The Olympics: 28 Years Of Victories

The Olympics: 28 Years Of Victories

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
Tennis returned to the Olympic Games as a medal sport in 1988 at Seoul after a 64-year absence, and the very first gold medalist was none other than Germany’s Steffi Graf.

Tennis returned to the Olympic Games as a medal sport in 1988 at Seoul after a 64-year absence, and the very first gold medalist was none other than Germany’s Steffi Graf.

Graf beat out Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini for the gold; the American Zina Garrison and Bulgaria’s Manuela Maleeva shared the bronze medal.

Graf beat out Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini for the gold; the American Zina Garrison and Bulgaria’s Manuela Maleeva shared the bronze medal.

In 1992, American teen sensation Jennifer Capriati beat the top-seeded Steffi Graf in Barcelona to take home the gold medal. At 16 years old, she became one of the youngest Olympic champions ever.

In 1992, American teen sensation Jennifer Capriati beat the top-seeded Steffi Graf in Barcelona to take home the gold medal. At 16 years old, she became one of the youngest Olympic champions ever.

Team USA swept the gold medals that year, with Gigi Fernandez and Mary Joe Fernandez also grabbing the doubles gold against Spain’s all-star pair of Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

Team USA swept the gold medals that year, with Gigi Fernandez and Mary Joe Fernandez also grabbing the doubles gold against Spain’s all-star pair of Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

In front of their home crowd in Atlanta in 1996, the Americans completed another gold medal sweep, with Lindsay Davenport winning the singles gold over Spain’s Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (silver) and Czech Republic’s Jana Novotna (bronze).

In front of their home crowd in Atlanta in 1996, the Americans completed another gold medal sweep, with Lindsay Davenport winning the singles gold over Spain’s Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (silver) and Czech Republic’s Jana Novotna (bronze).

Gigi and Mary Joe returned to the doubles podium, taking home the gold medal once again.

Gigi and Mary Joe returned to the doubles podium, taking home the gold medal once again.

The Americans continued their dominance in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, but this time it was a pair of new faces that brought home the gold: sisters Venus and Serena Williams.

The Americans continued their dominance in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, but this time it was a pair of new faces that brought home the gold: sisters Venus and Serena Williams.

Venus downed Russia’s Elena Dementieva for the gold medal while Monica Seles took the bronze.

Venus downed Russia’s Elena Dementieva for the gold medal while Monica Seles took the bronze.

The sisters then teamed up to win the doubles gold medal, too.

The sisters then teamed up to win the doubles gold medal, too.

The 2004 Olympics in Athens was the first time that no Americans reached made the podium since the return of tennis as a medal sport in 1988.

The 2004 Olympics in Athens was the first time that no Americans reached made the podium since the return of tennis as a medal sport in 1988.

Justine Henin took home the gold for Belgium, Amelie Mauresmo the silver for France, and Alicia Molik the bronze for Australia.

Justine Henin took home the gold for Belgium, Amelie Mauresmo the silver for France, and Alicia Molik the bronze for Australia.

In doubles, China made their first Olympic tennis mark when Li Ting and Sun Tian Tian won their country’s first women’s tennis gold medal.

In doubles, China made their first Olympic tennis mark when Li Ting and Sun Tian Tian won their country’s first women’s tennis gold medal.

The 2008 Olympics in Beijing were dominated by the Russians: they took home all of the singles medals.

The 2008 Olympics in Beijing were dominated by the Russians: they took home all of the singles medals.

Elena Dementieva was the gold medalist, Dinara Safina was the silver medalist, and Vera Zvonareva was the bronze medalist.

Elena Dementieva was the gold medalist, Dinara Safina was the silver medalist, and Vera Zvonareva was the bronze medalist.

The Williams sisters scored another doubles win for the United States, taking the gold medal.

The Williams sisters scored another doubles win for the United States, taking the gold medal.

The Olympics were held in London in 2012, and it was the first time the tennis event was held on grass. The Americans completed another gold medal sweep, taking home the singles and doubles medals.

The Olympics were held in London in 2012, and it was the first time the tennis event was held on grass. The Americans completed another gold medal sweep, taking home the singles and doubles medals.

Serena beat out Russia’s Maria Sharapova (silver) and Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka (bronze) to win her first ever gold medal in singles.

Serena beat out Russia’s Maria Sharapova (silver) and Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka (bronze) to win her first ever gold medal in singles.

The sisters then paired up again for doubles and won their third gold medal together.

The sisters then paired up again for doubles and won their third gold medal together.

The Olympics heads to Rio de Janeiro this year, the first time ever it’s being held in South America. Who will take home the gold for their country – will the Americans dominate again or will new faces shine in Brazil?

The Olympics heads to Rio de Janeiro this year, the first time ever it’s being held in South America. Who will take home the gold for their country – will the Americans dominate again or will new faces shine in Brazil?

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