Every two years, the world comes together for the ultimate display of athleticism: the Olympic Games.
It seems there is just something about the Games that pushes athletes to their very limits. Even when all hope seems lost, that last bit of adrenaline drives athletes to move from dead last to the top of the medal podium. Those who have long been sidelined with injuries, somehow muster up the strength to work past the pain.
In the history of the summer Olympics, we have seen a number of glorious comebacks. We watched as Jason Lezak of the United States men’s swimming team fought to pass the French and win the gold medal in just the last second of the 4x100 relay final. We remember when Lasse Viren of Finland fell during the 10,000m final of the 1972 Games. Still, Viren got right back up and managed to return to the gold medal standing along with setting a world record.
As for the winter Games, there are number of other historical comebacks. This is our list for the Top 10 Greatest Comebacks of the Winter Olympics.
Image: NBC
[new page]
Sarah Hughes in Salt Lake City 2002
Going into the final round of women’s figure skating, American Sarah Hughes was sitting in fourth place. Most experts predicted Michelle Kwan would walk away with the Olympic title. But after the free style performance of a lifetime, and errors on Kwan’s behalf, Hughes claimed the gold medal in one of the most unexpected figure skating comebacks.
[new page]
The Short Track Shock of 2002
Going into the final turn of the 1000m short track speed skating race in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, it appeared the American; Apolo Anton Ohno would come away with the win. Suddenly, a crash took the first four skaters off their feet and into the side boards.
Australian speed skater Steven Bradbury had just been excited to be in the final. Although he spent the majority of the race in last place, Bradbury glided past the crash to claim Australia’s first gold medal in the Winter Olympics.
Ohno launched his leg across the finish line for a silver medal finish, while Mathieu Turcotte of Canada slid across for the bronze.
[new page]
Oksana Baiul at the 1994 Games
During a practice session before the long program competition, Oksana Baiul of the Ukraine collided with another skater. The incident left her with a gash on her shin that required stitches. Still, she went on to complete the competition with beautiful performances that earned her the gold medal in women’s figure skating.
[new page]
Apolo Anton Ohno’s First Gold
In the 1000m short track final at the Salt Lake City Games, a last minute crash knocked Ohno out of his gold medal standing. He slid across the finish line to claim the silver, with a leg injury that would require six stitches.
In his next hope for a medal at the 1500m final, Ohno spent most of the race in the back. When it came down to the final laps, he made a quick pass all the way up to second place. When he made an attempt to pass Kim Dong-sung of South Korea, he was blocked. But when it appeared Ohno would again settle for silver, it was announced that Dong-sung had been disqualified. In a dramatic change of events, and a major turnaround from the 1000m final, Ohno grabbed his first Olympic gold medal.
[new page]
Picabo Street, Alpine Gold in 1998
The American alpine skier suffered a major knee injury in 1996, which sidelined her for nearly a year. Before the 1998 Games in Japan, Street was only able to train for eight weeks. Despite not being favored at the Games, Street took the gold medal by only .01 – the smallest margin in history.
[new page]
Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin in 2006
The skating pair from Russia had a nasty crash during competition in 2004. Only two short years later, the couple had made their way back to the top to take Olympic gold at the Games in Turino, Italy.
[new page]
Hannah Kearney in Torino
Despite being a favorite in the freestyle skiing competition, Hannah Kearney found herself in 22nd place at the 2006 Games. In the years that followed, Kearney suffered several injuries including a concussion and a torn ACL. Although the injuries kept her out of the sport for nearly two years, Kearney came back to win the gold medal at the Vancouver Games in 2010.
Over the past four years, Kearney has overcome another series of injuries. She will be making her second comeback at the Sochi Games.
[new page]
Hermann Maier Crash in 1998
The Austrian alpine skier took a major fall at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan. Surprisingly though, he walked away without any injuries. Just days later he went on to win two gold medals in the Super-G and in the giant slalom.
[new page]
Dan Jansen 1994 Gold
Shortly before competing in the 1988 Games, Dan Jansen found out that his sister had passed away. His performances following the news both ended with falls and no medals. Despite the setback, Jansen returned to the Olympics six years later to win the gold in his last race.
[new page]
The 1980 USA Men’s Hockey Team
When the young United States men’s ice hockey team took on the powerhouse Soviets in the medal round of the 1980 Olympic Games, it was assumed to be a blowout. Heading into the third period, the Soviets lead 3-2. In the final period of the game, the USA fought for two goals and held their lead all the way to the buzzer. During a time of political tension between the two nations, the game made history and became known as the “Miracle on Ice.”
Team USA made yet another third period comeback against Finland, in the final game of the medal round. They went on to win the gold medal at those Games, while the Soviets took the silver.