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Baseball, skiing, football, cricket, basketball, and croquet are just a few of the many sports available worldwide. Whether you compete professionally, or play for fun, sports are fantastic and their importance cannot be understated.
Every year, millions upon millions of people worldwide participate in different sports in some form or another, for a variety of reasons. One of the most prevalent reasons people enjoy sports is how they can make us feel on top of the world, maybe even invincible, even if it’s just for a little moment. Whether it’s coaching a team, playing for a team, or whatever the situation may be, it’s safe to say that the world we live in today would be a very different place if it weren’t for sports.
Hundreds of remarkable famous sports moments have occurred over the years, ranging from seemingly improbable victories to performances of unrivaled excellence. Today, we are going to relive a few that have stood the test of time.
Sir Steve Redgrave winning a fifth gold medal
When Steve Redgrave won his fifth consecutive gold medal in rowing at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, he joined the ranks of true athletic legends. After winning his first four gold medals, Redgrave joked that anyone who saw him near a boat should ‘shoot’ him! But he got back in a boat, and became a member of Great Britain’s coxless four in Sydney at the age of 38. They won gold by 0.38 seconds in a thrilling race, cementing Sir Steve’s legacy as a rowing icon.
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Manchester United winning the treble
Teddy Sheringham, who had been banished to the Manchester United bench for most of the season, faced an odd problem in the second half of the 1999 European Cup final against Bayern Munich. Sheringham subsequently recounted, “The gaffer told me that if it were still one-nil with 20 minutes left, he would give me a chance.” ‘When I heard that, it gave me mixed feelings. He wanted to play but didn’t want his team to be behind.
With 23 minutes remaining, Sheringham came on to replace Jesper Blomqvist. Still, it was not until injury time that he equalized, with the winner coming from the other substitution, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who came on even later in the game.
Jackie Robinson breaking down barriers.
Sure, it wasn’t a game-winning shot or a championship win, but it was a watershed event in not only Major League Baseball but sports in general. Jackie Robinson made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. In the process, Robinson became the first African-American player to play in the major leagues, effectively putting an end to baseball’s segregation as Robinson broke the color barrier.
On that day, Robinson made his debut in front of an audience of 26,623 people, the bulk of whom were African-American. Since Robinson’s debut in Major League Baseball, more than 70 years have passed, and African-Americans currently dominate not only the MLB but many other sports. Without a doubt, Jackie Robinson smashed the color barrier not only in baseball, but in all sports in general, as other leagues followed suit.
Jessie Owens claims a gold medal in Germany during Nazi rule
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The Nazis had meticulously planned the 1936 Olympics to promote their Aryan race doctrine, but they hadn’t counted on Jesse Owens, an African-American, participating. The Americans won four gold medals, including the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay. Owens won the long jump against German Luz Long, and the two embraced and strolled around the stadium arm-in-arm after the medal presentation – not quite the spectacle Hitler had in mind!
Sir Geoff Hurst world cup final hat trick
The instant Geoff Hurst scored his hat-trick against West Germany, it was clear that the country that founded football had taken control of the sport. The match also produced the most unforgettable television commentary of all time. “And here comes Hurst! He’s got…Some people are on the pitch! They think it’s all over! It is now, it’s four!”This iconic quote was spoken by Kenneth Wolstenholme, a commentator from the BBC, during the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final.
Michael Jordan snatches victory from the Utah Jazz in final moments of his Bulls’ career
The Chicago Bulls trailed the Utah Jazz in the last minute of Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. The Bulls needed a big play with the game clock ticking down to under 30 seconds and the Jazz in possession of the ball. With the Bulls in desperate need of a score, Michael Jordan snatched the ball from Jazz forward Karl Malone and ran to the opposite end of the court. Jordan drove to the top of the key, where he shook off defender Bryon Russell with a crossover and hit a mid-range jumper with less than 10 seconds remaining, giving the Bulls a tight 87-86 lead against the Jazz.
The Jazz could not respond, and Jordan’s shot proved to be the game-winner as the Bulls won Game 6 and secured their sixth NBA championship in eight years. Jordan’s career was littered with classic and unforgettable plays, but why did this one stand out? For starters, it was with this shot that Jordan won his sixth NBA championship. This was also Jordan’s final shot while wearing a Chicago Bulls uniform, as Air Jordan ended his career on a high note. This is one of the most iconic and crucial baskets in basketball history, and it was, of course, made by Michael Jordan, the most outstanding athlete ever to live.
