Legal rows took the shine off gold medals

Paul Hamm, Tyler Hamilton or Bettina Hoywere were crowned champions on August 18 but within days their jubilation had turned into a nightmare.

Winning an Olympic gold medal is supposed to be the crowning moment for an athlete.

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For some, it can turn out to be the start of the biggest battle of their lives - just ask Paul Hamm, Tyler Hamilton or Bettina Hoy.

All three were crowned champions on August 18 but within days the trio's jubilation had turned into a legal nightmare.

Americans Hamm and Hamilton discovered their gold medals lost some lustre when new information suggested they could have been awarded the top prize in error.

While cycling time-trial champion Hamilton became embroiled in a doping row, the governing body of gymnastics (FIG) declared Hamm had been awarded the men's all-round gold due to a judging error.

Hamm had punched the air in delight after he staged a remarkable comeback from 12th place in the final to become the first American man to win the title.

However, the drama on the night was quickly eclipsed by what was to become one of the biggest controversies of the Athens Olympics.

Just three days after his triumph, the smile on Hamm's face was replaced by a frown when the FIG ruled that South Korea's Yang Tae-young was the 'true winner of the all-round competition'.