Five of the greatest moments in Olympic history

The world will have to wait until 2021 for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after it was announced last week that the global showpiece has been postponed due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

While the world is in lockdown and sporting events are on an indefinite break, we identify five of the greatest moments in Olympic history: 

 
Jesse Owens (1936 Olympic Games, Berlin)

 

Adolf Hitler wanted to use the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin to prove to the world of a resurgent Germany under the Nazi reign, but his plan of German dominance came tumbling down  - almost single-handedly at the legs of Jesse Owens. 
 
The African-American trailblazer won four gold medals in front of Hitler and his racist regime in an individual performance like no other at previous Olympic Games.
 
Owens won gold in 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m and long jump for a historic showing which will forever go down as one of, if not the greatest Olympic moment.  
 

Nadia Comaneci (1976 Olympic Games, Montreal) 

 

A score of perfect 10 was deemed impossible, but that all changed at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal in a golden era for gymnastics. 
 
Omega, the traditional scoreboard manufacturer were reportedly led to believe that a perfect 10 could not be achieved, but Nadia Comaneci -- a 14-year-old from Romania -- changed all that when the judges gave her full marks for her flawless routine on the uneven bars. 
 
Unable to display 10.00 on the scoreboard, Comaneci received a perfect "1.00." as there was only space for three digits on the scoreboard. By the time she left Canada, Comaneci had achieved the same score seven times and won three gold medals. 
 


 

Derek Redmond (1992 Olympic Games, Barcelona) 

 

Having missed out on the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul due to injury, Redmond was determined to take part in Barcelona four years later. 
 
He did just that and was in good form heading into the Games in Spain. The Brit posted the fastest time in the first round of the 400m heats and went on to win his quarter-final. 
 
In the semi-final, tragedy struck as with approximately 250m to ago his hamstring tore. Determined to finish the race, Redmond got back up and started to hobble along the track. But he'd not have to finish the race on his own, as his dad, Jim Redmond, rushed past security to join him on the track to assist his son over the finish line. 
 
Leaning on his father's shoulder for support, Derek finished the race for one the most heart warming moments in Olympics history. 
 

Muhammad Ali (1996 Olympic Games, Atlanta) 

 
Ali is considered as one of, if not the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. 
 
While his gold medal win at the 1960 Games will always be remembered, the poignant moment of him lighting up the Olympic flame during the the Opening Ceremony for the 1996 Games in Atlanta -- while battling the effects of Parkinson’s Disease -- will forever remain as one of the greatest moments in Olympic history. 

Shaking with the torch in his hand, Ali gathered himself to lower the flame and ignite a moment that will long live in the memory. 
 

Eric Moussambani (2000 Olympic Games, Sydney) 

 
Eric the Eel only gained entry to the 2000 Olympics via a wildcard draw designed to encourage participation by developing countries lacking full training facilities. 
 
Moussambani had never seen a 50m long Olympic-size swimming pool before arriving in Australia, and only took up swimming eight months before the Games. 
 
All this, though, failed to deter the Equatorial Guinean swimmer who became an instant hero and figure of determination when -- all on his own -- he finished his 100m heat in a time of (1:52.72) after the two other swimmers in his heat were disqualified. 
 
Having used up most of his energy in the first 50m, Moussambani struggled down the home straight but with the crowd fully behind him he finished the race for a moment in history. 
 

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