Olympic Games 1992

While thunder rattled the arena roof, Cuban boxers won three more gold medals at what was supposed to be the most competitive Olympic Games boxing tournament since 1976. On the final day of competition, the Cubans won three of their four gold-medal bouts to finish the Games with seven golds and two silvers, easily the best boxing performance ever at a non-boycotted Olympics. The U.S.

In the minds of South Koreans, history corrected itself in the men's marathon Sunday. The last time a Korean had won this race was in 1936, when Japanese troops occupied his nation. In that Olympic marathon, Sohn Kee Chung was forced to wear a Japanese uniform and take a Japanese name, Kitei Son. When he won the 26.2-mile race, the Japanese flag was raised and the Japanese anthem played.

Gigi Fernandez doesn't get to the post-match news conference podium much, and for journalists, that's a shame. She is a doubles specialist, and they get interviewed about as much as golf caddies. But when she won the women's doubles gold medal for the United States, teaming with Mary Joe Fernandez, there she was, center stage. And it was fun.

"Hey! Little brother!" Larry Donald yelled. Huffing and puffing, he caught up to Oscar De La Hoya on an overhead bridge crossing a street here. "Got to see that thing!" The heavyweight practically yanked the gold medal from the lightweight's neck. "Mmmm, mmmm," Donald said. "Ain't she pretty?" "You like it?" De La Hoya asked. "Oh, man. My eyes like to pop out of my head when they put that thing on you," Donald said. De La Hoya laughed and said: "Yeah. Me, too."

The boats are sleeker and the paddles are better, but the arms are four years older. Greg Barton, the only U.S. kayaker to win two gold medals in one Olympics, was curious to see how the combination would play on the flatwater at Canal Olimpic. Fast was how it played. Faster than Seoul, when Barton won two Olympic gold medals in two hours. Faster by 17 seconds in the 1,000-meter singles, faster by 13 seconds in 1,000-meter doubles. Faster, but not better.