OT: Favorite Olympic Memories
Hey Sports Fans,
Opening ceremonies will be happening tonight in S. Korea (happening live at 6AMEST tomorrow morning) and I am so excited about this.
I just want to hear your guys' favorite Olympic memories -- either summer or winter athletic or not.
The one that takes the cake for me is Muhammad Ali lighting the torch in Atlanta. I was an undergrad at the university and remember sitting with my roommates watching that. Great moment in history.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:39 PM ^
In 1984, the US had a crazy downhiller named Bill Johnson, my name. I was 12, no American had ever won a gold in downhill, and he skated like a mad man to win. I watched on tape delay that evening and cheered like a madman. That was a great sports year for me as the Tigers finished it off right.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:39 PM ^
1) Miracle on Ice. An incredible upset.
2) Kerry Strug nailing a vault (on an injured foot, no less) to clinch gold for the U.S. women's gymnastics team. A great display of heart.
3) For the same reason as (2), footage of a Japanese men's gymnastics competitor finishing the rings routine on a broken leg. (Ouch!)
February 8th, 2018 at 2:00 PM ^
I was about to add that vault by Kerri Strug - amazing stuck landing on one foot with all the weight of her team on her slight shoulders.
February 8th, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
Strug was heroic, but that whole moment is now kind of uncomfortable, knowing how hard the gymnasts got pushed by their coaches and the program. And, yeah, Nassar there is not good at all.
February 8th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^
Put on an awesome display. I think it was Montreal 1976.
February 8th, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^
It's not a favorite moment, but the '72 USA - Soviet Union basketball game for the gold was one of the most epic sports events I ever saw.
The Soviets won it when the clock operator did not properly run out the clock to end the game, MSU style. Even on review, the refs did not change it.
It looked like a blatant fix.
The Soviets made a full court pass between two tight USA defenders under the basket for the quick layup as time expired.
I did not realize until much later that Bobby Knight was the USA coach. Knowing that now, I'm surprised he did not run out on the court and choke a referee on worldwide TV.
February 8th, 2018 at 5:08 PM ^
on that was fascinating and yes the US team had a right to be upset about it was officiated at the end.
But good god man, help yourselves out and score more than 50 points in the finals of an Olympic basketball game.
February 8th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^
medals and they are still being held in a vault somewhere.
February 8th, 2018 at 8:14 PM ^
They are still in a vault in Munich apparently
February 8th, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^
Ledecky runaway victory in London - the announcers are just amazed
February 8th, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 4:42 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 4:57 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 5:38 PM ^
for a perfet 10.0.
Bob Beamon shattering the long jump record.
Dick Fosbury doing his flop thing.
February 8th, 2018 at 7:25 PM ^
I was at Olympic Stadium in Atlanta with a fellow Michigan alum the night Michael Johnson won gold (and also set world records) in both the 200 and 400 meter races, and Dan O'Brien won gold in the decathlon. Outside of being at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1998, probably the coolest sporting event I've ever attended.
February 8th, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
February 9th, 2018 at 3:55 AM ^
There is a very obvious answer to this question generally speaking:
However, I think seeing Michael Phelps winning again in Rio two years ago is up there for me. Obviously, his godly performance in Beijing 2008 was the run of a lifetime, but to remember the struggles he had in London, and then his glorious comback to end (probably, unless the improbable happens) his magnificent career. It was the happy ending we all hoped for.
Here was my favorite swim of his from 2016, 100 fly: