Familiar faces falter as young stars emerge
Of the 21 track medals won by US, 13 went to athletes aged 26 or younger. Marion Jones, Gail Devers, Allen Johnson, Stacy Dragila - stars of past Olympics- went home empty-handed.
The names that have been so familiar in US track and field have fallen to the wayside in Athens - some of them literally so. In their place are fresh faces sorely needed in a drug-stained sport.
The newcomers collected more than experience in their first Olympics. They will take home some impressive hardware, as well.
"We're just trying to bring a new wave here and get people thinking positive things about track and field," said 18-year-old Allyson Felix, youngest of them all and silver medallist at 200 metres. "We're just so eager. We have the passion. All this is so new to us. We're just taking it all in."
Of the 21 track medals won by Americans in Athens, 13 went to athletes age 26 or younger.
Marion Jones, Gail Devers, Allen Johnson, Stacy Dragila - stars of Olympics past - went home empty-handed.
