Another in our series of Olympic opening ceremonies, here is the torch lighting at the Sydney Games:

Sprint and Relay Specialist Shirley Strickland de la Hunty was known to be a great athlete, competing in the sport, athletics, mainly in relay. She is also a record-breaker. She is the first woman to win seven Olympic medals and to successfully defend her Olympic title in the 80m hurdles (1952-1956).
Here’s a brief overview of career as an athlete and her stint in the Olympics:
In three successive Olympic Games, Shirley Strickland competed in the 4×100m relay:
London 1948: Shirley’s first Olympic Games, at the age of 23. The Australian women had to make do with silver behind the Dutch team, …read more

Nine months after his previous World Cup race, Tim Don returns to the circuit this weekend a relieved world champion. There is nothing so precious as that which is taken away and until last week the Briton was banned for life from future Olympics. But there was more than just the Games riding on Don’s appeal for reinstatement.
(Source)
Tim Don, is a British triathlete, who won title in the World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland last September 2006. He also competed in the past two Olympics, 2000 Sydney Games and 2004 Athens Games.
However, a few weeks later, Don was banned for life …read more

Again, I am not referring to that huge ape in the movie but the Chinese Table Tennis star, who was known for his handshake-style of playing.
According to the article I read today, multiple Olympic and World champion Kong Linghui announced his retirement last Thursday after playing his last competitive match during the Chinese National Championships.
He had plans of competing in the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing but he viewed it as an unrealistic goal prior his decision. He further said that he’s no longer in his prime and will be able to contribute better as a coach. He now …read more