“Great is the victory, but the friendship is all the greater”, said Emil Zatopek when asked about the Olympic Games. The Olympics have become a magnet for all that is good within the human spirit. We look at ten moments in the history of the games when the actions of athletes have transcended race, color or nationality to speak to the soul…
They were divided at the 38th parallel, but reunified in Sydney. It was probably only symbolic-perhaps even delusional, but when an event can bring two countries which are officially at war to march under the same flag, it gives the spectator an idea of the strength of the Olympic movement. A flag with the map of undivided Korea in blue over a white background was carried by Park Jung Chon, a North Korean judo coach and Chun Un Soon, a basketball player from South Korea while the band aptly played an emotional folk song. Same uniform, same flag, same song – it seemed for one fleeting moment in history, the two nations forgot the past and embraced the future.
The two were as different as they come. One, a white South African. The other, an Ethiopian. Derartu Tulu and Elena Meyer had just finished first and second in the 10,000 meters. What followed was perhaps the most poignant victory lap in history. Hand in hand, the two Africans celebrated their victory together. For many, it heralded South Africa’s re-entrance into the sporting arena after years of apartheid but it was the beauty of two African athletes, in their hour of glory to recognize each others performance that seemed to provide the shining light for the dark continent.
Pyambu Tuul represented Mongolia in the marathon at Barcelona in 1992. He came in last. When asked why he was so slow, he replied ‘”No, my time was not slow, after all you could call my run a Mongolian Olympic marathon record.” Not satisfied, another reporter asked him whether it was the greatest day of his life. To which came the reply which can throw anybody off their seats. “And as for it being the greatest day of my life, no it isn’t”, he said,”"Up till six months ago I had no sight at all. I was a totally blind person. When I trained it was only with the aid of friends who ran with me. But a group of doctors came to my country last year to do humanitarian medical work. One doctor took a look at my eyes and asked me questions. I told him I had been unable to see since childhood. He said ‘But I can fix your sight with a simple operation’. So he did the operation on me and after 20 years I could see again. So today wasn’t the greatest day of my life. The best day was when I got my sight back and I saw my wife and two daughters for the first time. And they are beautiful.” Simple, ain’t it? It’s the races that we run within ourselves that are most important.
It seemed to be happening all over again. A sense of deja vu had set in. Dan Jansen, the speed skater who had promised so much, but had failed to deliver was competing in the 1000 meters finals at Lillehammer. Surely, it was his last chance at redemption. Four years earlier at the Calgary games, he had competed in the 500 meters speed skating event hours after hearing the news of his sister Jane’s death. He had failed to make much of an impact. The jinx continued in Albertville. Call it what you will-destiny, an act of divine providence, whatever-he skated like never before, created a world record, and took home the gold. And if there is anything called poignancy in sport-it is this- Dan Jansen, holding his little girl and looking up to the heavens saying ‘This is for you, Jane.’
Lake Placid, New York, 1980. The Soviets had invaded Afghanistan. Carter was not sending an American Contingent to the Moscow Summer Olympics. It was in this cauldron of spite that the American team comprising of mostly amateurs had just taken the lead against the mighty Soviets. Ten minutes of intense hockey followed, but the Soviets could not breach the American defense. With the clock winding down, ABC’s Al Michael’s immortal words ‘Eleven seconds, you’ve got ten seconds, the countdown’s going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? YES’, were accompanied by jubilation on the rink as well as the stands. Decades later, its still the video you show your kids to teach them what it is to be American.
Momo Walde won the marathon gold in the high altitude of Mexico city in 1968. One hour later, a little known Tanzanian runner, John Stephen Akhwari entered the Olympic stadium – the last man to do so. Wounded after a fall and carrying a dislocated knee, he hobbled up to the track for for one last surge to the finish. He then retired to a thunderous applause by a small crowd which was lucky enough to get a glimpse of this gallant champion. It was later written of his perseverance – ‘Today we have witnessed a young African runner who symbolizes the finest in the human spirit. A performance that gives true dignity to sport – a performance which lifts sports out of the category of grown men playing in games.’ But Akhwari was far more modest. When asked why he did not quit, he replied,’My country did not send me 5000 miles to start the race. They sent me 5000 miles to finish the race.’
An image which even if you saw a thousand times, spoke to your heart in so profound a manner that it embodied the spirit of the times. The image is that of Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising a hand covered in a black glove with Peter Norman donning the Olympic Project for Human Rights badge. It will be remembered as the most iconic image of protest at the Olympic games, but all three of them were ostracized after. It was only years later that their act was to be recognized as a demonstration for dignity. It’s one of those moments when sport ceases to be just sport- it assumes the task of being a vehicle of change and progress.
A career plagued by injuries, Derek Redmond arrived at Barcelona with an eye on the gold medal. It wasn’t to be. With 175 meters to go in his 400 meters semifinal he pulled his hamstring. The dream had ended it seemed. Not for Redmond though. The succeeding events are etched in the minds of millions. Crying he stands up again, only to try to finish on one leg. His father watching from the sidelines joins him with words of comfort – “We’ll finish together”.’ Strength is measured in pounds. Speed is measured in seconds. Courage? You cant measure courage’, were the words used by the IOC to promote the Olympic movement by the act of perseverance. But for Derek Redmond, it was the only plausible thing to do.
In full view of the Fuhrer, a nineteen year old German athlete gave Jesse Owens some advice – ‘play it safe, make your mark several inches before the takeoff board and jump from there.’ Owens, the grandson of a slave and the son of a sharecropper took the advice, qualified for the finals and took his tally of gold medals to four. The first to congratulate him was Luz Long. “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler… You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t be a plating on the twenty-four carat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment,” he said, recounting his rendezvous with the blue eyed German but for all his heroics, Jesse had to take the freight elevator in the Waldorf Astoria to attend his own reception.
At last he emerged from the background. A body weathered by Parkinson’s but the mind astute as ever. Shivering he lit the flame. No other sportsman in the history of sport had meant so much to so many as Muhammad Ali. For the dignity of the man was consummate – never relinquishing ideals for money or fame, Ali was the people’s champion – the underdog in sport and life. “They didn’t tell me who would light the flame, but when I saw it was you, I cried” said Bill Clinton. He wasn’t the only one.
I have zero interest in sports. But the background stories held my interest. Nicely done.
@esamutash (119):
No you don’t.
Beautiful list. Excellent job.
How could you leave out Kerri Strug’s gutsy one-legged jump land? That was the first thing I thought of for an emotional moment after Ali.
Brilliant List, Dash; As with Manda & Mitch, I’d hoped Kathy Freeman’s or John Landy’s moments might have been there but we can’t be greedy figuring in two spots: As for #4 & #6; these were memorable and wonderful Olympic moments: I watched that hockey game on TV and cheered as though they were Aussies and then cheered again when I watched the ‘made for television’ movie “Miracle On Ice”.
I also wept when Muhammad Ali came out to light the Olympic Flame – a well-deserved No. 1
Other moments that stand out:
The female runner whose body shut down as she entered the stadium in the marathon: can’t remember which games (?Barcelona/?Seoul) and staggered to cross the finish line.
Torville & Dean – expected to win, but did so with perfect scores at the Winter Olympics in Sarjevo, 1984.
However, one of the most emotional moments for me was in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles when Jon Sieben of Australia swam the race of his life to steal the 200 metres Butterfly from Germany’s Michael Gross and America’s Pablo Morales: Gross – known as ‘The Albatross’ due to his long arms was unbeatable at the time and it was a foregone conclusion that the race would be between him and Morales – the second best in the world at the time and favourite at L,A. with crown emotion expected to lift him higher when Sieben, swimming in Gross’s wake for 3 laps powered home in the last 30 metres to win by a touch; lifting his PB by something like 4 seconds to do so.
Arsnl (110) They had to write it as a 1.0 because the equipment couldn’t display the number 10 as it had never been done before.
Shagrat (126) Also Tai Babylonia and Randy Gardner. They were the world champs and highly favored to win. But then during warm-ups, Gardner pulled his groin muscle and they had to withdraw. I will never forget that. I had been following them for years, and it truly was a heartbreaking moment.
What about Jeff Blatnick who beat cancer to win a gold medal in wrestling in 1984? The sportscaster who interviewed him after the match was crying like a baby.
Gotta agree with the commenters on the Cheesy aspects of some of the write ups.
7. The jinx struck again at Albertville.
What Jinx? Did another family member die, or did he just choke? Mind you I really doubt this entry belongs on on the list.
3. Derek Redmond arrived at Barcelona with an eye on the gold medal. The dream had ended it seemed. Not for Redmond though.
No the dream HAD ended. He was not going to make the final let alone win gold, okay. What happened after that may well be courageous as hell (or stupid DOYPOV) but it was not the dream carrying on.
1. What bucslim said.
And all you people saying that the Miracle on Ice was not a major emotional moment get over yourselves.
I found Roy Jones jr getting robbed at Seoul a pretty emotional moment too, but I am guessing that anger is not the emotion Dash was thinking of.
As a Kiwi the two biggest emotional moments were 1964 when Peter Snell won the 800/1500 double, and 1976 when we won the gold in mens (field) hockey with our goalie suffering a broken kneecap stopping a penalty stroke. Beating Australia was an added bonus.
It always brings a tear to my eye when I watch the Redmond clip. I’ve actually got a motivational poster in my cubical at work with the very same picture as used on this list.
Good stuff.
I would have liked to have Steve Bradbury in there for his gold medal in in speed skating. He taught us that even if everyone else is better than you, victory is still possible through dumb luck. OK, it wasn’t amazing, but it was hilarious.
My personal most emotional moments.
Cathy Freeman wins the 400m at the Sydney Olympics. I cried when this happened and it gives me goosebumps every time.
Jane Saville being disqaulified during the 20km walk at the sydney Olympics just as she was about to enter the stadium.
Matthew Mitcham Winnings gold at the Beijing Olympics with the highest ever diving score in olympic history on his last dive.
Eric The Eel
the miracle on ice should have been number one
@Kris Kringle (116): Just because someone disagrees with a point or person, that doesn’t mean he/she has to be racist.
The US has won the most medals, so we get the most emotional moments…
@chalkman (136): Oh really? From now on,it will be China which will top the medal tally every olympic.
@jfrater (22):
That salute is not a symbol of racial equality, it is the salute of the Black Panther Party, an explicitly militant, violent, anti-white organization. You would never have seen Martin Luther King, or any other respectable civil rights leader associate themselves with that sort of, and for the author to gloss over that fact is an insult to Dr. King.
#1 sucked. Only emotional via fame.
great list
I think sport for the pursuit of glory is one of the more despicable goals. The commercialisation of sport undermines the potential common good that could arise from it. The air-time given to it is disproportional, and the role-models that are produced are hardly suitable for any civilised society.
@ 116 Kris Kringle
Thanks for sticking up for us, but ‘Australian’ is not a race!
@AuthorityFigure (141): Me thinks you are absolutely right, spending astronomical amounts of money for glorification is just obscene, when the same could be used for nobler purposes viz. development,healthcare,education etc stuff.
@ 133. Haha you’re definitely and Aussie aren’t you paulyt? They’re some of my favourite moments aswell. But the real emotion of Saville’s disqualification for me was the fact that Mickey D’s was doing a promo at the time, and if she came first I would have got a free BigMac.
And as to flamehorse, why shouldn’t No.4 be there? Is it the context of the black power salute (which as many have pointed out is linked to the extremist Black Panthers) or the fact that there’s an Australian up there?
@BravehisTickle (135):
No, he admitted before to hating Austrians.
@AuthorityFigure (142):
You’re wrong, Australians are very racist. Look up aboriginals while you’re at it. You should know this if you live in the nation of Australia. Are you even Australian?
@Kris Kringle (145): Who admitted? Flamehorse? I cannot see it in any comment..and what do you mean by ‘Australian are very racist’? Can you explain?
A lot of Australians are racist, with the ‘F off we’re full’ attitude and the perception that all Aboriginals are drug users, alcoholics or child abusers.
But that is a minority, most Caucasian Australians do not discriminate against the Indigenous people or immigrants.
@Trazzoli (108): I thought the battle was over. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure they aleady announced that there will be no women’s ski jump this year. I think it was due to a lack of international participants?
@stefan (117): Shh, grownups are talking.
I don’t really follow olympics but for me the most emotional moment in sports was when Alessandro Zanardi won his first race after the horrific accident he suffered at Lausitzring in 2001. He lost both his legs during the crash as well as most of his blood, many splinters of carbon fibre were stuck in his body. Last rites were performed on him.
Yet four years later, in 2005 he won the Oschersleben World Touring Car Championship race, not too far from the Lausitzring track. He continues to be a competetive driver in the series today. He has to walk using crutches and his car is modified with hand controls. WTCC is an extremely competetive series, with lots of car-to-car contact and no one gives Zanardi any repreive on the track. One of motorsport heroes if you ask me.
I think you forgot John Landy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Landy
As a former wrestler, I have to put in a plug for Rulon Gardner’s upset of the magnificent Alexander Karelin at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
What about Eddie the Eagle? I cried at his every attempt (okay it was tears of laughter I admit, but it was still tears!)….Well?…. Laughter IS a display of emotion isn’t it???
Muhammed Ali receives honorary doctorate from Princeton, shakes own hand
Quite a disappointing list. I’m a typical Olympic crybaby so I expected some goosebumps early in the morning, but the list is so political, racial and US-biased. Number 1? It’s a joke, right?!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzz…!
You all make me laugh – what a lot we are. Nice list and dare I admit I teared up a bit too?!
@lo (100): I was born in 1985 in the US and grew up listening to that story every four years. It wasn’t like my dad was a huge hockey person either, he just really liked the story. It was also a semi-hit movie a couple years ago. Just because no one ever told you about it doesn’t mean it’s of lesser value to the rest of us.
The reason it’s so important is becasue we don’t have anything like that anymore. I can’t think of a good event that has pulled an entire country together in my lifetime. Even Michael Phelps breaking all the records didn’t really do it, and lots of people were behind him. Hell, I live in Baltimore, where he’s from and currently lives, and it didn’t even really bring the city together. We’re too wrapped up in ourselves.
Owens later stated that Long did not in fact help with his mark:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111878822
But their friendship was real and worthy of this list (should be #1 IMO), From the npr story:
Luz Long died in 1943 while fighting for Germany in World War II. A final letter he wrote to Jesse Owens reads, in part, “Someday find my son … tell him about how things can be between men on this Earth.”
@Kris Kringle (145) & Springs (147) – Aboriginal is an adjective, the noun is Aborigine….
I remember seeing an interview with Peter Norman (#4) and he said that the Americans asked him to also raise the fist, but he thought it would be more powerful an image if he didn’t…. good on ya!
I used to love this website. I read it all the time for the interesting information. I then made the horrible mistake of reading the comments that followed each of the lists: (i.e.) “I just have to say you ruined the list putting those american moments on it…; Seriously…..”what it is to be american”? So the video teaches kids to be ignorant, idiotic, racist and fat?…”
It’s comments like these and (many) of the like that disgust me. I respected this site as an intellectual one but time after time I see that it’s “followers” are no more intellectual or open-minded than spit. I will never again visit this site.
I tend not to go where unintelligent and arrogant idealisms runs rampant. But if I were on the same level as you, I would say something like: “Hey you dainty, sissy-***** Europeans, why don’t you go to one of your dance/electronica clubs; do your X; have one of your hairy & smelly gang-bangs; and then cry in your Zimas or pink Zinfandels about where the world is going.” Basically, pull your vajayjay’s off the floor and MAN UP, European *****es!
But of course, that is something I would never say…not in real life, anyway. Blame the outburst on the atmosphere this website creates. Stereotyping and blind judgments feel great, doesn’t it? *****ING SISSYS!
People keep bringing up the what it means to be an American line from here. If you want to be an American go kill every person who has something you want, enslave all those weaker than you, impose you beliefs upon the rest of the world and kill all who resist, be ignorant towards all others feelings, and lastly if the above doesn’t work drop a nuke on them. Yep those are the basics of a true blue American. People may not enjoy hearing this but America is a country founded on hatred, slavery, and murder. The truth hurts but history can’t lie.
Munich should be #1, no questions asked. It is a shame for the poster to leave that out.
Good list overall. I think I would have made Derek Redmond #1 however. It represented the epitomy of what the Olympics are supposed to be in my opinion.
As for Ali, I think Bucslim is being a little too harsh, but he’s not entirely off base. Ali’s actions toward Frasier, supposedly in the name of showmanship, were deplorable. It was a mistake, but we all make mistakes. I wish he had openly apologized for those actions. A sincere apology, even now, would be appropriate.
But those mistakes don’t cancel out everything else.
#4 was and still is very emotional for many Americans. The symbolism was a plea for help to the International community, for a people oppressed because of their skin color and a rallying cry for a people to stand up and fight the power that tries to oppress them. Many White Americans did not like being embarrased or shamed by the act but I’m sure even though we won medals in that event those two would have been treated terribly if they decided to walk the streets of some cities in the South and North. Just like negro servicemen returning after WWII. (yes they did serve) We are glad you helped but don’t be too proud and remember your still just a N*, a second class citizen in my eyes. The symbolism fit the times!
One item stands out in my mind this not on this list. 1972 Munich. While not centered around any one event, the murder of Israeli Olympians was by the biggest story.
@RedMan (161):
America is a country founded on hatred, slavery, and murder. The truth hurts but history can’t lie.
Red, with all due respect to your apparent status as a member of the First Nations, what country ISN’T founded on hatred, slavery, and murder to some degree?
Let me defend this point. The ancient Egyptian civilization used slavery or at best press-gang labor to build much of what we consider its greatest accomplishment. The Greeks were ultranationalist to the point that the etymology our English word “Barbarian” can be traced to a slur the Greeks used for those benighted enough to not speak Greek. Rome was built on the backs of slave labor, although not the chattel slavery most Americans are familiar with.
In MesoAmerica, the Aztecs were famous for enslaving their neighbors. In North America, the First Nations carved out territory and defended it against others of the Nations, although the territories were much more fluid. The white men call one branch of the Dine’ “Apache” because the first natives to explain the Chiracahu to them used the word “Apachu” . . . a word that means “Enemy” in their language.
To create a nation is by definition to embrace some form or fashion of nationalism and nationalism is predicated for good or ill on the idea that X group of people is different and, if all cards are laid on the table, BETTER than group Y.
Please understand that I am not excusing America’s shortcomings, and they are many throughout our 400 years as a people and 240ish years as a sovereign nation. I would imagine if we scoured the histories of all sides in the discussion, we’d find some ratio of Berlin Airlifts to My Lais. I know we have done wrong as a nation, but I defy anyone to point out a nation with spotless hands and a record absolutely devoid of human rights blemishes.
America is far from perfect, as people love to point out, but we at least TRY. I like what Winston Churchill said as he waited patiently for us to enter WWII, “America will always do the right thing just as soon as she has exhausted all other alternatives.”
Sixty eight years ago today, America entered WWII on the tail of the Pearl Harbor attack. When the war ended, we were pretty much the last man standing as the saying goes. Europe was in ruins. The Far East was either convulsed in revolution or in ruins or both. Since we were the only power left mostly unscathed, we did what no other victorious nation of the modern era has ever done, we extended our hands and rebuilt our enemies as well as our allies.
Did we get it right? Yes and no. I feel confident in saying that Japan and Germany would not be as powerful economically as they are today had they been left to their own devices. On the other hand, we made the mistake of trying to remake the world in our image. We are arrogant about our government, our peace, and our opportunities, but it is not a spiteful, vengeful arrogance. It is more a bumbling, oafish arrogance. We want everyone to be as happy as we think we are and sometimes we don’t stop to think about the fact that this country or that nation might not WANT to be like us.
It’s difficult being big and powerful. Even when you try to be the most careful, you still end up bumping people on accident and hurting them. Do we do stupid things? Of course! We’re run by humans. Einstein said that “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the universe.”
So yes, we have our faults, but would the world be a better place if America collapsed or even had never existed? I don’t think so.
RedMan,
That same description can be used to describe most of the countries in Europe as well.
I think Derek Redmond should be number one… an iconic moment in general.
http://americansun.wordpress.com/
@Shannon (166):
A couple of points:
“America is far from perfect, as people love to point out, but we at least TRY. I like what Winston Churchill said as he waited patiently for us to enter WWII, “America will always do the right thing just as soon as she has exhausted all other alternatives.””
Just to clarify – you understand the irony in that statement, right?
“Sixty eight years ago today, America entered WWII on the tail of the Pearl Harbor attack. When the war ended, we were pretty much the last man standing as the saying goes.”
Indeed you were the only country to profit from the war due to the fact of your being thousands of miles from the theatre of conflict. But you were not the “last man standing”.
“Since we were the only power left mostly unscathed, we did what no other victorious nation of the modern era has ever done, we extended our hands and rebuilt our enemies as well as our allies.”
First of all, it is historically inaccurate to say that “no other victorious nation of the modern era” had ever given aid to their recently defeated enemies. Second of all, for all this touting of the Marshall Plan that we see on here, what most people don’t acknowledge is the fact that that plan essentially bankrupted half of Europe by plunging it into debt that most are still in. Even the UK, supposedly the USA’s closest ally only finished paying it off last year. And look at the effect it has had on British society.
The countries that were conquered by the Nazis are better off economically now than the countries who fought throughout.
Don’t get me wrong, I like America and I like Americans. But god-damn it, this debate has been raging on listverse for months now and we still come back constantly to lies and ignorance on both sides.
A Top 10 Emo Olympic List is a great idea. Unfortunately, the list was buggered up.
The number 4 entry (Black Power Salute) was a poltical stunt that was booed by the crowd in Mexico and was seen as disrespectful. Coming 4 years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the United States was passed made the demonstration very late and ill-advised as well.
Perhaps a child (Wilma Rudolph) that had polio and didn’t walk properly until 7 years old winning 3 gold medals in running events would do better in this slot.
Since it’s an Emo list, why isn’t the murder of Israeli athletes in an Olympic Village not in the top 10? It’s hard to get more emotional than that. Oh wait, Muhammad Ali lighting a torch might be more emotional. Just kidding.
I just have to say that number 5 got me the most. Idk why but that quote is amazing. Just giving this great athlete some attention. The miracle on ice is a great moment in american history, but I think it should be shared as the greatest underdog story and show that anything, anything is possible
No Kurt Angle? He won the gold medal in freestyle wrestling with a broken freakin’ neck! It’s true!
@Woyzeck (169):
Yeah, I got the irony
Still love it though.
Now, you said, “we still come back constantly to lies and ignorance on both sides.”
Well, that’s simply explained really. We love our countries, no matter what countries they may be. In some ways it’s like our family . . . it’s where we’re born and we didn’t have any say in it and a lot of people just have a real nationalistic fervor. In moderation, that’s not such a bad thing, but when it becomes jingoistic, well, then it becomes a problem.
I still stand by my assertions that America has done less harm than good to the world.
It would have been helpful had the Black Power salute been explained…
It’s also much easier to condemn Smith and Carlos if you weren’t Black in 60s America…
It is a mistake not to have Keri Strug on this list….
We should have a “Top Ten Quickest Breakdowns on Listverse Comments.” It really is only a matter of time before pretty much every comment list on every single list breaks down into personal attacks.
Wonder what the average tipping point is? 100 comments? 50? Certainly anything more than 200 comments will start getting a bit whiny.
you can tell the list is written by an american for americans
I still say add another five or ten to the list. Narrowing this down to just 10 is too limiting.
I really really loved this list. I actually cried like baby!!!
Shannon and Woyzeck: every ‘normal’ human being believes, deep down inside, that he (and his group, community, whatever) is basically ‘better’ than ‘others’. It’s only natural. It’s also natural to frown (even if just mentally) when someone comes out and says ‘I’m/we’re the best, not you’. America has that ‘in your face’ attidute when it comes to bearing the ‘we’re the best’ message and that makes a lot of people frown, that’s all.