Carl Lewis: In an age of track-and-field specialization Carl Lewis proved to be head and shoulders above an entire generation of great athletes. In Los Angeles he matched Jesse Owens' 1936 achievements by easily winning four gold medals. He won the 100m by a two meter margin and the long jump by 30 cm, using only two of the six jumps available. His 200m victory was equally impressive, setting an Olympic record. He capped off his week's work with an astonishing 8.94 second relay anchor leg, leading the United States to a new world record.

	Britain's Daley Thompson impressively repeated as decathlon champion, tying runner-up Jurgen Hingsen's world record. Thompson's result was soon to become a world record when the decathlon tables were adjusted in 1985. Notoriously outspoken, Thompson circled the track after his victory wearing a t-shirt printed with"Thank you America for a Good Games and a Great Times", on the front and "But what about the TV coverage?" printed on the back. Thompson was protesting alleged American nationalistic bias in the television broadcasts.

American wrestler Jeff Blatnick's life was struck by tragedy when his brother was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1977. Three years later he was struck with Hodgkin's disease. After his spleen being removed and radiation therapy saved his life, Blatnick returned to his wrestling training. In one of the Game's biggest upsets Blatnick defeated Refik Mernisevic of Yugoslavia in the opening round and later defeated Sweden's Thomas Johansson for the super-heavyweight freestyle gold medal. Only then, for the first time since his brother's death, Jeff allowed himself to fall to his knees to quietly pray and weep.