The Top 10 Moments in US Olympic History
- 1936: Jesse Owens wins four gold medals in Berlin
- 1980: Miracle on Ice
- 1996: The Magnificent Seven
- 1968: Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise fists in protest
- 1984: Mary Lou Retton wins all-around gold
- 2008: Michael Phelps sets record for most gold medals
- 1960: Cassius Clay wins gold
- 1992: Dream Team dominates in Barcelona
- 1912: Duke Kahanamoku introduces surfing to the world
- 2004: Carly Patterson wins all-around gold
Amidst the rise of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler’s propaganda-filled Olympics, Jesse Owens defied the odds and won four gold medals in track and field.
The US men’s hockey team, made up of college players, defeated the heavily favored Soviet team in the semifinals of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
The US women’s gymnastics team, led by Shannon Miller and Dominique Dawes, won the first gold medal for the US in gymnastics team competition.
During a medal ceremony for the 200-meter race, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black Power salute as a protest against racial inequality in the US.
Mary Lou Retton became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, breaking the record for the most gold medals won in a single Olympics.
Famed boxer Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, won a gold medal in boxing in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
The US basketball team, made up of NBA players including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, won every game in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and was widely regarded as the greatest basketball team ever assembled.
Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku won gold in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm and introduced surfing to the world during his travels as a swimming ambassador.
Carly Patterson became the second American woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
This list represents some of the most memorable and significant moments in US Olympic History, showcasing the diversity of achievements and stories that have made the Olympics a beloved and iconic event worldwide.
