The modern Olympics have a rich and fascinating history that spans over a century. From its humble beginnings in Athens, Greece in 1896 to the global phenomenon that it is today, the Olympic Games have become synonymous with sportsmanship, competition and national pride. Here are eight moments from modern Olympic history that have left an indelible mark on the world:
1. Jesse Owens’ triumph at the 1936 Berlin Olympics: The African-American sprinter won four gold medals at these games, defying Adolf Hitler’s claims of Aryan supremacy.
2. The Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics: The US men’s ice hockey team defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union team in one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
3. Usain Bolt’s dominance at multiple Summer Olympics: The Jamaican sprinter has won nine gold medals across three consecutive games (2008-2016) and set multiple world records.
4. Nadia Comaneci’s perfect score at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics: The Romanian gymnast became the first person to ever score a perfect “10” in an Olympic event.
5. Michael Phelps’ record-breaking medal hauls: The American swimmer has won a total of 28 medals (23 gold) across five different Olympic Games (2000-2016).
6. Cathy Freeman’s historic run at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics: The Australian runner became her country’s first Indigenous athlete to win an individual gold medal.
7. Katarina Witt’s back-to-back figure skating victories: The East German skater won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1984 and 1988, becoming one of just a handful of athletes to accomplish this feat.
8. Tokyo hosting postponed Summer Games during COVID-19 pandemic – Amidst worldwide fears about safety due to coronavirus outbreak, Japan pushes forward with hosting delayed summer games for second time in history.
The modern Olympics have produced countless unforgettable moments that have captured the world’s attention. These eight examples are just a small sampling of the incredible achievements and triumphs that have occurred since the games’ inception in 1896.