt has saved my sport.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23And after Beijing 2008 there wasn't a person on the planet
0:49:23 > 0:49:25who didn't know who he was.
0:49:25 > 0:49:29Usain Bolt became a megastar in Beijing.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33The super-human freak of nature.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35The Jamaican was the biggest thing to hit athletics in years,
0:49:35 > 0:49:39and not just because of his massive six foot five frame.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42'He's a better runner than he is dancer, I'll say that.'
0:49:42 > 0:49:44He was a BOLT out of the blue.
0:49:45 > 0:49:49All of this before the start. It is brilliant.
0:49:49 > 0:49:54I don't know what the celebration is. He says it's a lightning bolt. But I fail to see how.
0:49:55 > 0:49:57As he lined up for the 100 metre final,
0:49:57 > 0:50:00the world asked if he could live up to the hype.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05I was in the Bird's Nest Stadium and it was the event
0:50:05 > 0:50:08and it's over so quickly.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10You don't fully take it in, even if you're there.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15COMMENTATOR: They get away first time. Powell has got a good start.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19Here comes Usain Bolt. Usain Bolt streaking away from the field.
0:50:19 > 0:50:20It's going to be gold for Jamaica.
0:50:20 > 0:50:23That is superb, it's a new world record!
0:50:23 > 0:50:27He has blown them all away.
0:50:27 > 0:50:32It was clear that Usain Bolt wasn't just the real deal, he was the nuts.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36We knew he'd just run the fastest of any human being.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38But he didn't run the whole 100 metres.
0:50:38 > 0:50:43He was so fast that he could slow down
0:50:43 > 0:50:45and just look at the other guys!
0:50:48 > 0:50:52- You're out.- Some in the audience were not amused.
0:50:52 > 0:50:55Everyone got so het up about that. Why?
0:50:55 > 0:50:59That wasn't disrespectful, that was him pumping his chest saying,
0:50:59 > 0:51:00"I'm Olympic Champion."
0:51:00 > 0:51:04'My goodness me. What a demonstration.'
0:51:04 > 0:51:07But if his early celebrations were enough to wind up his rivals,
0:51:07 > 0:51:10imagine how they felt when they watched the race back
0:51:10 > 0:51:12and saw his shoelaces weren't done up!
0:51:12 > 0:51:15- I don't believe that.- Gobsmacked. - I don't believe that for one minute.
0:51:15 > 0:51:19It was like winning the X Factor by whistling your favourite song.
0:51:19 > 0:51:22Maybe he would have had 9.3 if he'd done his laces up properly.
0:51:22 > 0:51:24In the next race, he definitely did his laces up
0:51:24 > 0:51:29as he aimed to smash another world record in the 200 metres,
0:51:29 > 0:51:31to collect an astonishing double.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34Could he do is it?
0:51:36 > 0:51:39COMMENTATOR: Usain Bolt already going past.
0:51:39 > 0:51:42He set that stage alight. You've got to say.
0:51:42 > 0:51:46COMMENTATOR: Blasting round the top bend, Walter Dix in second place.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48Shawn Crawford trying to hang on.
0:51:48 > 0:51:53What's the time? It's gold for Usain Bolt and a new world record.
0:51:53 > 0:51:56I do not believe it. Absolutely brilliant!
0:51:57 > 0:52:0119.30. Into a head wind.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04Oh, just the fastest man on this planet.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Whatever happens from now on, he'll always be remembered for that.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10'Two gold medals, and two world records.'
0:52:10 > 0:52:15Bolt is already celebrating the Olympics which he is going to win.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19He ran so fast that he went into the future and saw himself win it.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23I am number one! I am! Number one!
0:52:27 > 0:52:30Britain has much to be ashamed of.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32Take this weirdo for instance.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35But in Sydney 2000 a whole nation stood proudly
0:52:35 > 0:52:36and saluted a home-grown hero.
0:52:36 > 0:52:41Sir Steve Redgrave is not your archetypal sports star.
0:52:41 > 0:52:45Redgrave never looked like a sportsman. Michael Johnson looks like an amazing runner.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48Steve Redgrave looks like the kind of guy you buy your bacon from.
0:52:50 > 0:52:53Even his sport isn't what you'd call populist.
0:52:53 > 0:52:54Rowing is an elitist sport.
0:52:54 > 0:52:59Every year we have Oxford versus Cambridge, never Luton Poly.
0:53:01 > 0:53:02And there is gold for Great Britain.
0:53:03 > 0:53:07But for most of us, Sir Steve is a hero in spite of all of this,
0:53:07 > 0:53:10thanks to five golds in five different Olympics.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14Steven Redgrave is making his way into Olympic history.
0:53:14 > 0:53:15To win five gold medals,
0:53:15 > 0:53:18back-to-back with different teams in different events.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21It's an unbelievable feat.
0:53:21 > 0:53:23I think he is the greatest sportsperson in this country.
0:53:23 > 0:53:28'Redgrave and Pinsent. They are the British Olympic Champions.'
0:53:28 > 0:53:33During his career he had surgery to remove his appendix
0:53:33 > 0:53:35and was diagnosed with diabetes.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38Yet, like the Bionic Man, he kept on winning.
0:53:38 > 0:53:41Great Britain, gold medals, Steven Redgrave. Mission accomplished.
0:53:41 > 0:53:44It's amazing that somebody could push themselves
0:53:44 > 0:53:46to that extreme for that long.
0:53:46 > 0:53:51I'd be very, very surprised if he's not lighting the torch in July.
0:53:51 > 0:53:56His life could have taken a different turn after he uttered these immortal words in '96.
0:53:56 > 0:54:01If anyone sees me go near a boat, you have my permission to shoot me.
0:54:01 > 0:54:03And there he is, four years later,
0:54:03 > 0:54:06back in the boat winning another gold.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08'Great Britain get the gold medal!'
0:54:08 > 0:54:13Five Olympic gold medals, it's absolutely unbelievable.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23And so, we've finally arrived.
0:54:23 > 0:54:27Time to cross the line and find out who our winner is.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29We know who has taken bronze and silver.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31Let's now find out who is going to stand on top
0:54:31 > 0:54:35- of our metaphorical podium. - What are you talking about?
0:54:35 > 0:54:38The winner, the person who has got to number one.
0:54:38 > 0:54:45This is our most amazing Olympic moment of all time.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50And I will beat any man in the world
0:54:50 > 0:54:52and I want everyone on TV to know it.
0:54:52 > 0:54:53I am the greatest.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58We've seen lots of glorious sporting moments
0:54:58 > 0:55:02but the ones that stay in the memory are the ones that transcend sport.
0:55:02 > 0:55:06From Jesse Owens enraging Hitler by winning four golds in Berlin,
0:55:06 > 0:55:09to the Black Power salutes of Mexico '68,
0:55:09 > 0:55:11to Cathy Freeman's Sydney heroics.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15Muhammad Ali will be remembered as the greatest sportsman of all time.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19The butterfly who stung like a bee inside the ring and outside, too.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22It all started when he won Olympic gold in 1960.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25A medal he later claims to have thrown into the Ohio River
0:55:25 > 0:55:28in protest at racism in America.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32He went on to protest against the Vietnam War
0:55:32 > 0:55:35and inspired figures as great as Martin Luther King.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40So, in 1996, although sadly suffering from Parkinson's,
0:55:40 > 0:55:44he was the perfect choice to light the Olympic flame
0:55:44 > 0:55:47in Atlanta, the spiritual home of the civil rights movement.
0:55:49 > 0:55:53A sporting giant who represented more than just sport,
0:55:53 > 0:55:57starting the world's greatest sporting event.
0:55:57 > 0:56:01Muhammad Ali lighting the flame is the best moment
0:56:01 > 0:56:03of any opening ceremony there has ever been.
0:56:03 > 0:56:06He's such an iconic sportsperson.
0:56:06 > 0:56:09The greatest name in sport, ever.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Having the opportunity to be recognised.
0:56:12 > 0:56:14It was a beautiful moment.
0:56:14 > 0:56:18I've never known a stadium of 80,000 people hold their breath.
0:56:19 > 0:56:24COMMENTATOR: What a moment. One of the great figures in sport.
0:56:24 > 0:56:28# Come on, come on, come on... #
0:56:28 > 0:56:29There's no other like him
0:56:29 > 0:56:31in any sport. You won't see anyone like him.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37COMMENTATOR: The sacred Olympic Flame burning brightly
0:56:37 > 0:56:39in the American city of Atlanta.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41There he is with the eyes of the world on him
0:56:41 > 0:56:45lighting the flame with Parkinson's,
0:56:45 > 0:56:47just confronting it, facing it down,
0:56:47 > 0:56:48incredible.
0:56:48 > 0:56:53Ali is a legend and I think it's only right he carried the torch.
0:56:58 > 0:57:05# Till we have built Jerusalem
0:57:05 > 0:57:13# In England's green and pleasant land. #
0:57:18 > 0:57:21Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd