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Ebony, Oct, 1996 by Walter Leavy

IT was 17 days of memorable magic, 17 days of incredible athletic performances and 17 days that Atlanta and the world will never forget.

Not even a frightening act of terror could put an end to the Atlanta Olympic miracle. Even though the bombing in Centennial Olympic Park dampened the mood, it didn't send those brimming with the Olympic spirit running to hide. But millions were "outraged," outraged that such a senseless act threatened to spoil this international party, outraged that such an act of violence could take place in the home of the dreamer. In the end though, outrage and all, the spirit of the people "paralleled the irrepressible heart of an Olympic champion."

When the park was ceremoniously reopened with a tribute to the victims (see Page 116), it represented a triumph of the human spirit, making it clear that there was so much more that made the largest peacetime event in history so special and memorable. There was Muhammad Ali's surprising and dramatic appearance to light the Olympic caldron; Josia Thugwane's victory in the marathon to become the first Black South African to win a gold medal; the joy of Carl Lewis after finding enough spring in those 35-year-old legs to win the long jump and capture his record-tying ninth Olympic gold medal, Donovan Bailey's world record in the 100-meter dash, and--although somewhat overlooked--there was the spectacular performance by Dominique Dawes, who was the top U. S. overall scorer on the night the U.S. women's gymnastic team won its first gold medal in Olympic competition. Without her, there would have been no celebration, no gold medal, no Kerri Strug.

Although Dawes' performance was compelling and heroic in its own right, it was Michael Johnson's gold-shoed march on Atlanta that was the centerpiece of these Games. With the inspiration that came from a letter written by Ruth Owens, Olympic immortal Jesse Owens' widow, the Rockwell, Texas, speedster--who runs in a style that's reminiscent of the 1936 Olympics hero--ran right into history.

Long before the Games began, even casual sports fans were wondering if lightning would strike twice for Johnson who would be trying to become the first man in Olympic history to win both the 400- and 200-meter races. Not only did lightning strike twice, it struck with the force that yielded an Olympic record in the 400 (43.39, just 0.2 seconds off the world record). But that was just the appetizer. In the main course, Johnson stumbled out of the blocks in the 200 meters, but about halfway through the race--running in his familiar erect style--he accelerated with unusual power and finished a full 5 meters ahead of silver medalist Frankie Fredericks of Namibia. The clock read 19.32 seconds, a new world record. "When you come off the turn into the straightaway, you can tell how fast you're going," a jubilant Johnson recalls. "I knew I was running faster than I've ever run in my life." And faster than anyone else in history. His performance was electric, the crowning glory of an incredible, four-year pursuit, and it was kind of a gift that he gave to the 85,000 in Olympic Stadium who, in years to come, can point to the fact that they were a part of this historic moment.

While Atlanta proved to be Johnson's coronation, the Games also represented the end for two of track and field's best-known and most popular legends--Lewis and Jackie Joyner-Kersee--both of whom bade farewell to Olympic competition. Even in the end, with the odds against them, they showed why they are among the few who wear the title "champion" as they proceeded to close out this part of their careers with storybook performances. After Lewis barely made the Olympic team, few thought that he would jump far enough to even get a bronze medal. But just when it seemed Carl's amazing story had ended, he added a golden final chapter, jumping 27 feet, 103h inches to outdistance 12 others and put an end to one of the most glorious Olympic careers in history. "That's it," he says about his Olympic career. "There's no way I can top this. I look forward to life after track and field because there are other things outside of track that are passionate to me--my charity work, speaking to young people, getting more involved in political issues. These are the kind of things I'm looking forward to doing."

Like Lewis, Joyner-Kersee, at 34, didn't expect to have an easy time in Atlanta. And she didn't. The Olympics are characterized by courage, pride, determination and perseverance--all of which are part of Joyner-Kersee's makeup. But, in her case, we saw that love can be more powerful than all of those qualities put together. For four years she had waited to show the world that she still was the best in the heptathlon. But in the first event, the 100meter hurdles, her dream crashed like a house of cards. By the time she cleared the fourth hurdle, everybody knew something was seriously wrong when her face contorted as if she had just gotten a big whiff of ammonia. On desire alone, Joyner-Kersee finished the race, but her right hamstring had raised a question that her husband/ trainer, Bob Kersee, would have to answer--can she continue? He knew how hard she had worked to get back to this international stage, and he knew what it meant to Jackie to win another gold medal. But the possibility of permanent injury overruled whatever moment of glory that might have laid ahead. "I'm going to have to pull you out," Kersee said to his somewhat resistant wife. "This is your husband talking, not your coach." With the decision made, the two embraced and cried together.