Hall of Fame sportscaster Tom Hammond recounts a memorable Olympic call

By Alan Lytle

Published July 26, 2024 at 5:39 AM EDT

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Australian Cathy Freeman won the Gold Medal in the 400m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The race was called on NBC Television by Lexingtonian Tom Hammond

It's Olympics time again and in this edition of WUKY's Saving Stories we hear from NBC Olympics sportscaster and native Lexingtonian Tom Hammond. Doug Boyd, director of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the UK Libraries shares audio from an interview with Hammond. He talks about one his most memorable moments from the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia. Aboriginal sprinter Cathy Freeman first had the honor of lighting the Olympic torch to open the games, then ten nights later she won 400 meters gold in a most dramatic fashion. Hammond, who called the action in 13 Olympic Games, was behind the microphone that historic day.

Cathy Freeman was the first Aboriginal person from Australia to win an individual Olympic gold. And she celebrated in a bare-foot victory lap with an Australian flag and the red, black and yellow Australian Aboriginal flag together in her hand.

FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2000, file photo, Australia's Cathy Freeman celebrates winning the women's 400 meter race at the Summer Olympics at Olympic Stadium in Sydney. Freeman ignited the Olympic flame to open the Sydney 2000 Games and returned 10 nights later to win a gold medal in the 400 meters that had been a long time in waiting for country. She was the first Aboriginal person from Australia to win an individual Olympic gold. And she celebrated in a bare-foot victory lap with an Australian flag and the red, black and yellow Australian Aboriginal flag together in her hand. (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle, File)

Thomas Taylor "Tom" Hammond is an alum of Lafayette High School (class of 1962) and a member of LHS Hall Of Fame. After his graduation from UK, he developed a noted career in sportscasting, especially with NBC, in various areas such as horse racing, basketball, football, and the Olympics.