Most days, the 1984 Summer Olympics are a lifetime ago for Alex Baumann. But sometimes, the Los Angeles Games seem like they happened yesterday.

Baumann swam for two gold medals and set two world records at the L.A. Games, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the opening ceremonies yesterday.

"It seems just like yesterday," Baumann said in a telephone interview from Ottawa, where he is an executive director of the Canadian Olympic Committee's Own the Podium program. "You always think back about those memories, walking with the Canadian flag at the opening ceremonies, competing in the races, standing on the podium.

"You kind of wonder where the time has gone."

Although tarnished by a boycott led by the Soviet Union, the 1984 Games were also a triumph. With Peter Ueberroth heading the organizing committee, the event turned a US$233-million profit.

That came in the wake of the 1976 Montreal Olympics incurring a $1-billion debt.

"It was a turning point for the Olympic movement," said Baumann. "After that, cities wanted to bid for the Games.

"They gained a greater importance and really established they were financially viable. That was quite important after 1976. I do think it was a watershed."

While many Eastern Bloc countries did not compete, a record 140 nations attended the L.A. Games. China sent a team for the first time since 1952.

The Canadian team of 273 men and 163 women returned home with a record 44 medals (10 gold, 18 silver, 16 bronze).

Even though the medal count was inflated by the boycott, a generation of young athletes made the Olympics their goal.

"It was a tremendous motivation factor to a lot of young kids," said Baumann, 45. "I still remember after the '84 Games going back to my hometown and having a motorcade go through the city with thousands of fans cheering.

"You don't really realize the impact that kind of performance has on people and young kids as they aspire to reach their goals."

The swimming team led the medal haul with 10 medals, including four gold.

Baumann, the Canadian flag bearer, won gold, and set world records in the 200 and 400-metre individual medley. Victor Davis won the 200-metre breaststroke in a world record time and was second in the 100-metre breaststroke. Anne Ottenbrite also won gold in the women's 200-metre breaststroke.

Shooter Linda Thom won Canada's first gold. Lori Fung , in rhythmic gymnastics, and Sylvie Bernier, in diving, were the first Canadians to win Olympic gold medals in their sports.

The boxing team was strong. Heavyweight Willie de Wit and welterweight Shawn O'Sullivan won silver medals while bantamweight Dale Walters brought home bronze.

Curt Harnett and Steve Bauer both won silver in cycling. Canadians won six medals in canoeing and six more in rowing.

On the track, a sprinter named Ben Johnson was third in the 100 metres and was part of the 4x100-metre relay team that earned a bronze medal.

What Baumann remembers most from those Games was his feelings after winning his first race.

"Coming into the wall, the last five metres, it wasn't elation," he said. "It was more relief it was over.

"I carried the flag into the stadium, the expectations were very high. I felt I could only equal expectations."

Even with the boycott, Baumann faced strong competition in the pool. Both his events featured former world record holders.

"My first goal was to get the gold medal," he said. "The second goal for me was to break the world record, to put it beyond anybody's doubt that I wouldn't have won that year."

Reality for Canadian athletes set in four years later at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Canada won 10 medals, including three gold. Johnson was caught cheating and Canadians began to understand the impact of performance enhancing drugs on sports.

"Unfortunately in post '88 we kind of dropped the ball in terms of high performance," said Baumann.