01of 10BONNIE BLAIR’S SPEEDSKATING DOMINATIONBob Martin/GettyFor three Olympic games, Blair was untouchable in the sport of speed skating. In Calgary, Albertville and Lillehammer, she collected six medals: five gold, one bronze. She medaled in the 500m and the 1,000m every year she competed, winning the top spot in both races in 1992 and 1994. At home, she was lauded as one of the greatest athletes in the world.
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BONNIE BLAIR’S SPEEDSKATING DOMINATION
Bob Martin/Getty
For three Olympic games, Blair was untouchable in the sport of speed skating. In Calgary, Albertville and Lillehammer, she collected six medals: five gold, one bronze. She medaled in the 500m and the 1,000m every year she competed, winning the top spot in both races in 1992 and 1994. At home, she was lauded as one of the greatest athletes in the world.
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THE BATTLE OF THE BRIANS
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DAN JANSEN FINALLY WINS GOLD
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04of 10HERMANN MAIER OVERCOMES A CRASHCarl Yarbrough/Sports Illustrated/GettyAustrian alpine skiier Maier had his first shot at Olympic gold in Nagano in 1998, but nearly lost it all after he had a massive fall during the downhill race. Not only did that not keep him out of the later competitions, but it didn’t keep from succeeding either, as he went on to win gold in the giant slalom and Super-G races.
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HERMANN MAIER OVERCOMES A CRASH
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Austrian alpine skiier Maier had his first shot at Olympic gold in Nagano in 1998, but nearly lost it all after he had a massive fall during the downhill race. Not only did that not keep him out of the later competitions, but it didn’t keep from succeeding either, as he went on to win gold in the giant slalom and Super-G races.
05of 10THE JAMAICAN BOBSLED TEAM’S OLYMPIC DEBUTGEORGES GOBET/AFP/GettyThe story of the Jamaican bobsled team’s journey to the Olympics has been immortalized in pop culture thanks to the filmCool Runnings, and when the real-life team made their debut in 1988 at the Calgary Olympics, it was equally epic. They were the ultimate underdog story, and though they didn’t finish (they lost control of their sled and crashed), they had the support of their fellow competitors — a perfect example of the Olympic spirit.
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THE JAMAICAN BOBSLED TEAM’S OLYMPIC DEBUT
GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty
The story of the Jamaican bobsled team’s journey to the Olympics has been immortalized in pop culture thanks to the filmCool Runnings, and when the real-life team made their debut in 1988 at the Calgary Olympics, it was equally epic. They were the ultimate underdog story, and though they didn’t finish (they lost control of their sled and crashed), they had the support of their fellow competitors — a perfect example of the Olympic spirit.
06of 10THE PAIRS SKATING CONTROVERSY OF 2002MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/GettyCanadian pairs skaters Jamie Salé and David Pelletier were feeling the pressure to break their country’s gold medal drought in figure skating — no Canadian had won gold in the sport since 1960. And after coming in second in the short program and skating a near-perfect long program, they seemed a shoo-in. But then the judges announced that Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze would take home the gold. Salé and Pelletier were visibly upset during the medal ceremony, and the backlash was immediate. Eventually, a French judge admitted that she had been pressured to vote for the Russian team in exchange for an ice dancing vote. After judges and officials were suspended, Salé and Pelletier were awarded the gold medal, too.
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THE PAIRS SKATING CONTROVERSY OF 2002
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty
Canadian pairs skaters Jamie Salé and David Pelletier were feeling the pressure to break their country’s gold medal drought in figure skating — no Canadian had won gold in the sport since 1960. And after coming in second in the short program and skating a near-perfect long program, they seemed a shoo-in. But then the judges announced that Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze would take home the gold. Salé and Pelletier were visibly upset during the medal ceremony, and the backlash was immediate. Eventually, a French judge admitted that she had been pressured to vote for the Russian team in exchange for an ice dancing vote. After judges and officials were suspended, Salé and Pelletier were awarded the gold medal, too.
07of 10LINDSEY JACOBELLI’S FALLBob Martin/Sports Illustrated/GettyIn 2006 in Turin, at the inaugural women’s snowboard cross event, a gold medal seemed like a safe bet for Jacobelli throughout the race, as she maintained a three-second lead over her closest competitor, Swiss snowboarder Tanja Frieden. But on the second to final jump, she attempted a method grab of her board, a move that ultimately led her to fall, which opened up the path for Frieden to pass her. Later on, Jacobelli admitted that the move was a bit of unnecessary showing off.
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LINDSEY JACOBELLI’S FALL
Bob Martin/Sports Illustrated/Getty
In 2006 in Turin, at the inaugural women’s snowboard cross event, a gold medal seemed like a safe bet for Jacobelli throughout the race, as she maintained a three-second lead over her closest competitor, Swiss snowboarder Tanja Frieden. But on the second to final jump, she attempted a method grab of her board, a move that ultimately led her to fall, which opened up the path for Frieden to pass her. Later on, Jacobelli admitted that the move was a bit of unnecessary showing off.
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THE 1980 HOCKEY GOLD MEDAL
Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated/Getty
09of 10SARAH HUGHES' SURPRISE GOLDJACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/GettyAfter she came in second place in Nagano, all eyes were on Michelle Kwan to win gold in the ladies' singles figure skating competition. So imagine the global shock when her fellow American Sarah Hughes, who had placed just fourth in the short program (with Kwan in first), ended up winning the free skate and subsequently, the gold medal. It ended up being five-time world champion Kwan’s last shot at an Olympic medal, and she won bronze.
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SARAH HUGHES' SURPRISE GOLD
JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty
After she came in second place in Nagano, all eyes were on Michelle Kwan to win gold in the ladies' singles figure skating competition. So imagine the global shock when her fellow American Sarah Hughes, who had placed just fourth in the short program (with Kwan in first), ended up winning the free skate and subsequently, the gold medal. It ended up being five-time world champion Kwan’s last shot at an Olympic medal, and she won bronze.
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THE NANCY KERRIGAN AND TONYA HARDING SCANDAL
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source: people.com
