Team USA's Most Moving Moments in Olympic History

A Look Back at Some of Team USA's Most Moving Moments in Olympic History

With every Olympic Games, athletes seem to keep us on the edge of our seat, patiently waiting to witness history. And somehow, despite the mounting pressure, Team USA continues to deliver, not just in terms of their athletic ability, but also in their spirit, resilience, and pure determination. From powerful protests to unbelievable comebacks, there are always a few special moments where our athletes prove what true champions look like. The Tokyo Olympics have been no different — but as these Games come to a close, let's look back at 10 more moments when Team USA truly shined.

Image Source: Getty / Tim Clayton - Corbis

1968: Black Athletes Protest Racial Injustice

The 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City took place at the height of the civil rights movement. As a result, some athletes chose to use their platforms to make a statement about racial injustice. Most notably, after winning gold and bronze in the 200-meter dash, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists on the podium as the national anthem began to play. Their protest stunned the world — and cost them their spot on the Olympic team — but it served as an unforgettable tribute to Black power.

Image Source: Getty / AFP

1980: Team USA Pulls Off the Miracle on Ice

For many, it was a foregone conclusion that the Soviet Union — the four-time defending gold medalists — would dominate the men's hockey tournament at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. But with incredible teamwork and determination, Team USA managed one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, defeating the Soviet Union and going on to win gold.

Image Source: Getty / Tom Sweeney / Minneapolis Star Star Tribune

1984: Mary Lou Retton Makes History

Gymnast Mary Lou Retton needed impeccably high scores to pull ahead of her competitors during the final rotation of the all-around at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Despite the odds, Retton delivered, receiving a perfect 10 on floor to become the first American gymnast to win Olympic all-around gold. She went on to win more medals at the 1984 Games than any other competitor.

Image Source: Getty / David Madison

1988: Florence Griffith Joyner Becomes the World's Fastest Woman

American sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner won four medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, including gold in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash — but those medals were just the start of her legacy. More than 30 years later, the world records Griffith Joyner set in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints — clocked at the US Olympic Trials and in Seoul, respectively — still stand, making her the fastest woman to have ever lived.

Image Source: Getty / Russell Cheyne

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1996: Carl Lewis Cements His Legacy

After winning eight gold medals in previous Olympics — and nine Olympic medals overall — fans were eager to see if USA track and field athlete Carl Lewis could continue his winning streak at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He put any doubts to rest during a dramatic long jump final, winning a fourth consecutive gold in the event before his retirement.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Powell

2000: The Williams Sisters Put the World on Notice

Venus and Serena Williams had won several Grand Slam titles by the time they arrived at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, but the sisters' dominance at the Games seemed to mark the official start of a new era in tennis. A day after Venus won the singles tournament, she and Serena clinched yet another gold for Team USA, one Venus told reporters was particularly meaningful, "because I had this victory with Serena, my sister, my family member, my best friend." It would be their first of three gold medals in Olympic doubles.

Image Source: Getty / Clive Brunskill

2002: Michelle Kwan Skates an Emotional Farewell

Two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan never captured that elusive gold, but at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, she certainly captured hearts. After finishing in third behind fellow American Sarah Hughes and Russia's Irina Slutskaya, Kwan took to the ice for what would be her final Olympic skate: a stunning exhibition routine set to "Fields of Gold," which moved both Kwan and the audience to tears. She finished her career four years later with nine US Championships and five World Championship titles.

Image Source: Getty / JACQUES DEMARTHON

2008: Michael Phelps Wins the 100-Meter Butterfly by a Fraction of a Second

Though Michael Phelps would go on to win a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, his seventh was undoubtedly the most thrilling. During a stacked final in the men's 100-meter butterfly, Phelps came from behind to touch the wall just one hundredth of a second before Serbia's Milorad Cavic, securing the gold for Team USA in one of the tightest races of all time.

Image Source: Getty / Ezra Shaw

2012: Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor Make It a 3-Peat

Coming into the 2012 London Games, all eyes were on Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor, the American beach volleyball duo that had won back-to-back gold in 2004 and 2008. Olympic audiences wondered if the pair could somehow clinch a third consecutive win, and in an unbelievable final match, they did just that, becoming one of the most dominant volleyball teams in the history of the Olympics.

Image Source: Getty / Ben Radford / Corbis

2016: Simone Biles and Aly Raisman Share the Spotlight

The 2016 Rio Games marked Aly Raisman's second Olympic appearance, where she once again served as captain of the US women's gymnastics team. Raisman's leadership was evident during the individual all-around, when she held a tearful Simone Biles as the two awaited the scores that would name Biles the Olympic champion and Raisman a silver medalist. Moments later, Biles motioned for Raisman to join her on the floor, so she too could take a bow — a display of friendship and sportsmanship that captured the true spirit of the Games.