(29 July 1996; Day 10)
For the first time since 1984 someone other than a Russian-based men's handball squad will be crowned Olympic champion. After Yugoslavia won the gold at the Los Angeles Olympic Games, a tournament in which a boycott prevented the Soviets from competing, the Russians captured two straight Olympic titles and looked to become the first team in history to three-peat.
One of the gold-medal favorites in 1996, Russia looked to follow what the Soviet Union did in 1988 in Seoul and the Unified Team did in 1992 in Barcelona. Although under different flags, the core of the handball power that once dominated men's handball had swept through its pool play. Until now.
With Monday afternoon's 25-24 victory, Croatia, in its first Olympic handball competition, guaranteed themselves, not the Russians, a place in the medal rounds. Croatia and Sweden both sit atop the Pool A standings with 4-0 records, while the Russians, having lost to both teams, are 2-2 with one contest remaining against Switzerland on Wednesday at 11:45.
Entering Atlanta, the Russians had posted an amazing 25-4-3 record in Olympic play. Along with golds in 1988 and 1992, they won in 1976 and earned a silver in 1980. Of the only seven Olympic handball competitions, Russian teams have medaled in the past five. During the first Olympic handball competition in 1936, the Russians did not even send a team.
Following their gold in 1992, the Russians captured the 1993 World Championships, their first since 1982. Yet, they slipped slightly in the most recent international event, finishing in fifth at the 1995 championships. However, they were still considered a medal frontrunner in Atlanta along with the 1995 world champions France and 1992 Olympic silver medalist Sweden.
Yet a 22-20 loss to Sweden on Saturday put the Russians in a precarious position. With Croatia handily running through its portion of Pool A, a showdown between Croatia and Russia to determine the final medal-round position was looming.
In their match against Sweden, no team led by more than two goals until the Swedes had a three-point lead late in the second half. Russia battled back to tie the contest at 20-all with 5:20 remaining, but Sweden allowed no other goals and collected the all-important victory.
Against Croatia, Bozidar JOVIC's goal with three seconds remaining dashed the Russian hopes for the potentially historic achievement. Matching goal for goal throughout the contest, Russia and Croatia each positioned themselves to make the last score. After a penalty on the six-meter arc with just under one minute remaining, Croatian goalkeeper Valter MATOSEVIC was substituted into the match with the score knotted at 24-24 and proceeded to stop Dmitri TORGOVANOV cold on his attempt and break the back of the two-time champs.
Croatia worked the ball around the horn on their final play and after one failed shot attempt, the ball spurted back out and eventually found its way into the hands of JOVIC who slammed it home for the win, sending the Croatians into exultant celebration.
So on Sunday 4 August when the gold and bronze medal matches conclude, a new tradition will start, a new king will emerge triumphant and the torch will be passed. The Russians will go home empty-handed for the first time in 24 years.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Brad Laux.
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| The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July). |