Okay, I'll get this off and running with arguably the greatest moment in ALL of sports history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gfD134ED54
Any moment with Phelps/Bolt is historic. There was this one gymnast named Kerri Strug who after injuring her ankle? went on to win gold.. was a sick moment.
Katarina Witt's 1988 gold. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/57R7aAY5QiM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I honestly think a big reason US Women's Gymnastics is so dominant now, is because a bunch of girls saw this moment, and it inspired them to be gymnasts. Heck, Aly Raisman outright said the "Magnificent Seven" is what got her into the sport. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bwa5Bf656As" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Best moment I saw live. The girl before her fell and Strug was already hurt. She basically limped out there stuck the landing and then crumpled in pain.
The Karolyis have a basecamp to stage the best US gymnast. It's as much of a Gymnast industrial complex as what any other nation may have. And prior to 2000/2004, the Romanians were the most dominant team. Now it is the US.
Great call, heyp -THAT was an amazing run....and at home....under enormous pressure...had to come up with the goods. I remember watching this at 10 years old... "I watched a snail crawl along the edge of a straight razor. That's my dream: That's my nightmare. Crawling, slithering across the edge of a straight razor ...and surviving." Seriously, I've been skiing since I was 4 ......and I'll tell you, brother.... As you probably know....There's the spiritual side...But that can change on a dime into the adrenaline junkie thing..where you push it to the edge of the envelope and leave it there..pulling it pull back, when you want.. coursing with endorphins afterwards....But here was Klammer over the edge of control...repeatedly pulling it back in. He let it all hang out. Just awesome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYj9kIxAL_o
Derrick redmon finishing a race with a torn hamstring still makes me emotional... IMO that's the beauty of the games. Forget the wins its the showcases of sportsmanship and determination that get me.
Jesse Owens winning Gold in Berlin. With Hitler looking to the Olympics as a celebration of Naziism and the superiority of the Aryan race Jesse Owens winning was far far more than just an individual triumph or even a national triumph. What makes it even more poignant is the friendship between the silver medalist German Luz Long, and Jesse Owens who showed how much sports can forge links between people so different and even people from countries at war. As Luz Long wrote to Owens before he died fighting for Nazi regime in 1943 "Someday find my son ... tell him about how things can be between men on this Earth."
Hard to imagine someone topping Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics! I'll instead take my post in another direction... Spoiler :grin: ....... ....... .......
This year's Olympics were probably my favorite. So many record breaking moments and good competition. Lily King beating Effimova was pretty cool.
For this year, its clearly the mystery man that we may never get to acknowledge fully. With his exceptional devotion to his craft, the affinity to put on a good display for the people watching, the skill he exudes in the quality of his work. Spoiler Thank you cameraman 1. <iframe src='//gifs.com/embed/2016-olympics-camera-work-J6gQAg' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='414px' height='240px' style='-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);'' ></iframe>
I still get chills every time I watch this. A truly magic moment. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tVMJKIx34SE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Most people on the forum weren't born in 1976.
Rulon Gardner over Alexander Karelin in Sydney. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F9yiCuX1hV8?start=660" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I wonder how many of these moments transcend countries. Like how everyone cares about Usain Bolt. First thing I could think of. First perfect 10 in Gymnastics. Nadia Comaneci. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi_5xbd5xdE People outside of the US don't care about the miracle of Ice at all. I think the Phelps photo finish victory in 2008 is up there too.
