Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games:

Germany’s Lars Riedel had won the World Championships in 1991, 1993, and 1995. He led the qualifying in Atlanta with 64.66 (212-1¾), but fouled his first two throws in the final. In round three he got out to 65.40 (214-6¾) which put him in fourth place and into the final rounds. In round five he came thru with 69.40 (227-8¼) to finally win an Olympic gold medal. In 1997 he won his fourth consecutive World Championship. Behind him in Atlanta, two Belarussian throwers, Vladimir Dubrovshchik and Vasily Kaptyukh, won the silver and bronze medals.