"The Miracle on Ice" -- the day when the U.S. ice hockey team made up of college students and amateurs produced one of the greatest moments in Olympic history. The Americans qualified for the semifinal at the 1980 Games where it met the Soviet Union, a team which had won gold in each of the previous four competitions. Mike Eruzione was the hero, scoring the winning goal in a 4-3 victory as the U.S. went on to win gold in the final against Finland.
'Miracle on ice' —
"The Miracle on Ice" -- the day when the U.S. ice hockey team made up of college students and amateurs produced one of the greatest moments in Olympic history. The Americans qualified for the semifinal at the 1980 Games where it met the Soviet Union, a team which had won gold in each of the previous four competitions. Mike Eruzione was the hero, scoring the winning goal in a 4-3 victory as the U.S. went on to win gold in the final against Finland.
Steve Powell/Getty Images
Ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Games, Tonya Harding's former husband hired a man to break the leg of U.S. rival skater Nancy Kerrigan. The attack, which shocked the world of sport, left Kerrigan with a badly bruised knee but did not prevent her from claiming silver. Harding finished eighth.
Rink rivalry —
Ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Games, Tonya Harding's former husband hired a man to break the leg of U.S. rival skater Nancy Kerrigan. The attack, which shocked the world of sport, left Kerrigan with a badly bruised knee but did not prevent her from claiming silver. Harding finished eighth.
Vincent Almay/AFP/Getty Images
Hermann Maier survived one of the most dramatic crashes ever witnessed in skiing history after catapulting 30 feet into the air before landing on his helmet at over70 miles per hour (112.65 kph). The incident, which took place at the 1998 Games at Nagano, Japan, somehow left him with just minor injuries. Days later, he won gold medals in the giant slalom and super-G.
Great escape —
Hermann Maier survived one of the most dramatic crashes ever witnessed in skiing history after catapulting 30 feet into the air before landing on his helmet at over70 miles per hour (112.65 kph). The incident, which took place at the 1998 Games at Nagano, Japan, somehow left him with just minor injuries. Days later, he won gold medals in the giant slalom and super-G.
Mark Sandten/Bongarts/Getty Images
Immortalized by the popular film "Cool Runnings," the Jamaica bobsled team became a huge hit with fans at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Despite crashing out on their only competitive run, the Jamaicans won the hearts of millions across the world and qualified for the next two Games.
Cool runnings —
Immortalized by the popular film "Cool Runnings," the Jamaica bobsled team became a huge hit with fans at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Despite crashing out on their only competitive run, the Jamaicans won the hearts of millions across the world and qualified for the next two Games.
Mark Cardwell/AFP/Getty Images
In nine days in February 1980 at Lake Placid, Eric Heiden claimed five gold medals after dominating the speed skating events. Following his success in skating, he turned to cycling and competed in the Tour de France.
Fab five —
In nine days in February 1980 at Lake Placid, Eric Heiden claimed five gold medals after dominating the speed skating events. Following his success in skating, he turned to cycling and competed in the Tour de France.
AFP/Getty Images
Leading by a huge distance going into the penultimate jump of the first ever women's snowboard cross final at Turin in 2006, U.S. star Lindsay Jacobellis decided to attempt a showy grab and fell over. The error cost her gold.
So near, so far —
Leading by a huge distance going into the penultimate jump of the first ever women's snowboard cross final at Turin in 2006, U.S. star Lindsay Jacobellis decided to attempt a showy grab and fell over. The error cost her gold.
Joe Klamar/Getty Images
Steven Bradbury claimed gold in the 1,000 meter speed skating event at the 2002 Games after a last corner pile-up saw the rest of the field crash out in dramatic circumstances. Bradbury, who was never in contention for a medal before the incident, came from the back of the field to shock everybody.
Tortoise beats the hare —
Steven Bradbury claimed gold in the 1,000 meter speed skating event at the 2002 Games after a last corner pile-up saw the rest of the field crash out in dramatic circumstances. Bradbury, who was never in contention for a medal before the incident, came from the back of the field to shock everybody.
Cilve Mason/Getty Images
Dan Jansen's story is one of the most emotional in the history of the Winter Olympics. The favorite for gold in both the 500 and 1,000m events at the 1988 Games, Jansen received word that his sister had passed away after battling leukemia. The news came through on the day of his opening race and although he took to the ice, he crashed out and blew his chances. Four years later he missed out again and after he failed in the 500m at the 1994 Games, everyone thought his opportunity had gone -- until he won gold in the 1,000m and realized his dream.
Back from the brink —
Dan Jansen's story is one of the most emotional in the history of the Winter Olympics. The favorite for gold in both the 500 and 1,000m events at the 1988 Games, Jansen received word that his sister had passed away after battling leukemia. The news came through on the day of his opening race and although he took to the ice, he crashed out and blew his chances. Four years later he missed out again and after he failed in the 500m at the 1994 Games, everyone thought his opportunity had gone -- until he won gold in the 1,000m and realized his dream.
Chris Cole/Getty Images
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean became the highest-scoring figure skaters of all time after receiving 12 perfect 6.0 scores following their Bolero routine at the 1984 Sarajevo Games. The pair went on to win bronze at Lillehammer 10 years later.
Perfect six —
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean became the highest-scoring figure skaters of all time after receiving 12 perfect 6.0 scores following their Bolero routine at the 1984 Sarajevo Games. The pair went on to win bronze at Lillehammer 10 years later.
Allsport/Getty Images
Austria's Franz Klammer will be best remembered for his incredible downhill run at the 1976 games at Innsbruck. In front of his home support, Klammer, the final competitor to take to the course, produced one of the most daring runs ever witnessed to defeat defending champion Bernhard Russi.
Flying Franz —
Austria's Franz Klammer will be best remembered for his incredible downhill run at the 1976 games at Innsbruck. In front of his home support, Klammer, the final competitor to take to the course, produced one of the most daring runs ever witnessed to defeat defending champion Bernhard Russi.
AFP/Getty Images