The Real Story of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Cauldron Lighting 

This is the most epic, iconic lighting of the Olympic cauldron. No fancy moves, no state-of-the-art technology used - just a pure expression of humanity, performing to the best of their natural ability.

The person who made the decision to light the torch this way and the archer both have giant balls!!

No pressure, it's just the Olympic torch and the world is watching.

He definitely should have gotten a gold medal for that!!!

For me this is best cauldron lighting ever ...

This moment will likely never be topped as an Olympics opening.

It was not "fake" nor a "fail". Source: I worked for the people that did the engineering of the stunt. The arrow flew EXACTLY through where it was supposed to fly. Seconds before the arrow started flying, the propane gas started flowing, creating a column of unlit gas that the arrow then had to pass through in order to ignite it ...which it did. Since arrows don't fly in a straight line, specially in such long distances, they needed a parabolic trajectory in order for the arrow to SAFELY pass over the stadium's crowd without accidentally landing on anyone; hence why THERE WAS NEVER AN INTENTION TO MAKE THE ARROW HIT THE INSIDE OF THE CAULDRON, at all. If they had wanted the arrow to land INSIDE, then that whole section of stadium seats would've been kept closed down during the ceremony; as there was a double risk of the arrow hitting a person. Why? Because 1) Since arrows fly in a parabola, then the launching would've needed to be way move vertical than what it was, therefore increasing the risk of the arrow hitting someone sitting below the cauldron instead of landing on a locked-down empty backlot behind the stadium, like it did. 2) Even if the arrow had landed inside of the cauldron, it could've easily (and uncontrollably) ricocheted out of it, due to its high momentum and intertia, and then fallen down on the audience. They didn't wanted that kind of liability. Lastly, as someone else said in another comment here, the archer practiced the shot dozens of times during the last few days before the show. He was very consistently hitting the pre-established SAFE flight path; and his arrows kept landing consistently on the safe-zone behind the stadium, as calculated and required. This is basic Physics 101. Had the archer not been able to safely "hit his marks" during the rehearsals with an empty stadium, then the stunt wouldn't had happened at all with an audience; and a Plan-B would've gotten carried out instead ...like "magically" igniting it through the internal piezoelectric spark igniters that all Olympic cauldrons (before and after this one) have always had. Tldr: the arrow was NEVER intended to land inside the cauldron out of concerns for the safety of the people sitting nearby it. The arrow flies in a parabola, through a column of gas, and then lands safely on a locked-down safe zone behind the stadium; as intended by the engineers in charge of the stunt.

My father helped build some of the stuff for both the opening and closing ceremonies. He always tells that Rebollo kept shooting more and more and more arrows almost every single day and that by the end he was hitting the inside of the cauldron possibly 5 out of every 6 times even with sun on his face or while the sun was setting Practice, practice, practice and more practice was the key to, if not make it perfectly, at least make it look believable. Thanks, Antonio!

Barcelona ‘92 was the best cauldron lighting EVER. I will never forget seeing it on television and just having my jaw drop. I couldn’t believe it! It was AMAZING.

This is how the Olympics should always start. Showcasing an athlete's skill to literally over the gold medal level 🏹🔥💎

This certainly has to be the most watched archery shot of all history...Congratulations to Antonio Rebollo. Well done sir.

Nothing could ever match this lighting of the Olympic Torch. ICONIC.

Without doubt the best cauldron lighting ever!

2021, this is still the best lighting.

I remember my father saying "Que cosa linda"(What a beautiful thing!)while laughing and crying at the same time,we all cried too that was really one of the biggest goosebumps i felt in my life.

I remember as a young boy watching the lighting in Seoul in 1988 and being amazed at the technological coolness of the way the lit it there. I wondered how they would top that in Barcelona and then when the music changed and the guy was standing there with the bow and arrow, we were all like "No way!" and then he did it. Best olympic lighting moment ever. And sure, there were some beautiful moments and symbolism such as Sydney Beinjing, London and Rio, and some poignant moments such as Ali in Atlanta. But for "wow" factor? Nothing has even come close.

Nothing beat this. For me, this is still the best cauldron lighting in Olympics.

This is probably the best Olympic torch lighting in history. A moment so iconic people remember it more than the games 🔥

And it gets better - he repeated this amazing feat a few weeks later by lighting the same cauldron the same way at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony! As far as I know, he's the only person to light an Olympic Cauldron and a Paralympic Cauldron!! ❤️

I watched this lighting, live on TV, at that time. I must have watched from other Olympics as well but this is the only one I remember. The stoic expression, the lighting of arrow, the turn, what he was wearing, and even the pause before he finally let it go. So special...

That was the COOLEST lighting of the Olympic Cauldron I have EVER seen!!

After Aragorn dies, Legolas went to Spain.

Nice thrill for the crowd in that section "Look little Juan the Olympic torch has arrived, I wonder how they're going to... OH MY GAWWWD GET DOWN!!"

and he is a a paralympic archer, makes it a more amazing moment than it already is 👏🏼

Still the coolest cauldron lighting in Olympics history in my opinion. The display of human skills and artistry, and the uncertainty and drama of possible failure with of the world watching is why we all watch the Olympics after all. No amount of technology can replace that.

Kudos to Antonio Rebollo, this is the best Olympic Cauldron Lighting moment in our history. Simply spine chilling and unforgettable.

To me this is the most impressive, most creative and most unique way of lighting the Olympic cauldron.

This is the best because it took skill. Thats what makes it great.

Goose bumps, even today. I remember watching this with a whole crowd of family and neighbours, and we all screamed with surprise at the audacity of the archer! He stole our hearts!

that's by far the coolest most memorable torch lighting ceremony ever.

Still, after thirty years, one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

Incredible.. He only got one chance yet he nailed it.. Amazing

The world exploded in joy with his successful lighting of the cauldron. it was just simply epic and divine!!

I saw it in 1992 on TV and believe me it is the best spectacle of cauldron lighting in all the Olympic ceremonies ever ,it is remembered every four years.

Pure skill, nothing more nothing less. absolutely stunning

The most memorable cauldron lighting ever!

For me, this is the most epic moment in the Olympic Games. I was a boy watched on TV in 92 and then in 2016 I had the pleasure of getting to know the place up close when I visited Barcelona..fantastic city with amazing people. I loved!! Greetings from Brazil!!

I was watching this Barcelona Olympic opening ceremony broadcast live on tv In 1992. I was & I am still amazed by this cauldron lighting. I will never forget this moment, for me, this was & is the best cauldron fire lighting ever!

I was 12 when I saw this. This was one of the most iconic lighting of the cauldron. If not THE MOST ICONIC.

When I was young my family bought our first TV just to watch olympics and that is Barcelona Olympics., and most exiting thing I ever watched on TV till today is lighting the torch., as a kid I’m speechless I’m in shock for days, watched entire Olympic events every single game from opening ceremony to closing one., infact as a kid this olympics opened my eyes how big the world is and how skillfull humans are.,

Most magnificent start to an Olympics ever... and the closing song, Amigos Para Siempre by Josep Carreras and Sarah Brightman still brings a tear to my eye. There is no doubt that the Barcelona Olympics were the best ever Olympics and will never, ever be surpassed. Thank you Spain for the Memories... may I say.... "Amigos Para Siempre"... Peace to you all.

Para mi, el mejor encendido de la historia. Original e irrepetible.

Barcelona Spain is the most classic way to had light the cauldron so amazingly incredible 👍 Perfecto 💞🥂

So far The most memorable and the Best....

I'm just glad he didn't miss. The alternative is just horrific: A person in the crowd shot by an arrow and burned to death.

Brilliant 🔥🙌 If this was Edmure Tully, we’d *still* be waiting for these games to begin.

Probably will never be bettered. Best lighting of the Olympic torch of all time.

I was 7 watching this i only remember it because my dad recorded it and we as a family watched it numerous times just for this moment for about a year or so and to this day i think this was the best one yet

This was etched in my mind! I remember this ceremony! This was by far the fliest torch lighting ever!

The best cauldron lighting by far! This was the first Olympics that I can remember (I was 9 at the time). I will never forget the '92 Olympics!

So much skill and focus. A real olympian. Apollo is really watching that time.

Saludos desde Mexico, desde el bello noroeste mexicano, desde mi gran BAJA CALIFORNIA, desde Tijuana... LA MEJOR INAUGURACION OLIMPICA QUE HE VISTO... y que voy a ver mientras viva... y con el encendido de la antorcha se cerro la mejor ceremonia que yo haya visto... toda la ceremonia fue llena de arte... algo esplendoroso, lo mejor... y el gran cierre Antonio Rebollo con su arco y su flecha magica... me sigo emocionando cada vez que lo veo...

El mejor encendido de un juego olímpico que nunca se ha visto jamás, y más para los que fuimos privilegiados de verlo en directo

Ha sido y será el mejor encendido de la historia, el más original y el más emocionante!!

Barcelona 92 was one of the best Olympics I have watched 🔥🔥🔥

Best ever for me - it just elicits raw and proud emotion every single time - can’t explain it!

Best torch lighting ever :)

Barcelona is to this day my favorite opening & closing ceremonies for an Olympics-I think alot of it was that it was the first I was old enough to remember & really enjoy, but I just loved the aesthetic of the whole thing, & that torch lighting is my favorite ever-I don't think anyone can top it!

I wasn't born yet when this happen but wow that guy is great. Shooting that arrow must have been super hard as the cauldron is so high and it was so dark too and yet he shoot it perfectly. Just imagine what would have happened if he made a slight mistake and the burning arrow fell at the people?! Salute to him!! Definitely a great way to open the Olympics.

beijing opening was the best so far...BUT the barcelona lighting of the cauldron is by far the best and most spectacular ... EVER.

Sencillo, único, original. Sin duda un antes y un después en el encendido de pebeteros olímpicos. Aún no superado.

The Best ever in History of the Olympic Games, Barcelona, you Rocked The World in 92

The most memorable cauldron lighting and my favorite. Like all the athletes there, he gave his best doing his “short part” of the ceremony. But his confidence, precision and mastery is the fruit of long hours/days/months of practice.

Non in Olympic history can ever top this Olympic torch lighting. I was a kid when I was watching this in TV.

It’s amazing how close to the people that cauldron was.

I will never forget this ever, I remember watching it early hours of the morning live on TV. I was only 8 years old. I think this is the best ever in the history of the olympics...

FUN FACT: My family's business, that designs flashlights, was asked to design a system to transport the flame from Athens to Barcelona. It was a success and they gifted us one of the torches (or it could have been a replica). It was an honour for my family and their business to be included in this historical moment of unity and peace.

Everyone: Marvelling at the archer's skill, Me: How does he not burn his fingers when he shot the arrow

Wow ... that was brilliant, given all the pressure knowing billions of people are watching... wow, wow, wow just wow... best opening ceremony ever !!!

1992: The last year we had two Olympiads in the same year: Albertville, France for the winter game and Barcelona, Spain for the summer games.

I don’t remember much from all the Olympics I’ve seen. This is the one thing I saw amongst all the fanfare from all the years that has been burned into my memory.

I was watching in awe as a teen. It still is the best Olympics opening ceremony/ cauldron lighting for me.

I watched this when i was 12 years old then. Now, I'm 40. Time fly so fast. ❤️

BEST cauldron lighting I've ever seen!

The best ever lighting of olympic cauldron.

The Games of the XXV Olympiad in Barcelona (1992) was the first opening ceremony to take place at night...and it has been like that ever since!

One of the best opening olympic games in history. Im still young when i watched this event.

The best Olympic torch lighting I have seen so far. Well done!

One of the best Olympic moments, probably the best cauldron lighting 💖 yes you did it!! Timeless moments.

Congratulations. The best Olympic cauldron lighting of all time.

For me, it's the most spectacular torch lighting ever. Excelente!

I would be nervous too. I would be worried about lighting the stadium on fire. Honestly, the best cauldron lighting I have ever seen!

I saw this live on TV as a kid, pure skill !

I literally got goosebumps from this.

Yes, I remember that, the best lighting of the Olympic torch ever.

The coolest torch lighting ever in a Summer Olympics. Coolest ever in the Winter Olympics was the US Mens’ hockey team lighting the torch in 2002 in Salt Lake City.

I think no Olympics will match this feat..... This is just a pure human skill

Still the coolest way to Start the Olympic Games.

*¡Mi encendido favorito!* 😊 *¡De niño me dejó alucinando!* 😍 *¡Y ni pensar en todo lo que pudo haber salido mal!* 😬

digan lo que digan, este es el mejor encendido de antorcha de todos los tiempos..¡¡¡¡¡¡

One of the most memorable Olympic torch lighting... but for me, it'll always be the best

THANK YOUR Senor Rebollo; over 25 years later, I still find this thrilling! Peace to you.

This is the reason why I love visiting Barcelona!

This was iconic...

I remember this Olympics from my childhood. I used to watch it almost every single day. The torch lighting was the best moment

I remember watching it live. The camera angle over a statue's shoulder, looking down to the archer. The music, thrilling strings. Then the archer pulling back, aiming high, taking a second or two. It all happened in an instant. I barely processed. It was astounding.

Aún recuerdo cuando la vimos por tv de niños, todos emocionados sin poder creer lo que veíamos... Fue genial!

This was and still is, one of the best and most memorable Olympic cauldron lighting ceremony ever!!!..👍❤👏

The best and unmatched cauldron lighting ever!!!!!!

Olympics should give him rebollo something precious too, he's kinda symbol of Olympics, whatever generation you are in, we all know that this is the best cauldron ever!!