The contrast couldn't have been greater as the latest batch of cycling medalists faced the media shortly after the conclusion of the women's Olympic road race on the downtown streets of Athens on Sunday.
In the center seat of the raised podium sat Sara Carrigan, a starry gaze striped across her youthful face. Moments earlier the Aussie had grabbed gold, after pushing away from Judith Arndt on the last lap of the 118.8km race. Meanwhile, Arndt looked downright disgusted despite the silver medal swinging from her neck. The German was still seething over the Olympic-team exclusion of former Saturn teammate Petra Rossner, widely considered the world's top female sprinter.
The pair had also chosen distinctly different finishing salutes at the race's conclusion; Carrigan thrusting her arms in the air to celebrate victory, followed by Arndt casting up her middle finger in the direction of the German cycling federation, which had snubbed her good friend.
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