Top 10 Olympic Moments In History: From Miracle On Ice To Michael Phelps
The 1988 Calgary Olympics were among the most memorable Winter Olympics of All Time. Eddie the Eagle was the lovable loser in the Ski Jump, Jamaica crashed their Bobsled and two figure skaters carved up the ice. American Brian Boitano and Canadian Brian Orser weren't friends, but they didn't loath each other either. Boitano came out of top after a fables free skate while Orser finished second again.
9. The Dream Team
The 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics featured the greatest sports team ever assembled. Led by shooting guard Michael Jordan and point guard Magic Johnson, the American Men's basketball team eviscerated opponents. The point differential for the games was a ridiculous 43.8 in the American's favor.
8. Bruce Jenner Catapults to Fame
Now best known as being part of the Kardashian brood, Bruce Jenner used to be America's most famous athlete. With a healthy head of blond hair and a body that Hercules would envy, he previously flamed out at the 1972 Munich Games before winning Decathlon gold four years later in Montreal. He also set a world record in the process and even got on the cover of Wheaties.
7. The Leap of the Century
Although Mexico City has an altitude of 2240 meters, nothing would tarnish one of the greatest individual olympic performances of all time -- Bob Beamon's world record long jump in 1968. He leapt an amazing 29 feet and 2 1/2 inches, destroying the old record by nearly two feet.
6. Rulon Gardner Defeats the G.O.A.T
Wrestler Alexsandr "The Experiment" Karelin hadn't lost an international competition in 13 years. With nearly 900 wins, he was easily favored to win his fourth consecutive gold medal for Russia (and previously the USSR). American Rulon Gardner stepped in and defeated Karelin by a score of 1-0.
5. Eric Heiden's five golds
Heiden was the first man (or woman) to win five individual gold medals in a single Olympics. He was the rare racer who could dominate in the short and long distances, as evidenced by his success in the 500, 1,000, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters. The greatest speed skater of all time set four Olympic records and a world record in his final race.
4. Kerri Strug's Gritty Finish
Part of the Magnificent Seven, Kerri Strug had enormous pressure to land two vaults to ensure that the American female gymnastics team beat out Russia for the gold. However, on her first of two attempts she fell and injured her ankle. On her second and final attempt she landed on one foot before fallen over in agony. The USA won the team all-around title as a result of Strug's toughness.
3. Michael Phelps' Golden Beijing
Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian of all time with a staggering 18 gold medals (22 overall). But despite capturing 2 bronze and 6 gold in 2004 he still hadn't tied or broken fellow swimmer Mark Spitz's record of 7 gold medals in 1972. But in 2008, thanks to one insanely close finish, and numerous blow out victories, Michael became the first Olympian to win 8 golds in one Olympics.
2. Hitler Upstaged
German Chancellor Adolf Hitler was determined to prove Aryan Athletic supremacy in the 1936 Munich Olympics. However African-American Jesse Owens shattered that thought and broke down a ton of racial barriers en route to four gold medals and the title of "World's Fastest Man."
1. The Miracle on Ice
The 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. were truly the greatest Olympics of all time. Cold War tensions made each event between the Soviet Union and the USA a must-watch. This sporting rivalry came to a head when the Amateur U.S. Men's Ice Hockey squad squared off against the back-to-back-to-back-to-back defending gold medalist Soviet national ice hockey team. A capacity crowd of 8,500 fans packed into the Olympic Center to watch the U.S. pull out a come-from-behind 4-3 victory. Eric Heiden was among those in attendance.