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The Great Olympians of the World

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A symbol of peace and world unity, the modern Olympics took shape in Greece, the birthplace of the ancient games. The Olympics are divided into Winter and Summer games and take place every four years. Of the numerous sports represented, there are currently 35 different sports (such as skating), 53 disciplines (sub-categories like figure skating and speed skating) and more than 400 events.

During the Olympics, new sports are introduced or represented as potential candidates for future games, while others are removed (such as polo and tug of war). These new demonstration sports are usually meant to promote a local sport of the host country or to test audience interest. Several of these sports (such as baseball and curling) are subsequently added to the official program.

No matter how well a host country welcomes the world or how spectacular the Olympic events unravel, the true heroes of the competition are the Olympians. All Olympians from participating countries are regarded with the utmost respect and admiration. And, in true competitive style, gold medals represent the epitome of the event.

Although it is impossible to mention all of the great Olympians, below are a few outstanding athletes that deserve honorable mention.

• Steve Redgrave is the only Olympian to have won a gold medal at five consecutive games (from Los Angeles in 1984 to Sydney in 2000).

• Fanny Blankers-Koen (a.k.a. the 'Flying Dutchwoman') was voted the female athlete of the last century. At 30 years old, Blankers-Koen was a mother of two when she won four gold medals at the 1948 London games.

• Dawn Fraser took home three consecutive gold medals for the 100m women’s swimming event at three successive Olympics from 1956-64.

• Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to achieve a perfect score at Montreal 1976. She won nine medals (five gold, three silver and one bronze) in the Montreal and Moscow games.

• Muhammad Ali achieved the gold medal in the light-heavyweight division at Rome 1960. Despite suffering from Parkinson's disease, Ali returned to the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 to light the Olympic torch

• Michael Johnson was virtually unbeatable for most of the 1990s. He won a total of five gold medals during his career, retiring at the top in Sydney 2000. He still holds the world record for the 400m-run.

The Olympics embody much more than merely wining gold medals and competing for world titles. They are a gathering of the world’s greatest Olympians in a celebration of peace. The Olympics have continuously brought the world together every four years; political issues are set aside, and proud Olympians demonstrate their incredible power and dedication to their country.