In the not so common Aussie sport of Judo, Maria Pekli claimed bronze becoming the first and only Australian woman to win an Olympic medal in Judo. She did so in the women’s 57kg tournament.
Leisel Jones took silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke at the age of 15 years and 19 days, becoming the youngest medallist of the Sydney Games. It was her first of nine Olympic medals, an Australian record she still shares with Thorpe.
The Dutch caused an upset in the pool as Ian Thorpe was defeated by Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband in the men’s 200m freestyle by half only a second. It marked the first and only time someone smashed Thorpedo in a final of the 200m freestyle in any major competition. Ian however gained revenge in the following Olympics in Athens 2004.
It was a surprise that Artistic gymnastics would go to China who won gold in the men’s team event for the first time. Previously they claimed silver in Los Angeles 1984, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. They would go on and win this event again in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Michael Phelps made his Olympic debut in the heats of the 200m butterfly in Sydney. He eventually finished fifth a day later in the final at the age of 15 years and 81 days. Phelps went on to dominate the sport right through to the 2016 Rio Games. He holds the Olympic records for most gold medals (23) and most overall medals (28).
