As devastating as 1972 was, David Wottle winning the 800 was insane. I especially liked it because he looked like such a nerd.
Your all time favorite Olympic moment?
- Thread starter artradley
- Start date
Lake Placid, 1980. If someone wasn't alive to see it, I can't describe it other than to say it was the biggest upset in sports history. The Red Army team might have been the best hockey team in the world at the time, the US team was a bunch of college kids. That they even kept it close was shocking, to win was unthinkable.
1984 LA, Gabriela Andersen - Never give up. Ever.
Basically, this marathon runner was severely dehydrated coming into the stadium. She fell a couple times and staggered her way the last 400 meters. She refused assistance numerous times, fighting hard to finish on her own. Once she crossed the finish line, they carried her to medical care.
I remember watching it live, expecting her to drop dead on the track, but she made it.
Basically, this marathon runner was severely dehydrated coming into the stadium. She fell a couple times and staggered her way the last 400 meters. She refused assistance numerous times, fighting hard to finish on her own. Once she crossed the finish line, they carried her to medical care.
I remember watching it live, expecting her to drop dead on the track, but she made it.
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It wasn't live? I guess I didn't realize it at the time. I thought I was watching that game live.
Oh, I remember. We tried to avoid hearing the result until it was played later that day. My parents and I were shopping and had dinner then we headed home. Missed the 1st 10 min or so, but was glued to the TV for the rest. I can't describe hearing the USA chant the last few minutes, might have been the only time I've had chills during a sporting event.
Just an indescribable moment.
I'll add, it was also pretty cool watching Eric Heiden win 5 golds that same Olympics.
Think abc gave itvaway some with jim mckay showing downtown lake placid going crazy in the background during the intro.
In 1968 Bob Beamon damn near jumped thru the pit in his record-breaking long jump at the Mexico City Olympics. He broke the old record by almost 2 feet. His record stood from 1968 until 1991.....almost 23 years.
Four years later, the massacre of the Israeli Olympic team at Munich. Jim McKay's finest moment..and one of the best TV moments for ABC Sports ever.
Four years later, the massacre of the Israeli Olympic team at Munich. Jim McKay's finest moment..and one of the best TV moments for ABC Sports ever.
Oh yeah! That was incredible. He knew what he had done as soon as he hit the ground!
Bob Beamon almost jumping thru the pit in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics....he broke the old record by almost 2 feet and his record stood for 23 years, I think.
4 years later, Jim McKay/ABC did a magnificent job covering the Arab raid of the Israeli Olympians at Munich and covering the story and their eventual demise.
4 years later, Jim McKay/ABC did a magnificent job covering the Arab raid of the Israeli Olympians at Munich and covering the story and their eventual demise.
Oh yeah! That was an incredible moment!
I guess I should have clarified "Summer Olympics" since everybody talks about the hockey game.
#1. Dan Gable 1972.
#2. Miracle on ice, hockey, with al Michaels on the call.
#2. Miracle on ice, hockey, with al Michaels on the call.
This. There is no other answer to this question.
It was also the Gold medal that has had the most impact in the U.S. Without that win the sport of hockey in this country would not be what it is today. There would be no hockey in the desert, or FLA, or the Carolinas, or anywhere else in the Sunbelt (other than the Kings who predate the win). That Gold Medal still resonates today in the hockey community, HUGE.
Culturally, it made America feel good about itself again. Soon after, the Cold War ended and the Iron Curtain came down. It really is immeasurable what the impact was. And it was a sporting event that made it happen.
That was painful. I was a kid, but I'll never forget the look on my parents' faces.
honorable mention to Rulon Gardner knocking off Alexander Karelin. Without that win, there is no way that Rulon Gardner is chosen later in life to be a contestant on The Biggets Loser fat camp show.
In 1936, Jesse Owens won 4 Gold Medals in Munich,
Germany in the Summer Olympics. He was the
fastest Black man that Adolph Hitler ever saw as he
sat in the grandstands. After this, the Super Race
of White People was discredited and Hitler committed
suicide 10 years later.
Germany in the Summer Olympics. He was the
fastest Black man that Adolph Hitler ever saw as he
sat in the grandstands. After this, the Super Race
of White People was discredited and Hitler committed
suicide 10 years later.
BubsFinn and ANYCHAWK have great contributions and I will add this year's swimmer for the refugee team that pulled a boat of refugees to safety.
As far as pure accomplishment, how about the USA's supposedly unbeatable 2004 4x100 relay team, the fastest ever assembled, losing gold to Great Britain by .01 seconds in a photo finish? USA had the gold, bronze, and 4th place in the individual 100 meters final, while both GB's top 2 had been the top to miss the cut after the semifinals. Shawn Crawford, Justin Gatlin, and Maurice Green were the three fastest in the world and yet flawless baton transition won it for the Brits. Great feeling of inevitability of an American victory from the British broadcast ("USA should win it easily, as long as they don't drop the baton"), especially Shawn Crawford's demeanor before the race compared to the others. So cocky. After the inroductions and false start, skip to 4:20
...
As far as pure accomplishment, how about the USA's supposedly unbeatable 2004 4x100 relay team, the fastest ever assembled, losing gold to Great Britain by .01 seconds in a photo finish? USA had the gold, bronze, and 4th place in the individual 100 meters final, while both GB's top 2 had been the top to miss the cut after the semifinals. Shawn Crawford, Justin Gatlin, and Maurice Green were the three fastest in the world and yet flawless baton transition won it for the Brits. Great feeling of inevitability of an American victory from the British broadcast ("USA should win it easily, as long as they don't drop the baton"), especially Shawn Crawford's demeanor before the race compared to the others. So cocky. After the inroductions and false start, skip to 4:20
...
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If you havent seen it the movie munich on this subject is fantastic.
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