SPORTS

Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Softball.

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SOFTBALL

Olympic softball wasn’t introduced into the Olympic program until the 1996 Atlanta Games. The United States captured the gold medal at the inaugural game and went on to take gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Games and Athens 2004 Games. The 2004 U.S. softball team, nicknamed The Real Dream Team, dominated the Games that year, outscoring opponents 51 to 1. That winning streak ended at the 2008 Beijing Games when Japan took the gold.

The IOC removed baseball and softball from the Olympic program starting in 2012. The sport was then temporarily readmitted for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Olympic softball is an event for women only. One of the top performing U.S. players at the Olympic Games was Lisa Fernandez, one of the greatest female athletes of all time. She led the U.S. team to their three consecutive gold medal wins.

Softball Hall of Famers

image of 2004 Women's Olympic Softball

2004 Softball Team

Perhaps the most dominant team in any sport in Olympic history, the 2004 U.S. Softball Team earned its nickname The Real Dream Team by outscoring opponents by a combined 51 to 1.

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Lisa Fernandez

One of the greatest female athletes of all time, Lisa Fernandez won a dominant pitcher and hitter, leading the United States to three consecutive Olympic gold medals in softball.

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Notable moments

The United States' women's teams enjoyed resounding success at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, capturing the first-ever gold medals in women's soccer and softball, as well as winning gold in women's gymnastics team all-around and women's basketball.

EXPLORE HALL OF FAME ATHLETES BY SPORT

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