Olympics: 10 Key Moments

By DAVID LEGGAT and EUGENE BINGHAM

THE HAKA CRINGE

Before the Olympics began, chef de mission Dave Currie said athletes and officials were being encouraged to perform haka to support competitors as they did their thing.

This seems to have been taken to extremes.

At times it's been an impressive sight. One American photographer watched the haka performed by a section of supporters after Sarah Ulmer's gold medal ride at the velodrome.

"Hey, that's great," he said.

But at other times it's been cringe-making. Stopping halfway through, people grinning as they're performing it. Not a good look and not what it was intended for.

BEST OH-OH MOMENT

Rowers Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles, late qualifiers for the Olympics, and their unscheduled plunge into Lake Schinias halfway through their coxless pair heat.

Fortunately, they got back on board and finished the heat to ensure a place in the repechage. They pulled themselves together and made their A final.

A case of keeping their heads at a moment of extreme stress and getting the reward in the end.

THE 'YOU'VE GOTTA FEEL FOR THE KID' AWARD

To 14-year-old Korean swimmer Park Tae Hwan whose Olympics were over before they began. In his only event, he left the blocks too soon in his 400m freestyle heat and got the red card. As he left the pool, gathered his things and headed for the changing room his chin never left his chest.

SADDEST MOMENT

The discovery that the women's shot-put winner, Irina Korzhanenko of Russia, was dirty. She'd already served one ban for testing positive and now she had soiled the stellar event for the Greeks at Olympia.

Given the historic setting and how much the Greeks had invested in having the event staged there, this was the one event you'd like to have seen come through clean. Too much to expect these days.

FUNNIEST SIGHT

When Greek divers Nikolaos Siranidis and Thomas Bimis unexpectedly won the synchronised 3m springboard final the crowd went berserk. The Chinese favourites botched their last dive, opening the way for a highly unlikely gold.

Pandemonium reigned on the pool deck, hugs, tears, the full works. In the middle of the throng was a policeman. Trying to keep control, you might think. Not quite. He had his cellphone up to his ear, no doubt calling home with the "Hey kids, are you watching TV?" line, as he thumped the swimmers on the back in hearty congratulations.

For a minute he forgot what he was supposed to be doing and joined in the celebrations. All perfectly natural, but his boss might not have taken such a generous view.

LEAVING NOTHING ON THE TRACK

Nick Willis staggered under the tunnel after his unsuccessful bid for a spot in the 1500m final. By vomiting in front of several hundred reporters the young Wellington runner showed beyond any doubt that he had given his absolute all.

THE TALKING HORSE (RIDERS)

It must be said that while some NZ athletes were absolutely hopeless at fronting up to talk before, during and even after their events, some were brilliant. None more so than the eloquent equestrian team who, without exception, were always willing to be interviewed - even when things had gone badly.

Case in point was Andrew Nicholson who happily stood in front of the microphones still bloodied from tumbling off his horse on a cross-country course he'd earlier said was too easy.

DISAPPEARING DUTCHMAN

After the dramatic men's 200m freestyle, Ian Thorpe, Pieter Van den Hoogenband and Michael Phelps kept journalists waiting and waiting and waiting. Hours later, a Chinese gold medallist was on the stage in the press conference room being interviewed by her countrymen.

Van den Hoogenband popped his head around the corner, then sat down next to the Chinese swimmer to wait his turn.

Pandemonium broke out as Australian and American journalists started shouting over the top of the Chinese asking Van den Hoogenband questions, despite calls from the Greek officials for them to show some respect.

As the Chinese questions continued Van den Hoogenband moved to the edge of the stage, chatted to Dutch journalists, then scarpered, saying he was sorry but he had to be up early. It nearly sparked an international incident.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Though all the flags of the 202 Olympic nations hung from the ceiling at the men's 94kg weightlifting final, it was very much a Greek and Eastern European affair.

There was barely another person with English as a first language in the hall on this magic night, a reminder of the truly international nature of the Olympics.

THE SPIRIT OF OLYMPISM

When Aaron Peirsol was initially disqualified from the gold medal position of the 200m backstroke, the crowd booed.

Peirsol's reaction in coming out to calm the crowd and embrace his friend who had been elevated to gold, Austrian Markus Rogan, was a heartening display of sportsmanship.