Supposedly Jesse was about to be disqualified when the German advised he jump earlier so he wouldnt cross the line which Jesse did and so that gold... Again the beauty is the sportsmanship
For me it is definitely Nancy Kerrigan's silver medal performance after getting a beat-down from Tonya Harding's hitman. Just epic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7RvWbnaDZk
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sxy920Nd7yY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Phelps had an unbelievable run in 2008, and the 100m butterfly that year was ridiculous. But I think it is the 4x100 free relay that sticks with me more.
I have to say something: The 2008 pre-Olympic hype about Michael Phelps was such overkill it almost made me root against the guy. It was almost like nothing else mattered to NBC and I despised them for giving one person so much attention. Then he went out and delivered the goods in spectacular, dominating fashion.
Can't remember the guy's name but it was a UK sprinter who had gotten hurt 4 years prior, trained his ass off to be back in the 96? Games. He's a sprinter and promptly tears his hamstring in the finals or semis, his dad runs out of the stands on to the track and as guy is crying, helps his son limp to the finish line.
That was Derek Remond in 1992 Barcelona games. Incredible moment. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kjkBPthoYVg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Cannot embed but at the 2012 Olympics when Shi Zhihao lost it after China won gold in women's team event. Backstory 2010 WTTC, Shi Zhihao wiped the women's ping pong team almost clean and went with all new players except Guo Yue because she proved to be such a great doubles partner with LiXiaoXia. They ended up LOSING that event. An event they had won 16 out of the last 17 times. The only other time they lost was when Korea participated as a Unified Korea team and they made a freaking movie about that one loss in 2012 called As One It was however a calculated risk by Shi Zhihao to gain experience of the young players like Ding Ning and Li Xiao Xia. Obviously he didn't think he would lose, but winning the Olympics is much bigger deal now that the Olympics has a team event. He took the same losing team there and swept all the golds. LiXiaoXia beat DingNing for singles, the opposite happened this Olympics and they got the Gold in Team. His gamble paid off and he retired immediately after the 2012 Olympics. The relief on his face and gratitude to the players after they win and come together is great. Link
Especially when compared against Harding's comprehensive meltdown at the same time. I think I've watched that 30 for 30 on Netflix ten times, almost as many as Elway to Marino.
Just watched Race. They say in sports that mental fortitude makes up 80% of the athlete. Jesse Owens domination in that time period leads me to believe he is the greatest Olympian ever. Not Micheal Phelps, Not Carl Lewis, but Jesse Owens. Freaking incredible and inspiring.
/thread Because you can add on to the fact that yes, the Nazi's were terrible - but Jesse Owens couldn't even come home and walk into any diner or movie theater and sit wherever he wanted. Hell, he couldn't even serve in the military and be treated equal... yet, there he is saluting our flag like the ******* hero and patriot he was. While there are some other amazing accomplishments to celebrate, Jesse Owens' transcended sport.
This guy winning the FIRST EVER gold medal for his country at the winter olympics. You can almost guarantee it won't happen like this again.
And on the lighter side: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vbJenAiKMQg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
