Changing China

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