Remember the Black Power salutes from the podium in Mexico 1968?
The 2008 Beijing Olympics medal ceremonies might not produce anything to match that, but there has been no shortage of drama so far.
In the full emotional spectrum, we have had:
Anger - Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian stormed off the podium to dump his bronze on the mat in a protest against referees.
Tragedy - German weightlifter Matthias Steiner promised his dying wife he would honour her in Beijing, and clutched his gold next to a photo of her.
Confusion - Gymnastics fans still had their calculators out to decipher how American Nastia Liukin came second to China’s He Kexin after their identical score of 16.725 was decided by a convoluted tiebreak system.
Joy - Russia’s flamboyant pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva was bouncing up-and-down almost as much as she did for her world-record jump when she took her gold prize.
Bitterness - Britain’s rowing quad were downcast and crying after the three-times world champions took dreaded silver instead of top spot.
Pain - Ouch! Turkey’s greco-roman wrestler Nazmi Avluca had an ice-pack on his knee and needed assistance on and off the podium to collect his bronze.
Friendship - Georgian and Russian shooters and medal-winners embraced despite their nations’ conflict. South and North Korean shooters shook hands too, though the latter was stripped of medals for doping.
Fortunately for the Chinese government, no medal winners have yet invoked the political spirit of Mexico to flash a “T” for Tibet.
With only a few days to go before the end, what have been your most moving medal moments in Beijing, or elsewhere in Olympic history?
PHOTO: Gold medallist Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia cries during the women’s pole vault medal ceremony of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake

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8 comments so far
Deeply touched…..
- Posted by Nick CarterHow about Maarten van der Weijden who had cancer and won the gold in the 10km marathon swim today.
- Posted by MikeTragedy - German weightlifter Matthias Steiner promised his dying wife he would honour her in Beijing, and clutched his gold next to a photo of her.
I think it can’t be labelled as a Tragedy.That moment maybe “love” better?
- Posted by ZhThe most moving/stunning of all time for me was (please excuse my spelling) Vera Cheslovska in Mexico City. While Russia was invading her homeland, Vera was cheated out of a Gold in the balance beam. (although she did win several other events.) Her preformance and courage was incredible.
- Posted by Marty SeylerHow about SADNESS:
Sadness because NBC coverage of the Olympics has been pitiful and sad and one-sided. The Olympics has always been great not just because of seeing the Americans win, but enjoying the triumphs of all athletes and crying with the ones from all countries who try their hardest and come up just that short..
This has been the Michael Phelps and supporting cast with far too many hours of TV Time devoted to the unnecessarily scantily clad Beach Volleyball ladies. Would Shorts be really too much of a hindrance?
- Posted by Paula[...] nearing the end of the Beijing Olympics, it’s time for reminiscing and list making. Here’s one set of top picks on the emotional dimensions of medal winning. [View from the Bird’s [...]
- Posted by China Journal : Best of the China Blogs: August 22The Matthias Love Story was very moving and also who can compare to the Jamaican sprint team and their spectacular achievements with the fun celebrations to match!
- Posted by DaniaWon’t somebody please thing of the children!!!!!
- Posted by Tuditito