Powerful Olympic Moments

The modern-day Olympic Games are leading international sporting events that highlight summer and winter sports competitions.

The Olympic Games are considered the world's most prime sports competition with several countries and nations participating. The Olympics are usually held every four years, which include alternating events between the Summer and Winter Olympics every two years within a four-year period. 

2020 was a year for uncertainty, doubt and maybe a little bit of fear all mixed into one. The Summer Olympics, which were supposed to take place in 2020 in Tokyo, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with perseverance around the world, the 2021 Summer Olympics will finally take place in Tokyo starting July 23, 2021, lasting through August 8, 2021. 

Like most sports, the Olympics have provided us with some amazing moments. Those type of moments that leave us cheering for the underdogs. Those types of moments where records will be broken. Those types of moments where we enjoy getting lost in patriotism, competition and pageantry. Those moments where we can put the hatred aside and compete as one.  

Most of us who are fans of the Olympics are familiar with some of the better known moments of all time which include the USA Men's hockey team beating Russia in the hockey semi-finals in Lake Placid in 1980, or in 2008 at the Beijing Summer Games when well-known swimmer Michael Phelps won his record eighth gold medal at the games,  and finally when the Jamaican bobsled team won over our hearts over at the 1988 Olympic Games in Canada, which eventually was made into a major motion picture, Cool Runnings. However, I am going to look at some of the other greatest Olympic moments of all time. These are the moments that keep us dialed in and begging for more. 

via biography.com

At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA, Mary Lou Retton, the girl next door with the outgoing personality, became the first American woman to win gold in the gymnastics individual all-around competition. In preparation for the 1984 games, Retton injured her knee which required surgery five weeks prior to the Olympic Games beginning. Retton was able to recover in time for one of the most celebrated moments in Olympic history in which she was involved in a close battle with Ecaterina Szabo of Romania for the all-around gold medal. 

Going into the two final events of the event, Retton trailed Szabo by 0.15 points. Retton was able to score a perfect 10s on the floor exercise and vault. The vault was the last event that ended in dramatic fashion, due to fears that the knee injury and the recent surgery would affect her performance. Despite all of that, Retton was able to pull off one of the closest battles in Olympic history by beating out Szabo by 0.05. 

Retton became the first female gymnast outside of Eastern Europe to win the all-around individual gold medal and would go on to continued her dominance at the 1984 Olympic Games by winning four additional medals and due to her performance at those Olympic events, she was named Sportswoman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. 

American Minister Martin Luther King Jr. had just been assassinated six months prior to the start of the 1968 Olympic Games. His famous “I Have A Dream” speech in 1963 expressed that no matter what race, religion or sex we are, we are all children of God and the "glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."   

via CNN

During the medal ceremony on October 16, 1968, in Mexico City, two African-American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the United States National Anthem. While standing on the podium, Smith and Carlos, who had just received gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter running event, turned to face the US flag, but kept their hands raised until the anthem concluded. In addition to Smith and Carlos, Australian silver medalist Peter Norman was representing human-rights badges on his jackets. 

Thirty years later in his autobiography “Silent Gesture”, Smith confirmed that the gesture was not a "Black Power" salute as such, but rather a "human rights" salute. This demonstration is regarded as one of the most openly political statements in the history of modern Olympics. 

How would it feel to foil one of the most hated men in history and his plan? 

In 1933, shortly after assuming power as chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler moved forward with plans to turn the 1936 Summer and Winter Olympics into showcases for his government. He planned the construction of a colossal new stadium in Berlin and channeled finances toward the conclusion of an airport to welcome international visitors. Additionally, the Summer Games were meant to be the first to reach audiences around the world through television, as well as the first to introduce the now-traditional element of the Olympic torch relay. 

via Associated Press

Meanwhile, Jesse Owens had emerged as a track and field star in the United States. He tied the world record in the 100-yard dash while still in his high school years. His performance at the 1935 Big Ten Championships where he holds multiple world records remains one of the most astonishing moments in college sports history. 

From the very beginning, Owens held the reins as the star of the 1936 Summer Olympics. 

He received multiple medals in several different events, one of which included a victory over the well-known public figure and German champion Luz Long in the long jump event. Owens became the first American of any race to win four gold medals in track and field in the solo Olympic Games. 

It was largely reported that Hitler "snubbed" Owens for upstaging his prized athletes. In reality, he responded by treating the winners equally and declined to congratulate anyone after the first day of competition. 

Despite Hitler's snub, Owens left not only an American legacy, but a worldwide legacy as well. Regardless of how Owens was treated by Hitler, he was able to overcome the hatred that the infamous dictator showed to so many people by becoming a winner as a visitor to Germany and a role model. Well done, Mr. Owens! 

The Olympics are a time where we can put all the hatred aside and cheer for our respected countries, as well as the underdogs. It is a time to represent your country and respect the other countries around you, even if it is just for that moment.  

It is a time where we hope records will be broken and some tears will be shed. Regardless, we are so glad the Olympics are back, because we really need those moments right now, especially in a world filled with so much hatred and violence.