When Johnson, Perec did a double

Flashback Atlanta 1996

The Games were afflicted by logistical problems, most notably transport while a bomb explosion in Centennial Park which killed two people and injured more than 100 also cast a cloud.

The overt commercial hustling was also distasteful but the true Olympic spirit ultimately triumphed with Muhammad Ali, his hands trembling with the effects of Parkinson's syndrome, lighting the flame through sheer force of will.

Michael Johnson won an unprecedented 200-400 double, emitting a mighty roar of triumph after smashing his own world record in the shorter event. In the women’s section, Frenchwoman Marie-Jose Perec did the same double which had been achieved once before by Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984.

Donovan Bailey upstaged the Americans by setting a world record in the men's 100 metres final then anchoring the Canadian team to victory in the 4x100 relay.

Lewis, who again missed qualifying for the 100 metres, defied the years and his younger rivals to win a fourth long jump gold, matching Al Oerter’s feat of winning the same event over four Games.

Turkey’s Pocket Hercules, Naim Suleymanoglu became the first weightlifter to win three straight titles.

Did you know?

In 1996, Austrian sailor Hubert Raudashcl became the first person to compete in nine Olympic Games.