Kerri Strug was a member of the US gymnastics team, The Magnificent Seven. They won the US its first ever gold medal in the women’s team competition back in 1996 at the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta.
Kerri Strug suffered an ankle injury during her first performance at the vault. She was visibly in pain, but refused to quit. This photograph captures the moment she lands after her second attempt, holding her pose, while her teammates held their breaths from the sidelines. Her performance was critical to the team’s gold medal hopes.
IAN MILLAR
In 2012, the Canadian equestrian rider Ian Millar set an Olympic record by making his number 10 appearance in the Olympic Games. The then 65-year-old began his streak in 1972, at the doomed Summer Games in Munich.
There have only been an additional two other Olympians who have made 9 appearances at the Olympics. Ufortauneyly, Millar did not make his 11th Olympic appearance in Rio due to an injury to his horse that will require an operation.
U.S. HOCKEY
The United States does not send out pro hockey players to compete on the world stage. It gives young athletes this opportunity instead, and it has never reached higher than fourth in standings in international competitions. But back in the 1980 Olympics, what was deemed an impossible feat was accomplished.
Called the “Miracle on Ice,” the US Hockey team defeated the Soviet Union which, at the time, was considered unbeatable. This is a picture of that Feb. 22, 1980 game where the Americans went berserk after realizing that they had won it 4-3 on Mike Eruzione’s goal that would seal their victory. Riding on such momentum, they also won their gold medal match next.
BILLY KILMER AND MANNY FERNANDEZ
On January 14, 1973, the Miami Dolphins played against the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. The Dolphins’ defensive lineman, Manny Fernandez had a dominant game where he recorded a total of 17 tackles.
He also sacked the Redskins’ quarterback, Billy Kilmer, and he is shown in this picture hurdling past a Redskins offensive lineman in pursuit of that goal. The Dolphins defeated the Redskins, however, Manny Fernandez didn’t win the MVP Award when he definitely should have. Dick Schaap, who was selected as the MVP recipient, admitted he didn’t know Fernandez had 17 tackles in that game because he was out late the night before and wasn’t focused.
WAYNE GRETZKY
The National Hockey League itself acknowledged Wayne Gretzky to be the greatest hockey player ever. Sports analysts, writers, and professional players consider him to be suitably called The Great One, and who knows when there will ever be another athlete as gifted as him.
Wayne Gretzky played in the NHL for 20 seasons. He holds a total of 61 league records that still remain unbroken up to this day. This photograph shows Gretzky waving to the crowd during his farewell game in New York on April 18, 1999.