Left field

As the decade draws to a close, we pick five sporting moments which have defined the last 10 years.

1. Cathy Freeman lit the Olympic flame at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, a Games set in a country which embraces the outdoor life and punches well above its weight in most sports.

Aboriginal Freeman, who had suffered racial prejudice as a child, symbolised the optimism of a new start in a new century for a bustling immigrant nation. She went on to surmount suffocating pressure by winning the 400 metres gold, Australia’s only track gold.

2. A tattered U.S. flag, rescued from the rubble of the World Trade Centre which had been destroyed in the attacks on the United States in the previous year, was carried into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

There had been serious doubts that the Games and the subsequent World Cup in Japan and South Korea would go head after the events of 9/11. In the end both took place without incident albeit at enormous security costs.

3. Zinedine Zidane, the supreme soccer player of his generation and scorer of two headers in France’s 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil, emerged from international retirement to help take his team to the 2006 final against Italy.

Zidane converted a penalty via the crossbar but in a moment of madness head-butted Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Poised to join Pele as the greatest player to grace the world stage, Zidane was instead sent off and Italy won on penalties.

4. In 2006, Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin and Tour de France winner Floyd Landis were banned within days of each other after testing positive for excessive levels of the male sex hormone testosterone.

The Americans’ twin disgrace further darkened the ominous clouds over athletics and cycling and left more people than ever wondering if it was possible to be successful while remaining clean in sports devoted to speed, endurance or strength.

5. Sport occasionally throws up teams and athletes who possess not only transcendent skills but also the ability to inspire their rivals to new heights. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer gave one such example in the 2008 Wimbledon tennis final. The pair fought each other to a standstill during five unforgettable
sets with Nadal finally prevailing in near darkness.

For a longer look back at a decade of sport (and yes Usain Bolt and Tiger Woods are included) please click here.

PHOTO: Rafael Nadal of Spain (R) is embraced by Roger Federer of Switzerland after defeating him in the final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London July 6, 2008. REUTERS/Pool