Into the darkness they marched, arms linked, eyes wide. Flashes popped, thousands of tiny supernovas spangling the humid night inside Athens Olympic Stadium. Beth Alford-Sullivan, a track coach, walked in a row of eight as the U.S. team entered for the opening ceremony of the 2004 Games.

To be an Olympian or not to be: That was the question.

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Two laps remained, all that stood between Greg Fredericks and the payoff for years spent pounding miles.

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He was through with the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Out of a sea of cheering faces Charlene Morett spotted the most important two.

Ron Coder flew Air Force tankers during the Cold War. The Russians were his enemy. So why was his arm draped over one in 1956? Why not?

One elbow, then another, nudged Jane Brown. They came from her 400 meter freestyle relay teammates on the award stand in Munich, gold medals around their necks.