Olympics: The Most Surprising Winnings Ever
Winning a gold medal at the Olympics is a massive accomplishment. Athletes like Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and more have sent shock waves through the world by smashing several records in the competition. Sides like the U.S. basketball Dream Team have won 16 gold medals in 19 different Olympic tournaments and have never failed to bring home a medal. One would say dominance in sport is entertaining to watch. However, it's the little, narrow, and sometimes lucky wins by the underdogs that extract the most emotions from viewers.
An Olympic final win feels even better when there's a spectacular story to that medal. And what story can be better than that of an athlete no one gave a chance, going against all odds and claiming the victory. The feeling is similar to when you hit the jackpot from playing a slot in a True Blue casino online Australia but multiple times more intense.
Over the years, the Olympics has seen its fair share of such golden moments. We cannot possibly talk about or even remember all of them. However, a few underdog stories are so stunning that they'll forever remain in our minds.
In this article, we will look back on the most surprising Olympic medal winnings ever. When you talk about Olympics games, gold, silver, or bronze medal wins are the most vital.
6. Steven Bradbury (Salt Lake City, 2002)
Steven John Bradbury, a former short-track speed skater in Australia, was born on October 14, 1973. He is the first athlete from Australia to win a winter Olympic gold medal.
He is a 4- time Olympian, part of the short track relay team that won the first winter Olympic bronze medal in 1994 in Australia.
Bradbury made an unexpected gold medal win in a 1000 meters men's short track event in Salt Lake in 2002 at the winter Olympic games. He was at luck in the finals, making strategic moves over his opponents.
The opponents moving at the same pace crashed out, giving room to Bradbury, who was 15 meters behind them. Being a slow runner compared to his opponent, he quickly took advantage of the opportunity, outrunning them and finishing first, taking the victory and the gold medal.
5. U.S. Men's Hockey Team ( New York, 1980)
This is one of the most surprising medal wins/upsets in history. Buzz Schneider and his teammates broke the record by making it to the finals at the men's hockey tournament against the Soviet Union.
The game was between the United States team and the Soviet Union, which took place in Lake placid, New York, on February 22, 1980. Buzz Schneider and his teammates were bunches of amateur players competing against the Soviet Union that consisted of professional players with vast experience in international games.
The Soviet Union had an outstanding record of winning gold medals in five winter Olympic games. They became the favourite as fans anticipated wins from these champions, just as gamblers anticipate free pokies from new slots in casino games.
The young U.S. players battled the Soviet Union and finished the first period at 2-2. In the second round, Soviet Union led 3-2, with the U.S. team following.
Fortunately, the U.S. team scored two more goals taking their first lead in the final round, with a score of 4-3. The U.S. team won the gold medal after winning against Finland in the finals two days later. This made them the new champion. Their victory was a miracle and became the most historic moment in the Olympic games.
4. Evan Lysacek (Vancouver, 2009)
The win with Evan Lysacek was indeed an incredible one. He represented the U.S. men's figure skating at the Olympics and became the first American to win the gold medal since the last champion, Brian Bolzano, in 1988.
Evan's victory was indeed a surprising one, having competed with a strong contender, Plushenko. In all comparison, Evan was no match for his opponent, but being tactical and calculating won him the gold medal.
Evan, aware of the fact that he had no quad, reserved his toughest jump for the second round, knowing the point rewarded for every jump at this stage.
Using his triple axel combination, with speed and spins, he wowed the judges. It was certain that Plushenko's artistry didn't stand a chance. Evan played by the rules, saving the toughest jumps and jumps combination for the final stage, and it worked for him, landing him the gold medal.
3. Billy Mills (Tokyo, 1964)
Billy Mill's win was among the greatest Olympic upset of all time. He is the first and only United States athlete to win Olympic gold medal in the 10,000-meter race.
Billy hailed from Ogala Sioux in India, where he lost both his parents. After his schooling at the University of Kansas, he moved to Tokyo, where he qualified for the Olympic games. He battled other stars, including Ron Clarke from Australia, Mohammed Gammoudi from Tunisia, Pyotr Bolotnikov, who hailed from the Soviet Union, and New Zealand's Murray Halberg.
Ron Clarke was the favourite to win, Pyotr was the defending champion at the time, and Murray was the 5,000-meter champion in 1960. The race was a masterpiece to watch. With a couple of laps left, only three runners were in close contention for gold: Clarke, Gammoudi, and of course, Mills.
In the final lap, both superstars left Mills in their wake, and it seemed like gold was nothing but a fantasy for him. However, with a bright burst of energy, determination, and talent, Mills surged past both athletes and took the lead at the final moments, winning the gold medal.
He finished the race in a little over 28 minutes and 24 seconds. That timestamp was almost 50 seconds faster than is overall best ever before the night. Incredible!
2. Athlete Name: Kontas Kenteris (Sydney, 2000)
Kostas Kenteris's gold medal win was the biggest upset in Olympic history. He is a former Greek athlete. He won 3 gold medals in a 200-meter race at the 2000 summer Olympics, the world championship in Athletic in 2001, and the European championship in 2002. He is the only European sprinter to win a gold medal in three major competitions.
In the men's 200 meter race, Bolden seemed like he was winning the race capturing the crowd's attention. To their greatest surprise, the Greek sprinter, Kenteric surged ahead of his opponent, reaching the finish line of the race. Kostas automatically became the winner of the 200 meters race.
1. "Magnificent Seven" U.S. Women's Gymnastic Team (Atlanta, 1996)
The U.S. women's gymnastic team comprises young gymnasts Dominique Dawes, Amy Chow, Dominic Moceanu, Amanda Borden, Jaycie Phelps, Shannon Miller, and Kerri Strug. They are popularly called the "Magnificent 7."
This team was considered America's link to winning Olympic team gold. To win the gold medal, they had to battle aimlessly with the two-time champions, Russia and Romania.
The U.S. team fought till they reached the finals, which was the vault. Dominique Moceanu and Kerri Strug gave their best shots, but along the line, Moceanu fell out.
Kerri pushed on, undermining her broken ankle. The crowd thought she'd give up, but she maintained her pace until she won.
Olympic games are the spice in every season. Everyone expects a winner, especially from their favourite player or athlete. The major twist that leaves us shivering has unexpected gold medal wins go to the lower team or players. No doubt, we hope to see more upsets and shocking wins in Paris, 2024.
