The 2000 Sydney Games marked a turning point for the Olympics at the start of the new millennium. With new sports, rising talent, and expanded opportunities for women, these Games left a lasting legacy.
More than 10,000 athletes from 199 nations competed in 300 medal events. The United States led the medal count with 93 medals, including 37 gold, 24 silver, and 32 bronze.
Sydney produced unforgettable moments. Michael Johnson became the first man to win back-to-back Olympic golds on the track in the 400 meter. Gary Hall, Jr. and Anthony Ervin tied for gold in the men’s 50 freestyle swim. Rulon Gardner pulled off the “Miracle on the Mat” by defeating Russian legend Aleksandr Karelin in Greco-Roman wrestling. The “Miracle on Grass” will always be remembered by USA Baseball, as they beat Cuba for the first time in baseball history to win the gold medal. Laura Wilkinson became the first American to win women’s platform diving since 1964, while Stacy Dragila claimed the inaugural women’s pole vault gold. Vince Carter wowed basketball fans with his “Dunk of Death” over France’s Frédéric Weis, and a 15-year-old Michael Phelps made his Olympic debut, hinting at the greatness to come.
The Games also welcomed new sports, including trampoline gymnastics, taekwondo, and triathlon. Women’s participation expanded to pole vault, hammer throw, weightlifting, water polo, modern pentathlon, and sailing (470 and Mistral classes). Synchronized diving was introduced for both men and women, rounding out a Games defined by innovation and memorable performances.
View a full list of all the Olympic gold medals Team USA won in Sydney.
U.S. Teams
- Softball
- Baseball
- Women’s Basketball
- Men’s basketball
Shooting
-
Nancy Johnson won a gold medal in the 10-meter air rifle
Men’s swimming
- Lenny Krayzelburg (100-meter backstroke and 200-meter backstroke)
- Tom Malchow (200-meter butterfly)
- Tom Dolan (400-meter individual medley)
- Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall Jr. (50-meter freestyle)
- 4×100-meter medley relay team of Ian Crocker, Hall Jr., Tommy Hannan, Lenny Krayzelburg, Jason Lezak, Ed Moses and Neil Walker
Women’s swimming
- Brooke Bennett (400-meter freestyle and 800-meter freestyle)
- Megan Quann (100-meter breaststroke)
- Misty Hyman (200-meter butterfly)
- 4×100-meter freestyle relay team of Erin Phenix, Courtney Shealy, Ashley Tappin, Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Amy Van Dyken
- 4×200-meter freestyle relay team of Samantha Arsenault, Lindsay Benko, Kim Black, Diana Munz, Julia Stowers and Thompson
- 4×100-meter medley relay team of Barbara Bedford, Quann, Shealy, Staciana Stitts, Tappin, Thompson, Torres and Van Dyken
Men’s track and field
- Maurice Greene (100-meter dash)
- Michael Johnson (400-meter run)
- Angelo Taylor (400-meter hurdles)
- Nick Hysong (pole vault)
- 4×100-meter relay team of Kenneth Brokenburr, Jon Drummond, Greene, Brian Lewis, Tim Montgomery and Bernard Williams
Women’s track and field
- Stacy Dragila (pole vault)
- 4×400-meter relay team of Andrea Anderson, LaTasha Colander, Monique Hennagan and Jearl Miles Clark
Weightlifting
- Tara Nott won gold in the women’s 48-kilogram
Cycling
- Marty Nothstein won gold in the men’s sprint
Equestrian
- David O’Connor won gold in the individual eventing
Diving
- Laura Wilkinson won gold in the women’s platform
Beach volleyball
- Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana
Tennis
- Venus Williams won the women’s singles gold medal
- Venus Williams teamed with her sister Serena to win gold in women’s doubles
Wrestling
- Rulon Gardner (Greco-Roman 130 kilograms)
- Brandon Slay (freestyle 76 kilograms)
Taekwondo
- Steven Lopez won gold at 68 kilograms
Sailing
- Magnus Liljedahl and Mark Reynolds won gold in the star class
