As we get closer and closer to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, the promise of witnessing heroic performances from the world's greatest athletes grows stronger. But before we set our eyes on this year's crop of potential memory-makers, we thought we'd take a look back at some of the stunning performances from Olympics gone by.Did Kerri Strug's courageous final vault while injured blow you away? Were you mesmerized by Michael Phelps or Michael Johnson's ability to shatter records in their events? Did Muhammad Ali lighting the torch in Atlanta touch you? Will you ever forget Mary Lou Retton's perfect 10s?Of course there are many more, so we want to know: What is your favorite/most memborable Olympic moment? Share your thoughts in the comments and check back to see if your pick makes the cut!
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Michael Phelps by Osports/WireImage.com
Even a swimming superstar like Michael Phelps — the reigning world champion in seven events — can’t just float into the Olympics. “We have to fight it out for a spot on the actual Olympic team,” he says. If Phelps hopes to contend for as many as eight gold medals in Beijing, he must navigate the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, held this summer in several key sports. “It’s basically sudden death,” says Adam Nelson, a two-time Olympic shot put silver medalist. “If you have a bad day, there are no excuses. You can’t appeal to anybody.”In swimming, only the top two in each event earn guaranteed tickets to the Beijing Games. In track and field, it’s the top three. Gymnastics has more flexibility: The top two women at the trials nail down a spot, but the top two men must also rank in the top three in three individual events to become Beijing-bound. Committees choose the rest of the six-team rosters (plus three alternates).In the men...
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