There’s been so many incredible moments at the Olympics since it’s inauguration all the way back in 1896, and now that the 2021 games are in full swing, we wanted to look back at our top 5 moments.
So, without further ado, let’s take a trip down memory lane…
5) It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t kick start things with a Team GB triumph, would it? Well, Athens 2004 saw one of the biggest track and field upsets ever, thanks to four incredible Brits. With the Americans going into the final as clear favourites, no well-respected pundit had even given Team GB a chance, but thankfully, Jason Gardner, Darren Campbell, Mark Lewis-Francis and Marlon Devonish had other ideas. The quartet took advantage of a poor exchange of the baton and ended up winning the gold medal by a mere 0.01 seconds. UNBELIEVABLE SCENES!
4) The 1936 games were a long time ago, but it’s also one that most people are familiar with, and rightly so. With a Second World War slowly but surely brewing under the surface and doubts whether the games should even be taking place, Jesse Owens arrived in Berlin. To say he dominated the games would be an understatement, securing gold in the 100m, 200m, Long Jump and Relay. Although Jesse may have left us in 1980, his legacy in Athletics will surely live on forever
3) Another moment from a while back, this time in 1960 for the Rome games, when the marathon would go down in history because of one man. Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian runner chose to compete barefoot, after his new pair of running shoes didn’t fit. And here’s the best part, he ended up claiming gold by a huge 25 seconds. I mean, talk about winning at all costs!
2) The phrase ‘Bursting on to the Scene’ couldn’t be truer than for Usain Bolt in Beijing in 2018. He was a little-known Jamaican athlete when he arrived, but anything but when he left. During the games he became the first man to hold both the 100m and 200m world records simultaneously and this paved the way for future games, as he went on to win gold in 2012 and 2016, and is still labelled as the fastest (and maybe the coolest) athlete in history.
1) You may have guessed it, but there really could only be one winner, and it’s Michael Phelps for Beijing 2008. He arrived on the back of six gold and two bronze from Athens, which by any means, is more than respectable, However, not one to rest on his laurels, he went on to win EIGHT gold medals and this was surely the greatest achievement ever at the Olympics. Phelps also went on to dominate in 2012 and 2016, and currently has 28 medals to his name, making him comfortably the most successful Olympian ever.
