About the Games
A total of 10 651 athletes from 199 countries participated in Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. The athletes competed in 300 events.
Most medals won (from a total of 80 teams) by: 1. USA – 93 (37, 24, 32), 2. Russia – 89 (32, 28, 29), 3. China – 58 (28, 16, 14).
Lithuania in the Games
In Sidney 61 Lithuanian athletes represented Lithuania and competed in canoeing, boxing, cycling (road and track), judo, gymnastics, wrestling, rowing, track and field athletics, basketball, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, and modern pentathlon events.
Lithuanians won 7 medals. Discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna and Olympic record-holder shooter Daina Gudzinevičiūtė won gold. Bronze medals were won by cyclist Diana Žiliūtė, rowing team mates Kristina Poplavskaja and Birutė Šakickienė and mens basketball team coached by Jonas Kazlauskas: Gintaras Einikis, Saulius Štombergas, Eurelijus Žukauskas, Darius Songaila, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Tomas Masiulis, Mindaugas Timinskas, Darius Maskoliūnas, Andrius Giedraitis, Kęstutis Marčiulionis, and Dainius Adomaitis.
Following a dramatic fight in the semifinals, the Lithuanian basketball team was defeated by the USA’s team made up of NBA stars with the score of 83:85. The Lithuanian team won bronze by winning the match with Australia (89:71).
Among top eight finishers were boxer Ivanas Stapovičius (5), pentathlete Andrejus Zadneprovskis (7), canoer Alvydas Duonėla (7), and wrestler Mindaugas Ežerskis (8).
During the Opening ceremony the Lithuanian flag was carried by the Olympic champion Romas Ubartas.
Interesting facts
During the Opening ceremony, South Korea and North Korea marched together under the same flag.
Eritrea, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau made their Olympic debut. Four athletes from East Timor competed as Individual Olympic Athletes under the Olympic flag.
Triathlon and taekwondo were added to the Olympic programme.
Steven Redgrave became the first ever rower to win gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games.
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
How the Lithuanian basketball team surprised the US “Dream Team”:
Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics website:
