Carly Patterson moved out of Mary Lou Retton’s shadow on this day 10 years ago. The Baton Rouge native overcame a slow start in Athens, Greece, and won individual Olympic gold in the all-round competition. The 16-year-old was the first American woman to do so since Retton at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
Patterson was eighth following her vault. “I’ve worked my whole life to be Olympic champion,” Patterson said. “It’s always been my dream.
” Patterson edged 25-year-old Russian Svetlana Khorkina – a two-time gold medalist -- by .176 points for the title..
