The man renowned for one of the most memorable pieces of sports commentary in Australian history, the legendary “gold, gold, gold” call, has now compiled a series of his favourite Olympic highlights.

Just shy of 80 years, Norman “Nugget” May has written and recorded 56 podcasts featuring gold medal performances by Australians at the summer Olympic Games from Athens 1896 through to Athens 2004.

With experience as a commentator at the last 11 Olympic Games, the series has aptly been called “Norman May’s Golden Nuggets”.

“It is an array of outstanding gold medal performances by Australians dating back to Edwin Flack in 1896,” May said.

“One of the highlights is the brilliant performances by Australian female athletes, including our first female gold medallist Fanny Durack.

“The series also features podcasts on Australia’s greatest performance in an individual event, the 1500 metres freestyle from Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton in Paris 1924 through to Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett. The 1500 metres has been won eight times by Australians,” May said.

The Golden Nugget series is available in the media centre of the Australian Olympic Committee’s website. Each Nugget is roughly 250 words and is offered both as a podcast and as a transcript.

In addition, five lessons based on the Golden Nuggets series have been developed, so that teachers can use the podcasts in the classroom.

In all Australia has won 121 Olympic gold medals, 74 won by men, 45 by women and two by Equestrian teams comprising men and women.

Australia won a record 17 gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics beating the previous best of 16 set at the home Games in Sydney four years earlier.

Vist the AOC Media Centre and listen to May's Golden Nuggets.

AOC