25 years later: Ohio State basketball legend Katie Smith looks back at first Olympic gold

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Katie Smith's list of accomplishments on the basketball court includes two WNBA championships, seven all-star selections and a WNBA Finals MVP award. She's had her Ohio State jersey number retired and is a member of numerous halls of fame.

But she'll never forget her first Olympic gold medal.

"I still think about growing up and the goal of being an Olympian and always watching the Summer Olympics and being a fan and then wondering how they got there," said Smith, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. "It is stuck in my mind how proud I am of my first one and all the ones who had a hand in it."

Tuesday marks 25 years since Smith joined her U.S. teammates on the top step of the podium at the Sydney 2000 Olympics after defeating Australia 76-54. Alongside other greats of the sport, including Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Dawn Staley, the U.S. won its fourth Olympic title that year.

"We had a lot of vets that were in the '96 Olympics who really just set it on fire, like, were dominant and really put us back on the map and really started off this run that we've had as a dynasty with USA women's basketball," Smith said.

While the American basketball teams didn't stay in the Olympic village with other athletes, Smith made the most of the experience. She recalls being starstruck at her first Olympics, going through team processing upon arrival and walking in the Opening Ceremony.

In between games, Smith went to see other sports, including athletics and gymnastics.

"Australia is just an amazing place anyways," Smith said. "The people are amazing but the stadium is one of my memories, just going to track and field and watching the events. It was packed."

The gold medal game against Australia in front of nearly 15,000 fans is the memory that sticks out the most.

"The fans are not on your side," Smith said. "You're going to be outnumbered, but it was just a lot of fun. It was fun to have that competition."

While Smith went on to win gold in Athens and Beijing, she remembers what went through her mind getting her first medal in Sydney and hearing The Star-Spangled Banner being played.

"It's just a lot of pride," Smith said. "You're thinking about your parents. They're driving you all around. Your coaches. Grade school. Ohio State. The state of Ohio. The United States. Literally everybody you've touched was a part of it."