Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games:

The break-up of the Soviet Union had changed the picture in this event. Hungary had won gold in this event in 1948, 1952, and 1968 and returned to the top with Balázs Kiss, four-time NCAA Champion while competing for USC, winning with his third-round toss of 81.24 (266-6½). Lance Deal won the first hammer medal by an American since Hal Connolly in 1956. But he just barely did so. After three rounds, he was tied for eighth. On the tie-breaker he was actually ninth, because his second best mark trailed that of Italy's Enrico Sgrulletti. But tie-breakers are not used in choosing the throwers advanced to the final three rounds, so the top nine continued for the final three throws. Deal had his second chance and made the most of it, throwing 81.12 (266-1¾) in the sixth round to win the silver medal.