If you’re like me, you’ve spent the last week glued to the couch, watching every second of Olympic coverage on TV. Or not. Maybe you’re a little more well-adjusted than that. In any case, what better time than the current Olympics to look back over the most memorable moments from past Olympic Games, both summer and winter? Here we are: the top eight best Olympic moments.
1. Jesse Owens (1936).
He was a track-and-field athlete, specializing in sprints and the long jump. At the Berlin games, used as a showcase of Aryan power by Hitler and the Nazi Party, Owens won 4 gold medals (long jump, 100-meter, 200-meter, and the 4x100-meter relay), singlehandedly smashing Hitler’s ideology of white superiority. For more information, try the 2016 film "Race," or watch the Emmy-winning "Jesse Owens Story."
2. The U.S. men's rowing team (1936).
For the gold medal-winning team from UW, the journey to the Olympics was arduous. Most came from extremely poor backgrounds and hard lives and yet managed to come together to beat not only their American rivals for a chance at the Olympics, but the best teams in the world, as well. Despite receiving an unfair lane assignment in the final, they rowed to victory over Italy and Germany. Read "The Boys in the Boat" Daniel James Brown for more information about these extraordinary young men.
3. Nadia Comaneci (1976).
Comaneci, a Romanian gymnast, won three gold medals at these games. But what she’s most famous for is her uneven bars routine, which earned the first perfect 10 in gymnastics history.
4. The U.S. men's hockey team (1980).
In an era of Soviet dominance, no one expected a team of college players to have a chance against the undefeated Russian team. And yet, in the games at Lake Placid, New York, the U.S. men’s national team pulled off a stunning upset victory over the Soviets, later going on to beat Finland for the gold medal. To watch the story play out on the big screen, check out "Miracle."
5. Kerri Strug and the U.S. women's gymnastic team (1996).
In the 1996 games, a team of seven U.S. gymnasts won the United States’ first team gold in the sport, beating the Russian team for the first time in Olympic history. Special shout-out goes to Kerri Strug, who, after breaking her ankle in her first vault, managed to complete a second, securing a victory for her team.
6. Michael Phelps (2008).
The Beijing Olympic games were packed with heart-stopping moments, but none were more exciting than Phelps’ quest to become the most decorated athlete of all time. Winning 8 gold medals, he topped the previous record of 7 gold medals in one Games, and as we all know, he didn’t stop there.
7. The U.S. women's gymnastics team (2012).
The United States women’s gymnastics team came into the 2012 games carrying big expectations, and they didn’t disappoint. Between the team gold medal they won, the all-around title handily secured by Gabby Douglas, and Aly Raisman walking away with more medals than anyone else on the gymnastics team, it was a successful Olympics for all. Except maybe McKayla Maroney. I’m sure you all remember the meme.
8. Katie Ledecky.
Ledecky is one of the biggest stars of this year’s Olympic games, having won gold so far in all her events. But in the 2012 London Games, then 15-year-old Ledecky was beyond an underdog. When she set a scorching pace in the finals of the 800-meter freestyle, commentators were sure she couldn’t keep it up. But she did, smashing the world record, earning gold, and setting off a sparkling career. You go, girl.
What was your favorite Olympic moment? What moments from Rio do you think should make the cut?
