21 Of The Most Memorable Moments In Olympic History

Recently, I asked the BuzzFeed Community to share moments from past Olympics they will never forget. The results will have you excited for the 2024 Paris Olympics:

1. "The 2008 Swimming Men's 4X100 relay. Michael Phelps sets the team off in the lead, setting an American record on the lead leg, but the US is in second to France when anchor Jason Lezak dives in. EVERYONE thinks they will take second. But Lezak COMES FROM BEHIND in the last 30 meters and somehow eeks out the win. It is the most incredible swim. Phelps is on the deck, LOSING HIS MIND. The commentators are losing their minds. EVERYONE is screaming. It is the single greatest Olympic swimming race ever."

—winterwednesday9

2. "There are so many, but one that sticks out is the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. It was the women's marathon, and a Swiss athlete, Gabriela Andersen-Schiess, staggered into the Coliseum to finish the race. It was a warm day, and she was dehydrated. She struggled to stay upright and walk but kept moving away from any medical personnel so she wouldn't be disqualified. She collapsed when she crossed the finish line. She was so determined to finish that, even as an American, I was rooting for her."

—vasato

3. "Kerri Strug's vault to secure Team USA's first team gold medal in women's gymnastics. Sure, later, we found out she hadn't had to do it (Team USA would have won gold regardless), but at the moment, they didn't know. It was such an iconic example of triumph over adversity. I don't think anyone who saw that moment will ever forget it."

—winterwednesday9

4. "In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their gloved hands with the Black Power salute while on the awards podium. All three men (Peter Norman was in 2nd place) on the podium also wore human rights buttons."

—bonedust

5. "Watching Usain Bolt was something else. I've never seen someone make other professional athletes look slow."

—Anonymous, 38.

8. "The opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, for sure! Not only was my country hosting it, which added to the excitement, but it was completely bonkers and batshit crazy in the best way! Where else could you witness a group of nannies led by Mary Poppins battle a fifty-foot Voldemort, the Queen meets James Bond and skydiving into the arena, AND have Mr. Bean be part of an orchestra playing Chariots of Fire and him daydreaming about being part of it?"

—hobbitgirl96

9. "Jordyn Wieber was edged out of the All Around in the 2016 Olympics despite being the favorite to win the Gold because of the two-per-country rule. Watching how heartbroken she looked was hard, but I loved seeing Gabby Douglas compete in the All Around and win the Gold, becoming the first Black American gymnast to win."

—magickgirl786

11. "Michael Johnson cried on the medals stand after winning gold in Atlanta's 200m and 400m. Not only was it an incredible athletic achievement, but his unembarrassed reaction started to normalize men publicly shedding tears of joy!"

—njdevils1

12. "Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's Moulin Rouge at PyeongChang Olympics. Nothing will ever top the emotion and beauty of those two."

—Anonymous, 29.

"I still rewatch their Moulin Rouge routine all the time!"

—Anonymous, 32.

13. "I remember watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics hockey game at a bar. When Sidney Crosby scored the overtime goal to beat the US and win the gold medal, the place erupted in cheers and high-fives."

—joandough

14. "Eric The Eel in Sydney (He had learned how to swim eight months before the Games). The way the crowd goes from confusion to cheering him on is fantastic, and it's a true example of the Olympic spirit."

—annak4f45e0f65

15. "When Sarah Hughes won the gold medal in the Ladies figure skating event at Salt Lake City in 2002. That moment was amazing because she was the one on the US Olympic Team to whom nobody paid much attention. Everybody was focused on Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen. And then Sarah skated a stellar performance and won the thing!"

—jomariem

16. "I remember watching a track race at 2020 Olympics. The camera zoomed in on the men just before they started. A Haitian runner looked at the camera, acting all suave like he would win. The pistol went off, and he immediately tripped over the first hurdle."

—n48656c421

17. "It was not a moment during the actual sports but when the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team put together the Call Me Maybe video in 2012. When I hear the song, I can't help but think of the Olympics."

—awkwardtruck57

18. "I loved the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics when the Spice Girls reunited…I watched it multiple times. That was my favorite Olympics ever."

—megannwalsh

19. "Greg Louganis smacking his head on the diving board."

—keepintabs

20. "Mo Farah won the double in London in 2012, and the 83,000-strong crowd sang God Save the Queen. It was so powerful. I was so proud to be British."

—Anonymous, 33.

21. "Michael Phelps won a key gold by a literal fingertip. I was on the phone with my brother watching it live, and we screamed until the roof shook."

—shadyslytherin

Did your favorite Olympics moment not qualify for this list? It's not too late! Comment your favorite below!