A Tribute to Jim McKay: My Favorite U.S. Olympic Athlete Moments in Olympic History

Jim McKay was the first television broadcaster seen and heard on the airwaves of Baltimore, Maryland in 1947. Twenty one years later, in 1968, McKay was the first sports commentator honored with an Emmy Award. Jim McKay went on to receive a total of 13 Emmy Awards, and further distinguished himself as the first, and only, broadcaster to win Emmy Awards for both sports and news broadcasting as well as for writing.

McKay is best known for hosting ABC's Wide World of Sports and 12 Olympic Games. Legendary sportscaster Jim McKay, the gentle sportscaster thrown into the role of telling Americans about the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics, died June 7, 2008, at his farm in Monkton, Md. He was 86. McKay was host of ABC's Wide World of Sports for more than 40 years, starting in 1961, "spanning the globe" to bring television viewers the constant variety of sports where he told of "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."

ABC's Wide World of Sports is the most successful and longest running sports program in the history of television. Through his work with ABC's Wide World of Sports, McKay became the first American television sports reporter to enter the People's Republic of China during China's policy of isolationism.

In memory of Jim McKay, I remember not only his great sports broadcasting, but also the great moments for U.S. Olympic athletes in Olympic history. To view these historic Olympic moments for U.S. Olympic athletes on an MP3 video media player, visit: Best Olympic Moments for U.S. Athletes

My Favorite U.S. Olympic Athlete Moments in Olympic History are:

1952 Oslo - Dick Button wins a gold medal as the first Olympic figure skater to land the triple loop.

1972 Munich - Mark Spitz wins 7 gold medals for swimming.

1980 Lake Placid - Miracle on Ice as the USA Olympic Hockey Team beats Russia for American gold.

1980 Lake Placid - Eric Heiden wins 5 gold medals for speed skating.

1984 Los Angeles - Mary Lou Rhetton wins gold on vault with a perfect 10 score.
Women's U.S. Gymnastic Team wins overall silver - highest in history for U.S. women's gymnastic team.

1984 Sarajevo - Bill Johnson is the first American to win Olympic gold in downhill skiing.

1988 Seoul - Florence Griffith Joyner sets World Record wins Olympic gold several times for track and field events. She left us too soon.

1994 Lillehammer - Dan Jansen wins Gold speed skating after learning that his sister, Jane, died of leukemia.

1994 Lillehammer - Bonnie Blair becomes the only U.S. Olympic Athlete to win five gold medals in speed skating.

2002 Salt Lake City - Sarah Hughes comes from behind Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen to win gold in figure skating.

Good luck to all of our U.S. Olympic Athletes as they continue their quest for Gold!