The Summer Olympics have provided us with many unforgettable moments over the years. These include record-breaking performances and phenomenal displays of athletic skill. However, some moments transcend the realm of sport. Here are the iconic moments we remember most.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt looks back at his Olympic competitors during a 100-meter semifinal in 2016. Bolt won the final a short time later, becoming the first man in history to win the 100 meters at three straight Olympic Games. Bolt, the world-record holder in the 100 and 200 meters, won eight gold medals during his legendary Olympic career. Kai Pfaffenbach/ReutersNadia Comaneci became the first gymnast in Olympic history to score a perfect 10 in an event — and she did it seven times at the 1976 Olympics. The Romanian, who collected three golds in Montreal, finished with three 10s on the balance beam and four on the uneven bars. Suzanne Vlamis/APAmerican athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists while the US National Anthem played during their medal ceremony at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City. Their gesture became a symbol of the struggle for civil rights. To their left stood Australian Peter Norman, who supported them by wearing an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge.American high jumper Dick Fosbury clears the bar on his way to winning Olympic gold in 1968. His back-first jumping style revolutionized the sport, and the “Fosbury Flop” is now the commonly used technique in high jump competitions. Bettmann/Getty ImagesUS gymnast Kerri Strug injured her ankle on her second-to-last vault during the team competition at the 1996 Summer Games. However, she landed on her feet in her final attempt, clinching victory and becoming an American hero. Susan Ragan/APUS track star Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Games, undermining Hitler’s notion of Aryan superiority. He became a cultural icon and a symbol of perseverance and excellence. Ullstein Bild/Getty ImagesMichael Jordan soared for a dunk during the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. As a member of the “Dream Team,” the US men’s basketball team, he contributed to what many regard as the greatest sports team ever assembled. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty ImagesSoviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won six medals in the 1964 Summer Games, achieving a then-record 18 medals — nine of them gold — over three Olympics. Only Michael Phelps has surpassed her medal count. The Asahi Shimbun/Getty ImagesBefore Michael Phelps, there was Mark Spitz. In 1972, Spitz won seven events at the Summer Games in Munich, a record number of gold medals until Phelps surpassed it with eight in 2008. Bettmann/Getty ImagesIt was the thud heard ’round the world when American diver Greg Louganis hit his head on the diving board at the 1988 Olympics. Yet, he went on to win the gold medal in the event, showcasing incredible resilience. Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos/Getty ImagesAmerican sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner, aka “Flo-Jo,” dominated the 100 and 200 meters at the 1988 Summer Games, setting world records that remain unbroken today. Russell Cheyne/Allsport/Getty ImagesMuhammad Ali rose to prominence at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, winning a gold medal in the light-heavyweight division. Disparaging treatment upon returning home led Ali to allegedly throw his medal into a river. Thirty-six years later, he received a replacement medal during the 1996 Olympics. Central Press/Getty ImagesDuring the 1972 Olympics, the second-place podium remained empty as the US basketball team protested the controversial decision that awarded the gold medal to the Soviet Union after a disputed last-second play.Michael Johnson set a new world record in the 200 meters, clocking in at 19.32 seconds at the 1996 Olympics, where he also won gold in the 400 meters.US swimmer Katie Ledecky was one of the biggest stars of the 2016 Olympics, winning five golds and setting two world records in the 400 and 800-meter freestyles, marking a remarkable achievement in competition history.American long jumper Bob Beamon shattered the world record by over 21 inches in 1968, astonishing the crowd with a leap of 9 feet, 2 1/2 inches. He collapsed in disbelief, and the record stood for 23 years. Bettmann/Getty ImagesRulon Gardner, a Greco-Roman wrestler, made history in 2000 by defeating Russia’s Aleksandr Karelin, who had not lost in 13 years, in the gold-medal match.Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila became the first Black African to win Olympic gold in 1960, completing the marathon in world-record time while running barefoot, just as he had trained.
