ATHENS, 27 August 2004 — American Shawn Crawford won the Athens Games 200 meters final yesterday in a race delayed five minutes by chanting and booing from hostile sections of the crowd at the Olympic stadium.
The spectators, incensed that their hero and defending champion Costas Kenteris was absent after withdrawing from the Olympics following a missed dope test, refused repeated appeals for silence.
Former world champion Frank Fredericks, running in his final race, also gestured to the crowd from the outside lane in vain before the runners finally settled into their blocks.
With elements of the crowd still booing, a false start seemed inevitable and the starter duly recalled the runners.
The field finally got away at the second time of asking, with Crawford powering to the front to deny teammate Justin Gatlin the 100-200 double.
Crawford, who clocked a personal best of 19.79 seconds, led the first United States medals sweep since the 1984 Los Angeles Games with Bernard Williams taking second place in 20.01 and Gatlin fading to third in 20.03.
Kenteris, the 2000 Sydney Olympic champion, and Katerina Thanou, the 100 silver medalist, withdrew from the Games after failing to turn up to a doping test on the eve of the opening ceremony.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced yesterday that its doping review board would start an immediate investigation but added the pair were free to compete in the meantime.
Felix Sanchez, the finest one-lap hurdler since Ed Moses, won the Dominican Republic’s first Olympic gold with victory in 47.63 seconds.
After a false start given to at least three athletes including Sanchez, the American-born favorite sped out of the blocks and quickly opened a lead over his main rival James Carter of the United States, who had set the fastest time in the world this year.
American Dwight Phillips confirmed he is the best male long jumper in the world by adding the Olympic long jump title to his 2003 world indoor and outdoor gold medals.
He effectively ended the competition with his first jump, a leap of 8.59 meters which was further than any of his competitors had produced for the past four years.
Marion Jones, triple gold champion in Sydney but who failed to qualify for the individual sprints in Athens, ran the second leg of the 4x100 relay to help the US easily qualify for today’s final with a time which equaled the season’s best of 41.67 seconds.
Inspired by Hicham El Guerrouj’s victory in the men’s 1,500m, Denmark’s Wilson Kipketer remained on course to realize his dream of an Olympic title after winning his semifinal.
His Moroccan friend broke his 1,500 meters jinx on Tuesday, leaving the three-time world 800m champion and world record holder in danger of going down in history as one of the greatest athletes never to win a gold medal.
Wambach Strike Gives Hamm Golden Send-Off
• Abby Wambach snatched an extra-time winner as the United States overcame Brazil 2-1 to win Olympic gold in the women’s soccer tournament yesterday, giving Hall of Famer Mia Hamm the perfect send-off.
The big striker headed a Kristine Lilly corner powerfully into the roof of the net in the 22nd minute of extra time to secure a second Olympic title for the US after their triumph at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
It was Wambach’s 18th goal in her last 20 games for the two-times World Cup winners, who finished runners-up to Norway in Sydney four years ago.
Midfielder Lindsay Tarpley put the US ahead with a fierce 25-meter drive six minutes before halftime, but Brazil striker Pretinha equalized in the 73rd minute, pouncing on a mistake from goalkeeper Briana Scurry to score from close range.
For Hamm, widely regarded as the best female player in the world, it was a fitting end to a glittering 17-year career, even though she never came close to scoring her 154th goal in 266 internationals.
Germany earlier won the bronze against Sweden.
