Do You Remember These 10 Iconic American Olympic Moments?

We’ll start with what many believe to be the greatest sports team ever assembled. Before the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, the rules stated by the International Basketball Federation prevented professional players from competing in Olympic tournaments. However, once this rule was revoked, the United States saw this opportunity to summon the very best the NBA had to offer. And with that, the "Dream Team" was born.

The Dream Team roster included basketball legends like Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. Accordingly, their performance was flawless: The American team stampeded through every match, earning the gold medal in a 117–85 victory over Croatia.

Image: Markus Spiske

There’s no denying that Muhammad Ali’s nickname "The Greatest" is very well-deserved: Few boxers have left a mark as indelible in the history of this sport as Ali has. Bearing that in mind, it seems only fitting to take a look at the point in time at which his transformation into a sports legend began, and most boxing enthusiasts agree that this took place during his outstanding performance at the 1960 Olympics.

Before the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) was a promising but relatively unknown pugilist from Kentucky. However, that 18-year-old boxer showed the world who he was by winning the light-heavyweight gold medal, the first achievement in a career filled with nothing but greatness.

Image: Johann Walter Bantz

Speaking of nicknames, American swimmer Michael Phelps has also earned his share of monikers, like "The Flying Fish" or "The Baltimore Bullet". Phelps’ achievements are not restricted to just one Olympics: This iconic athlete had incredible performances in five separate Olympics, becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time in the process.

Michael made his Olympic debut at the young age of 15, becoming the youngest male to make a U.S. Olympic swim team in 68 years. By the time he participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he was already an outstanding competitor: Phelps earned first place in eight different categories, breaking the record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics.

Image: Gentrit Sylejmani

During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, American gymnast Simone Biles dazzled the world with her debut performance. She earned four gold medals, one as part of the U.S. gymnastic team known as the "Final Five". With an impressive total of 37 Olympic and World Championship medals, Simone is the most decorated gymnast in history.

Nowadays, at age 27, Biles still competes professionally, earning her eighth U.S. Gymnastics title in 2023. Her determination and impressive skills made her the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.

Image: Eduardo Cano Photo Co.

In March 1984, American marathon runner Joan Benoit injured her knee while training for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. This forced Benoit to undergo surgery just 17 days before the trials. While this could have understandably been the end of her Olympic dream, Benoit was not daunted by this dreadful situation: Instead, she recovered much more quickly than expected and earned her place in the American team.

While this feat alone is remarkable, Benoit didn’t stop there. She went on to win the gold medal in the Los Angeles Olympics, becoming the first women's Olympic Games marathon champion in history.

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Just like with the "Dream Team", the American ice hockey team's victory in the 1980 Winter Olympics was a team effort. However, while the Dream Team was fully expected to earn the gold medal, the American team’s win over the heavily favored Soviet Union was so unexpected that it is now known as "The Miracle on Ice".

The United States faced the Soviet Union in the first game in the medal round. The odds heavily favored the Soviet team, since it was a four-time defending gold medalist. Not only that, their players were more experienced and seasoned compared to the American team, the youngest team in the entire tournament. And yet, the underdog prevailed: the American team upset the Soviets and won the game 4-3. After this remarkable victory, the U.S. team defeated Finland in their final game and earned the gold medal.

Image: gerhard crous

The 1984 Los Angeles Games introduced the world to the energetic gymnast Mary Lou Retton, who quickly and understandably gained the nickname "America’s Sweetheart". Retton’s pleasant demeanor and unforgettable smile were only eclipsed by her amazing talent: She scored perfect tens and won the individual all-around gold medal, the first female gymnast from outside Eastern Europe to achieve this feat.

What makes this accomplishment even more impressive is the fact that Retton had just recovered from suffering a severe knee injury just five weeks before the Olympics. She was forced to undergo an operation, recovering just in time for the competition. Nevertheless, Retton’s outstanding performance secured her a place among the greatest Olympians of all time.

Image: Vladyslav Melnyk

Track and field star Carl Lewis truly made a name for himself throughout his 17-year career: He set world records in three different disciplines and amassed a total of nine Olympic gold medals and 10 World Championships medals. Nevertheless, however fruitful his career was, Lewis is still most fondly remembered for his debut in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, considered one of the best Olympic debuts in history.

During his first Olympic games, Lewis won the gold medal in all four events he entered: 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 4x100-meter relay, on which he set a world-record time of 37.83 seconds. This exceptional performance proved to be only the beginning of an outstanding athletic career.

Image: Braden Collum

Venus and Serena Williams truly need no introduction: these sisters have earned 22 women’s doubles titles, as well as a combined total of 30 Grand Slam titles. Naturally, their outstanding careers include several achievements in the Olympics, both playing individually and as a team.

Perhaps the most iconic of these Olympic wins is the sisters’ first doubles championship win, which they achieved during the 2000 Olympics. While many gold medals would follow this first one, their triumph in Sydney showed the tennis world that they were truly a force to be reckoned with.

Image: Josephine Gasser

We’ll end this list with one of the most touching instances in Olympic history. Granted, this moment is not an athletic landmark, but rather a celebration of one of America’s most inspiring athletes. The Olympic opening ceremony is always an extraordinary display of energy and excitement, during which the entire world expectantly awaits that moment at which the cauldron is finally lit. In that regard, the opening of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics is still fondly remembered, thanks to the legend that officially inaugurated the games.

Muhammad Ali’s declining health didn’t stop him from lighting the cauldron in the Atlanta Games. This spectacle was particularly moving not only because of Ali’s battle against Parkison’s Disease but also because it symbolized the passing of the torch from one of history’s most prominent sports legends to a new generation of American athletes.

Image: Igor Lepilin