2012 Cheltenham Festival: Cheltenham in an Olympic year is always special

The Olympic moto is 'Citius, Altius, Fortius'. For those of us without a degree in Latin that means 'Faster, Higher, Stronger'. It describes brilliantly what the Games are all about. The pursuit of excellence, the grandeur of competition, battling with your peers. In fact everything that the Cheltenham Festival has come to be about, too. Equine athletes taking on the very best of their generation in the caldron of sport at the highest level. With the London Olympics just 137 days away we thought we would have a look at the Cheltenham Festivals that coincided with the last 10 Olympic Games. Denman, Usain Bolt, Moscow Flyer, Kelly Holmes, Istabraq, Steve Redgrave... names that are burned into the memory of all sports lovers. Let's hope the Cheltenham Festival provides the perfect start to a brilliant year of sport. The London Olympics and Euro 2012 are to come... but Cheltenham is here now. Get stuck in and enjoy every moment. 2008 at Cheltenham 2008: Sam Thomas and Denman claimed Gold Cup victory at Cheltenham Getty Denman gets the better of stablemate Kauto Star in the Gold Cup. After Katchit proved he was as hard as coffin nails when taking the Champion Hurdle on the opening day, the weather was the winner when high winds caused the abandonment of racing on the Wednesday. This led to marathon cards on Thursday and Friday, when Inglis Drever became the first horse to win the World Hurdle three times and Denman notched up his only win on four attempts in the Gold Cup. 2008 in Beijing Lightning Bolt: Jamaica's Usain Bolt became the fastest man on earth in Beijing Usain Bolt - Lightning Bolt - wins gold in the 100m and 200m. Easily! British cyclist Chris Hoy storms to three gold medals. David Beckham - and the red bus - represent London at the closing ceremony. 2004 at Cheltenham 2004: Best Mate romps home to claim a Gold Cup hat-trick Getty Jim Culloty punches the air after Best Mate lands a historic hat-trick. Best Mate gave the racing world the result it wanted when holding the late surge of Sir Rembrandt to win the Gold Cup for the third time under Jim Culloty. Three other champions, Rooster Booster, Moscow Flyer and Baracouda all defended their crowns, but were dethroned by Hardy Eustace, Azertyuiop and Iris's Gift respectively. A sign of things to come - Ruby Walsh was top jockey for the first time. 2004 in Athens Kelly Holmes claims gold in the 1,500m in Athens Getty Paula Radcliffe succumbs to the heat and quits the women's marathon at 23 miles. Swimmer Michael Phelps wins six golds... he won eight four years later. Kelly Holmes becomes Britain's 'Golden Girl' winning the 1500m and 800m. 2000 at Cheltenham 2000: Istabraq, piloted by Charlie Swan, wins the Champion Hurdle Getty Charlie Swan steers Istabraq to a third Champion Hurdle success. Istabraq defied a late injury scare - he bled from the nostrils on arriving at the course - before flying up the hill to become only the fifth horse in history to win the Champion Hurdle three times. Tony McCoy was at his strongest to get Edredon Bleu home from Direct Route in the [ Champion] Chase but was in tears after star novice Gloria Victis had fallen fatally two out when leading eventual winner Looks Like Trouble in the Gold Cup. 2000 in Sydney Britain's Denise Lewis on her way to gold in the Olympic Heptathlon in Sydney Getty British joy as Denise Lewis clinches heptathlon gold in a dramatic 800m. Cathy Freeman wins the 400m, an iconic moment in Aussie sport. Steve 'shoot me' Redgrave wins rowing gold for the fifth consecutive time. 1996 at Cheltenham 1996: Graham Bradley rides Collier Bay to victory in the Champion Hurdle Getty Graham Bradley has the last laugh aboard Champion Hurdler Collier Bay. A lie-in, which caused him to miss a crucial schooling session, sees Graham Bradley jocked off reigning Champion Hurdler Alderbrook in favour of Richard Dunwoody. No problem, Bradley rides Collier Bay instead and the pair power to a famous victory. Scots-born veteran trainer Fergie Sutherland - a one-legged war hero - sends out Imperial Call to win the Gold Cup from subsequent Grand National winner Rough Quest. 1996 in Atlanta Michael Johnson breaks the 400m world record and wins gold in Atlanta Empics Muhammad Ali lights the Olympic flame... and the world rejoices. Atlanta is accused of being the most rampantly commercial Games ever. America's Michael Johnson is king of the track, winning 200m and 400m gold. 1992 at Cheltenham Cool Ground, ridden by Adrian Maguire, wins the Gold Cup in 1992 Getty Outsider Cool Ground holds off The Fellow for Gold Cup victory. Jamie Osborne dominates the meeting with five winners - former top Flat stayer Royal Gait takes the Champion Hurdle - but the headline act is the Gold Cup. The all-conquering Carvill's Hill goes off an even-money favourite, but he's forced into mistakes by Golden Freeze and finishes last of five finishers as 25-1 outsider Cool Ground beats The Fellow and Docklands Express in a three-way drive for the line. 1992 in Barcelona Derek Redmond limps to the finish line, helped by his dad Jim, after tearing his hamstring in Barcelona Empics Gail Devers fell in the sprint hurdles final but won the 100m gold. Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson lead 'The Dream Team' to basketball glory. Derek Redmond is injured in the 400m semi - his dad helps him finish. 1988 at Cheltenham 1988: Charter Party and Richard Dunwoody on their way to victory in the Gold Cup Getty Richard Dunwoody celebrates his big-race win on Charter Party. Having been trying since 1971, Josh Gifford finally gets off the Festival mark when Golden Minstrel takes the Kim Muir. Like a London bus, Vodkatini then follows up for the Findon maestro in the Grand Annual. Celtic Shot ground out a Champion Hurdle win for Fred Winter - then recovering from a stroke - having been honed by Charlie Brooks, while Charter Party beats Cavvies Clown in the Gold Cup. 1988 in Seoul Ben Johnson "wins" the Olympic 100m final in a "world record" 9.79 seconds Getty Flo-Jo - Florence Griffith Joyner - wins the sprint double .. and then quits. Hmm! Famous drug cheat Ben Johnson wins the 100m - then tests positive. Oops! Diver Greg Louganis dominated but is more famous for hitting his head. Ouch! 1984 at Cheltenham 1984: Burrough Hill Lad, ridden by Phil Tuck, wins the Gold Cup Getty Burrough Hill Lad and Phil Tuck are led in after their Gold Cup triumph. Brilliant performers Brownes Gazette and Bobsline get the meeting off to a fine start on the Tuesday before all-time great Dawn Run - Gold Cup winner two years later - beats Cima in the Champion Hurdle. The Gold Cup is a classic with Jenny Pitman's Burrough Hill Lad outstaying Brown Chamberlin. The giant chaser looked a potential chasing great, but the remainder of his career was blighted by injury. 1984 in Los Angeles Carl Lewis wins the 200m gold, one of four gold medals he would win at the LA Games of 1984 Getty US athlete Carl Lewis wins gold in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump. Jetpack man Bill Suitor opens the Games by flying around the LA Coliseum. Daley Thompson does it again, winning a second consecutive decathlon gold. 1980 at Cheltenham 1980: Sea Pigeon overcame Pollardstown and Daring Run to win the Champion Hurdle Empics  Sea Pigeon finally comes good in the Champion Hurdle at the fourth attempt when beating dual-hero Monksfield a slightly shortened trip that played his advantage. Several Irish-based give shocking examples of over of the whip. Tied Cottage makes all the running to win the Gold Cup from Master Smudge - like Champion Chaser Chinrullah subsequently loses his crown after a dope test. 1980 in Moscow One of the great rivalries in athletics: Coe versus Ovett Getty Allan Wells becomes the first Brit to win 100m gold since 1924. There is an American-led boycott after Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. Coe v Ovett. Each won the race the other was meant to win. Ovett 800m, Coe 1500m. 1976 at Cheltenham 1976: Night Nurse on his way to Champion Hurdle victory PA Night Nurse on the way to the first of his two Champion Hurdle victories. The golden age of hurdling continues when magnificent front-runner Night Nurse wins the first of his two Champion Hurdles from Bird's Nest - who went on to run in the race six times. Reigning champion Ten Up is a last minute absentee from the Gold Cup after injections he had been given to treat broken blood vessels were found to be illegal. Novice Royal Frolic puts in a brilliant performance to beat Brown Lad. 1976 in Montreal Gymnastic perfection: Nadia Comaneci on her way to gold in 1976 Getty Soviet fencer Boris Onishchenko is found 'electronically' cheating and thrown out. Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci wins three golds at the age of 14. 'Juantorena opens his legs and shows his class'. The Cuban wins 400m/800m golds. 1972 at Cheltenham 1972: Bula leads them home in the Champion Hurdle Getty Bula defends his Champion Hurdle crown in brilliant style. Royal Relief - who ran in the race eight times - wins the Champion Chase, while Bula retains his Champion Hurdle crown in brilliant style to become the winner of 15 of his 16 hurdle races at the time. Pendil wins the Arkle on the way to becoming a chasing great while Glencariag Lady becomes the first female Gold Cup winner since Kerstin in 1958. She beat Royal Toss and The Dikler with hat-trick seeking L'Escargot fourth. 1972 in Munich King of the pool Mark Spitz claimed seven Olympic golds in 1972 in Munich Getty American swimmer Mark Spitz wins seven golds, setting world bests in each. Black September terrorists take Israeli athletes hostage - 11 die in botched rescue. Mary Peters wins gold for Britain in the women's pentathlon. 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