The 5 Most Inspiring Olympic Moments That Changed Sporting History

Dating back to Ancient Grecian times, the Olympic Games have inspired, captured, and captivated our attention, fascination, and imagination for centuries. If you’ve completed a sports journalism degree, or even if you haven’t, you simply cannot deny that the Olympics are one of the most captivating spectacles of sporting prowess of all time. 

Are you keen to learn more about the fascinating world of the Olympic Games? Stay with us as we take you through the 5 most inspiring Olympic moments that have changed sporting history. 

1. Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikala Wins Olympic Marathon Gold, Barefoot

Ethiopia’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist, Abebe Bikala stunned in the 1960s Rome Olympics by running barefoot.

Despite the rumors, this was not because Ethiopia could not afford to supply their competitors with footwear. In truth, Abebe chose not to wear his ill-fitting new shoes for fear of getting blisters. He went on to win Olympic gold in the marathon race and was the first black person from the African continent to become a gold medalist at the Olympics. 

2. Cathy Freeman’s Catsuit-Clad Win for Australia

Cathy Freeman’s ‘golden run’ at the Sydney 2000 Olympics saw her win Olympic gold clad in a distinctive one-piece costume. 

Designed by Nike, the iconic green and gold catsuit was immortalized in international history after the 400m favorite’s triumph for Australia, and for Australia’s Indigenous population. Notably, Cathy was one of just 11 Indigenous Australians who were part of Australia’s team of over 600 Olympians. Her win was a truly groundbreaking moment in Australia’s national history.

3. The Aussie ‘Thorpedo’ Rises to International Acclaim

Five-time Olympic gold medalist, Australian freestyle swimmer Ian Thorpe, won three of those gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With that, he broke world records and rose to international acclaim at just 17 years old. His record-breaking race time of 3 min 41.33 astonished the world. 

As a result, the ‘Thorpedo’ - who was also known for his charming, friendly, and charismatic demeanor - became a beloved and revered sporting figure around the world, and a global household name overnight. At the same time, Ian Thorpe also became the most decorated male Australian Olympian in history. 

4. Kerri Strugg’s Painful Victory for the USA

American Olympic gymnast, Kerri Strugg, famously braved pain for gold. In an astounding display of mental strength and discipline, Kerri grimaced through a broken ankle, winning gold on the vault for the USA despite her injury. After competing and landing back on her feet, the athlete sobbed in visible agony.

Controversially, many onlookers feel that Kerri should never have been forced to compete with her injury, but for the US competitors, the call for Olympic gold was simply too strong, and the victory was sweet. 

5. The Jamaican Bobsled Team Captures Our Hearts

At the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, one team in particular won our hearts. The Jamaican team was an unlikely entry into the bobsledding event. Their participation in the events is still known as one of the most iconic moments of Olympic history.

While the Jamaican bobsled team has never won an Olympic medal - they crashed on their third run at the 1988 Winter Olympics and were unable to compete in the final - their story captivated the world, and later even inspired a movie, entitled ‘Cool Running’, as well as the assertion that ‘when no one believes in you, do it anyway’. 

The Olympics have been a source of inspiration, motivation, and international attention for centuries. Some of the most inspirational Olympic moments in time? There have been many, and we’ve outlined just five of these stories today. 

Namely, Abebe Bikala’s barefoot marathon win for Ethiopia in Rome in 1960, as well as the stories of two Aussies - Indigenous Cathy Freeman, and the iconic Ian ‘Thorpedo’ Thorpe - taking the world by storm at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as Kerri Struggs amazing show of bravery, and of course, the moving story of the Jamaican bobsled team. 

But, what wonders are we still yet to observe at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics? No doubt, even more awe-inspiring, astonishing feats of physical prowess will go down in time as iconic Olympic moments for the history books.