From Ground Zero to Olympic heights

An American synchronised swimmer, an Australian shooter and a New Jersey firefighter are counting their lucky stars that they can take part ...

An American synchronised swimmer, an Australian shooter and a New Jersey firefighter are counting their lucky stars that they can take part in the Athens Olympics. They are three of a number of competitors whose appearance in Greece was in doubt until the last moment because of various dramas in their private lives.

Tammy Crow8217;s story, which involved a double car crash death and a controversial court case, means the 27-year-old will bring to synchronised swimming an unusual amount of publicity.

8216;8216;I8217;m so sorry. I would do anything to get that day back,8217;8217; said Crow as she reflected on the February 2003 crash in California which killed her boyfriend Cody Tatro and 12-year-old Brett Slinger.

She was behind the wheel at the time when the vehicle left the road and smashed into trees. Crow was subsequently sentenced to 90 days in prison but she was given permission to postpone serving her sentence until after the Games.

The Slinger family were outraged. 8216;8216;If it was you or me, we8217;d probably be sitting in jail,8217;8217; father Devon Slinger said.

Australian shooter Michael Diamond, who will be chasing a third consecutive gold, had his build-up to the Games disrupted by having to fight to clear his name of an assault charge on his former girlfriend.

8216;8216;I pushed her away, open-handed into her face, because she was gouging into my eyes. She fell over, probably from the force,8217;8217; he said in court earlier this year as he was cleared of attacking Tracey Kennedy in a car park.

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Diamond had to take part in a specially-arranged shoot-off against countryman Nathan Cassells to gain selection for what will be his fourth Games where he will try to equal Dawn Fraser8217;s record of individual gold medals at three consecutive Olympics.

On September 11, 2001, the Olympics were the last thing on the mind of 26-year-old American rower Jason Read who, as a New Jersey firefighter, found himself caught up in the horrors of the New York terror attacks.

8216;8216;I was at Ground Zero for the better part of a week,8217;8217; he explained.

Security concerns have worried some US athletes who are headed for Athens, but Read has no such concerns. 8216;8216;It8217;s a very challenging time abroad. With that challenge brings a certain appreciation for our country,8217;8217; Read said. 8216;8216;This country is resilient. That spirit is amazing.8217;8217;

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While the tales of Crow, Diamond and Read are controversial and dramatic, there will be others in Athens glad just to have made it having overcome a variety of health scares.