I would hardly call Sydney a disappointing home Games. Australia was fourth on the medal table, behind USA, Russia and China. How much higher do you expect Australia to get given its population size and the countries that bettered it?

Mark, Norfolk,

"...but ALL the other competitors refused to race against him."

Kind of a distorted story here... he you want the real thing search Google (and use the correct name for the athlete - it's Wyndham Halswelle with an 'e' at the end).

Nuno, Porto, Portugal

Michael Ahmatt was Australia's first Aboriginal athlete to compete at an Olympic Games (1964 and 1968 games - Basketball). The same year that Peris-Kneebone won gold, Robert Peden won a gold in Boxing, Australia's first since 1978

Prue Asmus , Junee, Australia

Cathy Freeman was not the first Aboriginal to represent Australia at the Olympic Games and was not the first Aboriginal gold medallist.
1996 womens hockey - Nova Peris-Kneebone.

Ben, Liverpool, Australia

Another vote for Kerri Strug, and I'd have given it a pretty low number on the list, too. That young woman absolutely epitomizes courage, team spirit, and the Olympic ideal. Her heroic second vault should be remembered with reverence so long as the Olympic games are contested.

Angie, Long Beach, USA

Adding another voice to those who have said you should have included Vera Caslavska.

Meredith, Vienna, VA , USA

Kerri Strug from the 1996 Atlanta Games should have been mentioned

Matt, Sherborne, UK

How could you possibly leave out the field hockey finals of 1948?. it was barely after a year when India had won it's independence from England after more than a century of colonial suppression. the games were hosted IN england and India gave a thrashing to its former coloinal masters, 4-0.

Sameer, India,

Lawrence Lemieux leaving the racecourse during his sailing heat at the '88 Seoul games to rescue a drowning Singaporean sailor racing in another event.

Drew, Plano, USA

Kerri Strug.
The "Miracle" Ice Hockey Team.

They belong there, somewhere!

Cyndi, Longview, USA

Billy Mills a totaly obscure and unkown with only a lap to go, was pushed out to lane three in the 10,000 meter in the 64 Tokyo olympics. But he caught and passed the world's two greatest distance runners at the time, Australia's Ron Clarke and Tunisia's Mohammad Gammoudi, in the FINAL 100 METERS!

Brian, Washington DC, USA

Do You believe In Miracles?????!!!!!!!!The U.S. Ice Hockey Team over the vaunted Soviet Union team. I still get goosebumps watching Mike Eruzione skating around wiht the Stars and Stripes on his shoulders

Larry, Jacksonville NC, USA

Mary Lou Retton's two consecutive 10s in LA to clench the gold?

The Japanese gymnast (can not remember the name) competing with torn ligaments in his knee and sticking the landing on the rings to secure team gold?

peter, houston, usa

You forgot Dan Jansen winning the 500M! I guess its Winter Olympics (but that's where my loyality lies anyway). Going to Vancouver & can't wait to support USA Speedskating!

Rochelle, Miami, USA

did I miss it, or did you forget to mention the gold medal robbery of Roy Jones in the 1988 olmpics in his boxing match?

Rick, Millington, MI, USA

I agree with Richard Harrold,no way can you leave out Caslavska,THE HEROINE of the '68 Olympics.Remember she did her own dignified protest on the medal rostrum against the Soviet invasion of her country !

Howard Tuffrey, Portishead, England

:) don't even recognise the names of some people mentioned, yet the writers think they were great - shows how subjective something like this will always be.
The "unknown" South Africans beating the much favoured Americans & Australians in that swimming relay was pretty cool.
Big up to Eel Erik!

Lesley, Newport,

28. Steve Redgrave's achievement is even more remarkable than you say - he achieved five gold medals over five consecutive Olympics over 16 years, 1984 - 2000. A common mistake.

Shane Simpson, Potters Bar , England

You must have dropped the sheet of paper from your desk that had Vera Caslavska's name on it. There is no other explanation for omitting her. Top three at the very least.

Richard Harrold, Monterrey, Mexico

I still hold my breath as I watch Kerri Strug, the young American gymnast, vault her way to gold on an ankle that was already strained after her first jump. Her vault was flawless and it gave the Americans the final points they needed to win gold. That was a truly amazing experience.

Jessica Marie, Orlando, USA

I still hold my breath as I watch Kerri Strug, the young American gymnast, vault her way to gold on an ankle that was already strained after her first jump. Her vault was flawless and it gave the Americans the final points they needed to win gold. That was a truly amazing experience.

Jessica Marie, Orlando, USA

Everybody remember the winners (golden, silver or bronze medals) but there was a man who showed all the world the Olympic Spirit: COMPETE and for me he was a winner. He arrived in last position in Mexico '68. His name: John Stephen Akhwari from Tanzania. You can see him in the documental "MEXICO 68

Alejandro Zamudio, México City, México

"29. Atlanta 1996. The Games were marred by a bombing at the Centennial Olympic Park which killed two and injured 111 others."

I don't think it's nice to call that a "greatest Olympic games moment". lol

Matthew Wright, Yongin, Korea

the finish of Swiss competitor Gabriele Andersen-Scheiss - Los Angeles, 1984. I will never forget that.

Francesca Monteverano, Lisbon,

Fujimoto's performance on the rings in 1976 to help his team with agonizing pain to prevail....now that was drama and sheer guts. What a champion. Now that really should be in the top 10 at least.

Eric Purcell, Palm Beach FL., USA

In 1976 in Montreal, Japan's Shun Fujimoto broke his knee on the floor of the men's gymnastics team competition. Japan was defending; Soviets threatened to overtake them. To help his team, Fujimoto continued on the rings, landing a 9.7 triple somersault dismount (9.7) and saving gold for Japan.

Joe Follman, Tallahassee, U.S.A.

Derek Remonds Dad should get a medal. It remains a stunning example of the Olympic ideal - not the winning but the taking part.

I have tears in my eyes everytime someone reminds me of it.

James, Glasgow,

American Billy Mills pounded past Mohammed Gahmoudi and Ron Clarke in the last 200 meters to win the 10K race at Tokoyo '66. A personal best by 1 min. The sounds of the announcer screaming, "Here comes Mills! Here comes Mills" bring tears to my eyes as I hear and see it again in the minds eye.

Broadsword, St. Paul, USA

Also, the entry of Jose Pedraza into the stadium at Mexico in 68, passing one of the two Russians ahead of him to take the Silver in the 20K walk. Announcer: "Here's Golubnichiy entering. Now Nikolai Smaga" ...then"Here comes Pedraza!! (SCREAMING CROWDS!). He's caught the first Russian!! " Tears.

Broadsword, St. Paul, USA

Zola Budd competed for Britain. I should know, I had a crush on her when in my teens.

Savio Simon D'souza, Bombay, India

Jesse Owens - "Hitler didn't snub me - it was FDR who snubbed me-the President didn't even send me a telegram".Owens was allowed to stay in all hotels - not allowed in the US at that time. He had to ride a freight elevator to his own reception at the Waldorf-Astoria. Adi Dassler made his shoes.

Elizabeth Ward, Sydney, Australia

Surely Emil Zatopek won his three gold medals in Helsinki in 1952. In any case, the Olympic Games were held in London in 1948.

Tony Seddon, Cambridge, UK

One of my most abiding memeories is of Jim Hines thundering down the track in 1968. The first man under 10 secs.

Martin Soley, Harrogate, England

Surely the best British performance at the Olympics ( within living memory) was Mary Rands long jump gold medal in Tokyo?
After failing in Rome, breaking the world record, the first woman to jump 6 meters, what more could any athlete do?

Richard Edwards, COVENTRY, England

Great list, a massive omission has got to be Roy Jones Jnr. His performance in the final in the 88 olympics should have undoubtedly have given him the gold medal. The decision went to his opponent despite a standing 8 count. The worst decision in boxing history.

Philip R, Surrey, UK

Re 15: Just because its a Japanese person you try to add wackiness to the story. It was and still a commercially available drink which was produced afer the createo admired the endurance of bees in Japan.
Give credit to the runner.

Bill myers, Tokyo, Japan

Rome 1960..who could forget the close of the 50km walk, the television camera focussed on the stadium entrance and who walks in leading.......Don Thompson, the only Great Britain athlete to win Gold........hairs on your neck rise just writing about this great Olympic moment.

A.L.Jones, Crickhowell, Wales

So a drugs cheat as number one. Really?

But oh no don't send Chambers to the Olympics whatever you do.

Come on

Jon, London, Uk

By no stretch of imagination Paula Radcliffe can make it to the list. She showed no character in her loss, whatever be the reason for her withdrawal from the race. She is one among the thousands of Olympic failures.

saaj, Guildford, UK

Atlanta '96 - In the ultimate event of the team gymnastics event Kerri Strug has to score well to win the USA their first ever gold in the event. On her first attempt, she falls, spraining her ankle. On her second and last attempt, she lands perfectly - on one foot, before collapsing in agony.

Rory McCulloch, Leamington Spa, England

"disappointing home olympics for the Australians"... surely you jest.

the same olympics described as the best ever?!

the same olympics australia came fourth in the medal tally?!

the same olympics that electrified a nation and signified a coming of age to the world.

yeah... real disappointing man

richard, sydney,

I must have been only 15 when Kerri Strug vaulted for her team while injured, but it is still the only moment in my life that I have shed a tear while wtaching a sporting event. It was olympian.

Michael, Killarney,

Lee from Kent - read Mr Syed's comments on Ben Johnson, then you might understand my reaction - 'we respond to the speed, the ambition, the absolute earth-shattering glory of being the fastest man in the world.”

Sorry, but if the man has cheated, there is no glory.

Bob Yule, London, UK

An excellent artlicle. Disappointed you do not
acknowledge the Games moments of Al Oerter (US) in the Olympic Discus throw event.

Len chinnery, Rainham,Essex, UK

The list is not just the proudest moments or greatest achievements, it's about instances which have shaped the games, which have been profound events in the history of such competitions.

Read the explanation from the author before you read the selections, it might help you understand the article!

Lee, Kent, UK

Ben Johnson might top the list for 'saddest' Olympic moments, but not 'greatest'. He cheated, and there's no glory or achievement in that, however fast he ran.

Bob Yule, London, UK

when we look back at what has gone since Seoul, the Ben Johnson gold medal performance is all the more remarkable. It took 10 or more years for anyone to come close to the time run that day, indeed many of those who followed as the worlds fastest man still credited that performance as the greatest

simon, Cape Town,

did you know jesse wasn't jesse owens real name it was james cleaveland owens. His initials being "JC" hence jesse

david, swansea, wales uk

No 15 - it was not the winner in Athens, Japan's Mizuki Noguchi, who had attributed her endurance abilities to drinking the stomach juices of giant killer hornets. It was the winner from the Sydney Olympics - Naoko Takahashi, also of Japan.

Harold, Singapore,

I looked in vain for Kerri Strug doing a vault at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics despite an agonizingly injured ankle because she thought her team needed her to.

Kevin W. Parker, Greenbelt, MD, USA

Sorry, maybe I missed it but where is Linford Christie's win in 1992? I remember that everyone from Carl Lewis through to Mitchell and Burrell were meant to win. It was an open, tight race and one which saw the famous tunnel vision of Christie break into a huge victrionic smile. Brilliant stuff.

Mike, London, UK

#39 was an excellent choice. The vast majority of people dont remember what happens at each Olympics but everyone remembers Eric the Eel. He may not have won gold but he will be remembered for a long time and at least he had the pride to finish the race.

Vivas, London,

#14, Freeman was not the first aboriginal to compete for Australia. Nor was she the first to win Gold. She was however the first to win an individual gold.

Michael, Australia,

Probably not worthy of the list but the Australian 4x100 freestyle relay team playing air guitar after winning gold in Sydney was good. The American Gary Hall Jr had said that they would smash the Australians like guitars.

Andrew, Newcastle, Australia

# 14 great moment, but this is incorrect. "Up to then it had been a disappointing home Olympics for the Australians, especially in the pool," The AOC predicted 20 swim medals 6 to 8 golds, we won 18 medals, 5 golds. It predicted 60 medals we won 58, 15 to 20 golds, won 16. Feeeman's gold was no. 13

Nick Raschella, Sydney, Australia

Great list by the way. You can argue the order, but it's pretty hard to leave out too many of the 50 moments selected.

Nick Raschella, Sydney, Australia

What about Sergey Bubka around 1980. He was the first pole vaulter ever to soar over 6 meters. that is incredible! It is a huge milestone for all polevaulters, not many make it.

david, winston, USA