The Olympic games conducted once in four years are one of the greatest sports events. Olympic games always have extraordinary moments for the athletes and sports enthusiasts. The Olympic events exhibit talented athletes and sportspersons from all around the world. The Olympic events always have inspired millions around the world. Here in this article, we will list the iconic Olympic moments in history.
Most Iconic Moments in Olympic History
1. Participation of female athletes in the Paris Olympics 1900
The Paris Olympics in 1900 was the first in the history of Olympiwhereere female athletes were allowed to participate. The females participated in lawn tennis and golf. The London Olympics, 2012 was another Olympics where a boxing event for women was held for female athletes from every country. This made a significant impact on the gender equality in sports events. In the Paris Olympics, females participated in only 5 events which were considered appropriate for women in that period.
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2. Jesse Owen’s record-breaking win in the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Jesse Owen won the gold medal in the 100m race in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It was his first gold medal at the Berlin Olympics. Adolf Hitler saw Jesse Owens defeating his country team. Jesse Owens is an African-American athlete. He was able to break the concept of racial supremacy with the four gold medals he got in the Berlin Olympics. Jesse got other gold medals in 200 meters Dash, 4×100 m relay, and long jump. He became the first athlete to win four Olympic gold medals in the Olympics at that time.
3. Athletes competed in wheelchairs in the London Olympics in 1948
The London Olympics in 1948 was held after 12 years as it happened after World War II. The disabled athletes was not included in the Olympics events but a parallel event was conducted for them. This paved a way for the Paralympics competition for disabled individuals. Dr. Ludwig Gutman organized the event for the patients with spinal cord injuries. The event was also held on 29th July 1948 when the opening ceremony of the London Olympics occurred. The competition was known as Stoke Mandeville Games . The event has disabled atheles competing in events like archery.
4. Telecast of the Olympic games in Rome in 1960
In the year 1960 when the Olympic games were held in Rome, the event was televised internationally. This made the Olympics games popular as it reached the global audience. The game was broadcasted in Europe, USA and Canada and Japan. The use of coaxial cables and satellites made this possible. Some of the Olympic events were even made live at the Rome Olympics. The telecast of the event increased its popularity among the global audience. The telecasting also increased the business opportunity of the sports telecasting. It was a remarkable time period in the history of sports and media.
5. Micheal Johnson’s performance in the Atlanta Olympics,1996
Michael Johnson is considered as of the greatest sprinters. Micheal Johnson became the first male athlete to win the gold medal in both 200m and 400m in the same games. His victory shows his speed and versatility. He was able to achieve Olympic record for the 400m sprint. He won the gold medal for completing 400m in 43.49 seconds at that time. Micheal Johnson had an upright running style which was helpful for him in his Victories at the Olympic games.
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6. The USA lost to the Soviet Union in the Seoul Olympics in 1988
The loss of the USA to the Soviet Union was a significant moment in the Olympics. The semifinal game ended with the win of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union got the gold medal in the basketball event and the US team got the bronze medal by defeating Australia. The USA team consisted mainly of amateur players which was the major reason for their loss to the Soviet Union. The Team from the Soviet Union had many experienced players, unlike the USA. The basketball was improving at an international level at that time. This defeat in the semi-finals helped them to form the Dream Team for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
7. Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Andres Aldama in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
In the 1976 Montreal Olympics sugar ray Leonard got victory over Andres Alabama. Sugar Ray Leonard is known for his quick footwork and brilliant defense techniques while Andres Alabama is known for agressive style.Sugar Ray’s win helped him to get international fame. It was marked as a milestone in his career. He became one of the greatest boxers in the history. The victory was a remarkable moment in the Olympics history. He was able to stay calm in the game despite the pressure from Aldama.
8. Black Power Statue at the 1968 Mexico Olympics
The black power statue in the Mexico city Olympics was one of the iconic moment in the history of Olympics. The moment took place in the medal ceremony of men 200m race. In the ceremony American athelets Tommie Smith who won gold and John Carlos who won bronze raised their fists as a gesture of protest. They both wore black gloves and raised their fists when the national anthem was played. They did not wear shoes but only wore black socks to showcase the black poverty. Even though they faced criticism because of their act it became a powerful symbol as a fight for social Justice. The black power salute remains a symbol of courage.
9. Dream Team in the Barcelona Olympics 1992
The Dream Team in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 is one of the iconic moments in the Olympics’ history. The United States sent NBA superstars to compete in the basketball event at the Barcelona Olympics. The team included Micheal Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Charles Barkley. The team managed to win all eight games. The average victory margin was 43.8 points per game. The team scored more than 100 points in all the games. The opponents were struggling to play with the USA basket ball team. The final game showcased the excellent performance of players like Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan.
10. Muhammed Ali lighted the torch at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996
As Muhammed Ali lighted the torch at the Atlanta Olympics it became one of the most Iconic moments in the Olympics history. On July 19, 1996, the Atlanta Olympics opened with a grand ceremony, where organizers revealed the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali as the final torchbearer. His appearance as the final torch bearer showed his courage and confidence. He was a three-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist in 1960. The torch-lighting moment was an honor to his contributions to the sports.
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11. Usain Bolt at Rio Olympics, 2016
The performance of Usain Bolt in the Rio Olympics 2016 is considered as the iconic moments in the Olympics history. Usain Bolt won the gold medal for the 100m with in 9.81 seconds. He was able to win the three Olympics gold medal for 100 m three times consecutively. He also won 200m race within 19.78 seconds. This was also his third Olympic gold medal in 200m in a row. He also won the gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay. Usain led the Jamaican relay team to win the gold medal. He made the winning look effortless with his speed. It was his final Olympics and he has inspired millions worldwide.
12. Gabby Douglas at the 2012 London Olympics
The performance of Gabby Douglas in the London Olympics 2012 was an iconic moment in the Olympics history. She won in the individual all-around gymnastics competition. Douglas is the first African American woman in this event. She won the gold medal in individual all-around competitions with a total score of 62.232. It was a significant achievement for her. Her performances were flawless in vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise. She was also a member of the gymnastics team of the USA. Her composed and confident performance has inspired millions of sports enthusiasts.
13. Simone Biles at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Simone Biles’s performance in the 2016 Rio Olympics was an iconic moment in Olympic history. She won the gold medal in the individual all-around performance. Her score was 62.198. It was her fourth gold medal in the Olympics. She is considered as one of the best gymnast in the world. Biles also won the gold medal in vault and floor exercises. She got a bronze medal on the balance beam. Simone also won the gold medal in the team competition. She has inspired many with her gymnastic ability. She won four gold medals and a bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
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14. Carl Lewis gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
The performance of Carl Lewis at 1984 los angels Olympics was one of the iconic moments in the Olympics history. He secured four gold medals in the Los angels Olympics. Lewis was an outstanding performer at the Los angels Olympics. He won the 100m gold medal in a time of 9.99 seconds. Carl is the first American sprinter to finish 100m in less than 10 seconds.
He got his second gold medal in the long jump. In the event, he leaped 8.54 meters. He also won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay. Lewis was a member of the relay team and finished within 37.83 seconds. He was excellent in sprinting events which made him a winner. Carl Lewis was also a member of the 4x400m relay. He secured his fourth gold medal in the 4×400 meter relay. His medals and achievements in the Olympics made him a legendary athlete of all time.
15. Redeem Team at the Beijing Olympics 2008
The American basket ball team at the Beijing Olympics 2008 marked another iconic moment in the Olympics sports history. The team consisted of the established and experienced NBA players and the emerging players. The Redeem team went to the Beijing Olympics to win the gold medal. The Redeem team defeated Spain in the final match. Kobe Bryant was the team leader of the Redeem team. Other players on the team were LeBron James,Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony. The US basketball team formed the Redeem Team after failing to win the gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Conclusion
The major sports event, the Olympics shows the power of sports. It unites people from all over the world. It is where the world’s best sportspersons meet and compete. The Olympic event has inspired generations. In this article, we have put forward some iconic Olympic moments in history.
