The 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona included a number of commanding athletic performances. In basketball, the American "Dream Team" waltzed its way to gold, while in gymnastics, Vitaly Scherbo won all of the men's individual events but two and earned gold in the team competition for a total of six gold medals.

In women's long distance, Ethiopian runner Derartu Tulu took first place in the 10,000m run making her the first African woman to win gold at the Olympics. In the medal count, the Unified Team-comprised of countries that had once been part of the U.S.S.R., which had disintegrated the year before-beat the U.S. by a nose, 112-108.