22 Historic Olympic Moments

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Moscow: The U.S. Boycotts the Olympics 1980
The modern Olympics are the ultimate international sporting competition. Athletes train all their lives to represent their nation with the hopes of earning a place in history with a gold medal. These games determine which athletes are the best in the world. Here are some of the Olympic’s most historic moments, eternalized by these photos. 
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Photographed here is the meeting between President Jimmy Carter and the Chairman of the U.S. Olympic committee Robert J Kane In Washington. This was the year the Committee boycotted the Moscow Olympics, Carter strongly supported their decision. The boycott barred American athletes from participating, causing much controversy to those who practiced and wanted to compete. 
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Athens: The First Modern International Olympics 1896
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Photographed here are members of Princeton’s University’s athletic team prior to the games in Athens. Athens was chosen to be the the natural choice to host the inauguration of the modern incarnation of the Olympic games because Greece was the birthplace of the original ancient games. After this photograph was taken, the modern games didn't return to Greece until the Summer Olympics of 2004, 108 years later.
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Seoul: The Dive of Death 1988
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USA’s diver Greg Louganis stares directly to a fearful dive, a dive during which he injured his head. Not only did Louganis injure himself during this particular dive but years earlier he witnessed the accidental death of Soviet diver Sergei Chalibashvili. Chalibashvili hit his head on a concrete diving board, killing him while attempting the same reverse 3.5 somersault Louganis, pictured here, was about to perform. Louganis didn't allow his injury from stopping his dreams and continued diving, winning gold medals in both the tower and springboard events. 
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Seoul: The Fastest Woman of All Time 1988
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Everyone knew her as “Flo Jo” but her real name was Florence Griffith-Joyner. She infamously set two world records for the 200-meter race and the 100-meter race during the 1988 Seoul games. Both records still hold today from 1988, giving her the nickname as the fastest woman of all time.
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Barcelona: The Dream Team 1992
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1989 was the year the International Basketball Federation altered its rules to allow professional basketball players to compete internationally. After this modification, the first dream team was formed for the American Olympics. The dream team was composed for the first time in Barcelona of active NBA athletes including Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, Magic Johnson, John Stockton, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and other basketball legends. Croatia was no competition for the dream team and the US team took home the gold against them.
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Atlanta: Muhammad Ali Lights the Torch 1996
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In 1996 famous boxer Muhammed Ali arrived to the Atlanta Olympics Opening Ceremony as the final torch bearer. He was given the honor after winning his gold medal 36 years prior. At the time of the photograph he was already suffering from Parkinson's Disease, but it didn't hold him back from completing the ignition with grace and strength. Muhammad Ali made history when he lit the flames to commence the Centennial Olympic Games. 
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Lake Placid: Miracle on Ice 1980
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Such an iconic victory photographed here as team members rush goalie Jim Craig after a long loosing streak to the Soviet Union national team. The U.S. team finally defeated the Soviets who had won the gold in 6 of the 7 previous Olympics. The U.S. hockey team was composed of college and amateur players.
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Atlanta: Keri Strung’s Famous Vault 1996
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American Gymnast became a hero for the U.S. when she famously landed her final vault routine despite an ankle injury. She completed her routine and stuck the landing, earning the U.S. team the gold medal. This photo of her proud coach Bela Karolyi carrying a victorious and injured Strug to the medal podium became an iconic photo.

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Atlanta: Centennial Olympic Park Bombing 1996
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The Centennial Olympics was a tragic Olympics due to the defeating terrorist attack at the Centennial Olympic Park by Eric Robert Rudolph. The terrorist attack injured 111 innocent bystanders and killed one. After the attack people crowded the park in memorial services commemorating the victims.
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Athens: U.S. Women's Soccer Team Wins Gold 2004
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The U.S. Women's soccer team has been on a winning streak since 2004 ever since their win against Brazil. This photo was taken right after their win in overtime, player Abby Wambach netted a goal taking home the gold for the team.
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Beijing: Michael Phelps Wins Eight Gold Medals 2008
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Michael Phelps’ name has become one of the most famous Olympians of all time. Michael Phelps’ fame really exploded during the summer 2008 Beijing Olympics when he beat Mark Spitz’s record for the most golds at any single Olympic Game. After the most recent games in Rio Phelps continues to be the most decorated Olympian in history earning 22 total medals after three Olympic Games.
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Beijing: Usain Bolts to the Finish Line 2008
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Usain Bolt grosses a total of $32.5 million as of 2016 earning him, according to Forbes, the highest paid track-and-field athlete in all of history. He remains at the top of the list of highest paid Olympians because he earned the nick name is as the fastest person ever when he broke the 200 and 100- meter world records in Beijing. 
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Vancouver: “The Flying Tomato” 2010
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Shaun White’s outstanding performance at the men's halfpipe during the 2010 Winter Olympics not only securing him the gold metal but also the nick name “the flying tomato” due to his red vibrant hair. He not only completed his first try with ease but he had an unforgettable second run on the men's halfpipe as well. His victory was earned with his jumps that were over eight meters high, finished with his signature “Tomahawk”. He placed first with an exceptional score of 48.4 out of 50, making him a double Olympian champion. 
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London: “The Flying Housewife” 1948
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The most successful athlete of the London 1948 Olympic Games was Fanny Blankers-Koen. Blankers-Koen was surprisingly a 30-year-old mother of two, and won four gold medals. She challenged stereo types associated to her gender and age. Critics were discouraged with existing prejudices against motherhood and women athletes at the time, Fanny broke some of those myths with her victories. In 1990 the International Association of Athletics Federation dubbed her the female athlete of the 20th .
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Berlin: Jesse Owens vs. Hitler 1936
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Even after his heyday, Jesse Owens is still arguably one of the most famous and important track and field olympian of all time. In the height of Nazi Germany, Owens disproved Hitlers myth of Aryan superiority winning four gold medals in Berlin. Besides taking home four gold medals he set a world record for the long jump that remained unchallenged for a quarter of a century. 
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Rome: First International Paralympics 1960
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Pictured in the Olympic village, the Italian team poses before the games. What is known today as the Paralympics, was at the time first named International Stoke Mandeville Games. Here the athletes are posed for the the 9th annual games. Participants had to be athletes with spinal cord injuries. At the time there were no more than three teams or athletes for each event, thus as long as you completed the event you were guaranteed a medal.
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Mexico City: Black Power Salute 1968
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This is an iconic photo for the civil rights movement. Photographed here is Tommie Smith & John Carlos raising their gloved fists during the national anthem. They are giving the black power salute, making this a photo that would go down in history.
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Rome: Cassius Clay Wins Gold 1960
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Pictured here is young 18 year old Cassius Clay fighting with Australian Tony Madigan during the semifinal light heavyweight boxing event. Clay, almost withdrew from the competition because his fear of flying. He didn't want to make the flight to Italy. Fortunately he got over his fear and went on to compete and defeat Zbigniew, winning the gold medal.
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London: U.S. Swimmers Break World Record 2012
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The London Summer Olympics was a memorial and victorious one for the women's U.S. Swim team, pictured here. Here the team members embrace each other for their successful performance, winning gold for the U.S. Not only did the women take home gold but they also set a new Olympic record in the women's 4x200- meter freestyle relay.

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Munich: Mark Spitz Wins Seven Gold medals 1972
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Mark Spitz posses with his fellow swimming teammates and his seventh gold medal around his neck. He set a new world record for all the events he competed that year. This achievement still stands today. Before Michael Phelps, Spitz was the most decorated Olympic athlete. 
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Munich: The Munich Massacre 1972
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Photographed here is one of the terrorist group from “Black September” on the balcony where 11 Israeli Olympic team members were held hostage. Sadly, the terrorist group murdered five Israeli athletes, six coaches, and one West German policeman.
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Montreal: Nadia Comaneci’s Perfect 10 1976
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History was made when for the first time in Olympic history Nadia Comaneci scored a perfect score for Romania. She was the first gymnast on the uneven bars to ever be awarded a perfect ten. Over her career in the Olympics, she earned 6 additional perfect scores. Unfortunately panic arose by the team because the score read 1.0 instead of 10.00. The manufacturer of the scoreboard only made three slots for the digits, as they were told a four digit score was impossible.
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