Olympics

Carly Patterson took home gold in gymnastics all-around on this day in Olympic history in 2004

By Jordan McPherson

jmcpherson@miamiherald.com
Carly Patterson of the United States holds up her flowers after winning the gold medal in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around competition at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens on Aug. 19, 2004.
Carly Patterson of the United States holds up her flowers after winning the gold medal in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around competition at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens on Aug. 19, 2004. AMY SANCETTA AP

Aug. 19, 2004

Carly Patterson finished her floor routine and went to celebrate with her coaches and teammates.

All that was left to do was wait.

When the judges revealed her event-high 9.712, excitement filled the air. Patterson finished the gymnastics all-around final with a meet-high 38.327, besting Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina and becoming the first woman from the United States to take home gold in the all-around since Mary Lou Retton in 1984.

After pacing the field in qualifying rounds, Patterson translated her early Olympic domination into the finals.

The 16-year-old Patterson had the highest marks in the 24-woman field on floor and the balance beam (9.725), while finishing fifth on the vault (9.375) and seventh on the uneven parallel bars (9.575).

This story was originally published August 18, 2016 at 10:43 AM with the headline "Carly Patterson took home gold in gymnastics all-around on this day in Olympic history in 2004."

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