American cyclist brings home gold

SYDNEY, Australia — The bad memories of Atlanta are history for Marty Nothstein. Like the American cycling team he represents, he finally has the Olympic gold medal that eluded him.

Nothstein, of Trexlertown, Pa., won the men's match sprint Wednesday, the first U.S. cycling gold at the Olympics since the boycott-marred Los Angeles Games in 1984.

It also made up for Nothstein's silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

"I've been waiting for this day for four years," Nothstein said. "I've been thinking of only one thing. Ever since I was a little boy, I've wanted to win a gold medal in the Olympics."

After the medal ceremony, Nothstein took his own little boy, Tyler, for a victory ride around the track.

"He was hanging on pretty tight," Nothstein said with a big smile. "I told him Daddy just won a gold medal and he gave me a big kiss."

Nothstein beat Florian Rousseau of France 2-0 in the finals. A short time earlier, he had beaten Jens Fiedler of Germany 2-0 in the semifinals to avenge a loss to Fiedler in the gold medal race at Atlanta.

"Not a single day went by that I didn't think of losing in Atlanta," Nothstein said.

It was a workmanlike performance by Nothstein, who didn't show much emotion until he pumped his fist in victory after blowing past Rousseau on the decisive second race in the best-of-3 format.

He yelled in joy as he crossed the finish line while his coach, Gil Hatton, leaped on the track's skirt as the Australian crowd cheered.

Nothstein held an American flag overhead on his victory lap. Then he broke into tears after stopping to hug and kiss his wife, Christi, son Tyler and daughter Devin.