The Biggest Wins in Summer Olympics History

Few accomplishments are more exciting to an athlete than bringing home an Olympic medal. Many Olympians have been training since they were kids. When it comes to some of the youngest Olympic athletes, some of them are still kids.

The world gets to experience the Olympics every two years with the Summer and Winter Olympic games alternating. Even when some of the same athletes compete, no two Olympic events are the same and fans worldwide tune in to watch their favorite athletes strive to win a gold medal.

With the Summer Olympics happening this month, all eyes are on the Olympic athletes who are competing this year. The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11. There’s even an exciting new sport at this year’s games with the debut of Olympic breakdancing. Additionally, skateboarding debuted at the last Summer Olympics and many of the first Olympic skateboarders will return this year to compete again.

As the world prepares for the Summer Olympics, we’re reflecting on some of the biggest wins in Summer Olympic history. Some of the biggest wins include athletes pulling through at the last minute or breaking world records. (After this article, check out The 9 Youngest Olympic Gold Medalists in History .)

To create this list of the biggest Olympic wins from the Summer Olympics, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources including CNN, NBC, and USA Today. Here are 9 of the most shocking and exciting wins from previous Summer Olympic games in no particular order.

Nadia Comaneci Scored a Perfect 10

• Sport: Gymnastics
• Team: Romania

A perfect ten may be the goal for Olympic gymnasts, but it had never been achieved until Nadia Comaneci competed in the Montreal 1976 Olympics. Even though she was only 14 at the time, she was the first gymnast to score a perfect ten.

This win at the 1976 Summer Olympics was so shocking that they didn’t even know how to display her score on the scoreboard. However, Comaneci’s legacy didn’t stop there. She ended up scoring a “perfect ten” six more times during the Olympics. She took home three gold medals from the 1976 Olympic Games.

Jesse Owens Proved Hitler Wrong

• Sport: Athletics
• Team: United States

Jesse Owens was an Olympic athlete who made a significant impact on the world. Owens only competed in one Olympic event: the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics. At this event, Owens took home four gold medals in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 4×100 meter relay, and the long jump.

This was a huge win for Owens but it wasn’t the only reason his performance in the games went down in history. The Berlin 1936 Olympic games were overseen by Adolf Hitler, who was hoping the outcome of the events would prove the Aryan race was superior. By winning all four gold medals, he proved Hitler wrong, leading to Owens building an incredible legacy .

Florence Griffith Joyner Broke a World Record

• Sport: Athletics
• Team: United States

Florence Griffith Joyner, affectionately known as Flo-Jo, was an Olympic athlete who started racing at seven years old. She first competed in the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics, winning a silver medal in the 200-meter race.

However, it was her second Olympic event that led to her fame. During the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics, Joyner not only won three gold medals, but she also broke several world records, including records in the 100 meters and 200 meters that have yet to be broken. Tragically, Flo-Jo died from an epileptic seizure in 1998.

Katie Ledecky Set Two World Records

• Sport: Swimming
• Team: United States

Katie Ledecky currently holds an impressive record and is considered one of the greatest Olympic swimmers of all time. She has won seven Olympic gold medals and will be back to compete again at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Ledecky’s first win was remarkable at the London 2012 Summer Olympics because she beat Kate Ziegler, a world champion swimmer. Ledecky was only 15 years old when she received her first Olympic gold medal. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, she was also the first swimmer in over 40 years to win gold in the 200, 400, and 800-meter Freestyle at the same Olympic event.

Michael Johnson Set a World Record in Sprinting

• Sport: Athletics
• Team: United States

There’s no doubt Michael Johnson is one of the fastest sprinters to ever compete in the Olympics. He competed for the first time in the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics, bringing home his first gold medal in the 4×400 meter relay.

Johnson was undefeated for seven years in the 400-meter race, but what was most impressive was his performance at the Atlanta 1996 Games. He won gold in both the 200 and 400-meter races and set a world record that wasn’t beaten for 12 years.

Rulon Gardner Beat Aleksandr Karelin

• Sport: Wrestling
• Team: United States

Rulon Gardner won a gold medal at his first Olympic event in the Super-Heavyweight, Greco-Roman Wrestling Event at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Gardner started wrestling when he was six years old, competing in tournaments at wrestling camp until he was 12 years old.

Gardner’s win at the Sydney 2000 Olympics was a shock because his opponent, Aleksandr Karelin from Russia, was a three-time gold medalist. Karelin hadn’t lost a wrestling match in 13 years when he was defeated by Gardner.

Kerri Strug Competed with an Injury

• Sport: Gymnastics
• Team: United States

Kerri Strug isn’t remembered for being the greatest United States gymnast. Instead, she is remembered for how her determination and fortitude led to a gold medal for the United States Gymnastics team.

At the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, Strug was competing for the second time. Although her team had won bronze in the Team All-Around in the previous Summer Olympics, they were aiming for the gold medal in 1996. Before she finished her routine, Strug injured her ankle and wasn’t sure if she could continue. She completed her final vault despite her injury, helping her team win the gold medal.

Abebe Bikila Set a World Record Without Shoes

• Sport: Athletics
• Team: Ethiopia

Abebe Bikila was a runner from Ethiopia. Bikila’s first win at the Rome 1960 Olympics was unexpected to begin with but his second win at the Tokyo 1964 Olympics was even more shocking.

Bikila was not the original pick for the Ethiopian running team but after fellow runner Wami Biratu was injured, Bikila was chosen for the Olympic team. Not only did Bikila break a record when he beat Rhadi Ben Abdesselam by 25 seconds but he also ran the race barefoot. A little over a month after he had an appendectomy, Bikila won gold again at the Tokyo 1964 Olympics.

Michael Phelps Earned His 20th Gold Medal

• Sport: Swimming
• Team: United States

Michael Phelps, a swimmer on the US team, holds more medals than any other Olympian in history. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, there was a close race between Phelps and Chad Le Clos, an Olympic swimmer from South Africa.

Le Clos is the most decorated athlete from South Africa and previously beat Phelps in an iconic win at the London 2012 Olympics. During the 2016 Games, Phelps regained his place in the 200-meter race, beating Le Clos and earning his 20th Olympic gold medal. (Don’t miss the Athletes with the Most Medals Ever From Summer Olympics .)

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