I wanted to start a separate thread from the current Games. What are some of your all-time favorite summer Olympic moments?
Here are some of mine from 1964 to 1988.
1964 in Tokyo
A relative unknown, Billy Mills wins the 10,000 meters.
ABC's original call:
A video about the race from the Washington Post in 2022.
1972 in Munich.
My father said that Olga Korbut was the only Russian he ever rooted for. I know it looks simple today, but her performance in 1972 was ground breaking. It made her a world-wide star overnight. What's even more incredible is the fact she was a last minute substitute on the Soviet team. Jim McKay and Gordon Maddox were on the call for ABC. Gymnastics in 72 were on August 28th and 29th, more than a week before the Israeli team massacre on September 6th.
1972 in Munich.
Golf cap wearing and complete unknown Dave Wottle qualifies for the team and then wins the gold for the U.S. in the 800 meter track final. Jim McKay and Marty Laquori on the call for ABC.
1976 in Montreal.
The U.S. women's swimming 4x100 relay stunned the juiced East Germans in what was a monumental upset. Shirley Babashoff swam the anchor leg for the U.S.
Canadian Television's coverage:
ABC's Coverage with Curt Gowdy and Donna Devarona on the call.
1984 in Los Angeles
Unheralded American Bruce Hayes went against the heavily favored West German Albatross - Michael Gross - in the final leg of the men's 4X200 meter relay in the USC pool. The final leg begins at the 6:30 mark. Jim Lampley and Mark Spitz on the call for ABC.
1984 Los Angeles
Edwin Moses had not lost a race in the 400 meter hurdles in 7 years. He was the favorite in Los Angeles in 1984 and didn't disappoint. Al Michaels and Renaldo Nehemiah on the call for ABC.
1984 Los Angeles
Mary Lou Retton. She needed a perfect 10 to win the all-around. Jack Whitaker and Kathy Rigby were on the call for ABC. Whitaker was sort of the grizzled old veteran of sports broadcasting. He was a WWII veteran who had been wounded at Normandy. For decades he had done horseracing, golf, and the NFL, including Super Bowl 1, for CBS. He had just moved to ABC. Even he couldn't escape the drama of the moment. Retton became a household name with these 2 vaults.
1984 in Los Angeles
Joan Benoit wins the first women's Olympic marathon. She later said that when she got into the Coliseum and saw the crowd she was on such a runner's high that she just couldn't stop and ended up doing a victory lap with the American flag.
1988 in Seoul
Janet Evans was going up against the hated and juiced East Germans in multiple swimming events. She was the 17-year old favorite as the world record holder going into final of the 400 free. It was widely believed she'd have to top her own world record to win the race. She was only 5-5 and swam with an unorthodox style. Still, she set a time that stood for 18 years. She also won gold in the 1,500 free and 800 IM. Don Criqui and John Naber were on the call for NBC.
1988 in Seoul
"Something rotten in Korea." The infamous line uttered by Ferdie Pacheco at the end of the Roy Jones vs. Park Si-hun gold medal fight. By all accounts, a fixed fight that turned into the one of the biggest scandals in Olympic history. And that's saying something. Jones literally beat up Park for 3 rounds, outpunching him 86-32 and forced Park into 2 standing 8 counts. Still, he lost a 3-2 decision. Marv Albert and the "fight doctor" Ferdie Pacheco on the call for NBC.
Here are some of mine from 1964 to 1988.
1964 in Tokyo
A relative unknown, Billy Mills wins the 10,000 meters.
ABC's original call:
A video about the race from the Washington Post in 2022.
1972 in Munich.
My father said that Olga Korbut was the only Russian he ever rooted for. I know it looks simple today, but her performance in 1972 was ground breaking. It made her a world-wide star overnight. What's even more incredible is the fact she was a last minute substitute on the Soviet team. Jim McKay and Gordon Maddox were on the call for ABC. Gymnastics in 72 were on August 28th and 29th, more than a week before the Israeli team massacre on September 6th.
1972 in Munich.
Golf cap wearing and complete unknown Dave Wottle qualifies for the team and then wins the gold for the U.S. in the 800 meter track final. Jim McKay and Marty Laquori on the call for ABC.
1976 in Montreal.
The U.S. women's swimming 4x100 relay stunned the juiced East Germans in what was a monumental upset. Shirley Babashoff swam the anchor leg for the U.S.
Canadian Television's coverage:
ABC's Coverage with Curt Gowdy and Donna Devarona on the call.
1984 in Los Angeles
Unheralded American Bruce Hayes went against the heavily favored West German Albatross - Michael Gross - in the final leg of the men's 4X200 meter relay in the USC pool. The final leg begins at the 6:30 mark. Jim Lampley and Mark Spitz on the call for ABC.
1984 Los Angeles
Edwin Moses had not lost a race in the 400 meter hurdles in 7 years. He was the favorite in Los Angeles in 1984 and didn't disappoint. Al Michaels and Renaldo Nehemiah on the call for ABC.
1984 Los Angeles
Mary Lou Retton. She needed a perfect 10 to win the all-around. Jack Whitaker and Kathy Rigby were on the call for ABC. Whitaker was sort of the grizzled old veteran of sports broadcasting. He was a WWII veteran who had been wounded at Normandy. For decades he had done horseracing, golf, and the NFL, including Super Bowl 1, for CBS. He had just moved to ABC. Even he couldn't escape the drama of the moment. Retton became a household name with these 2 vaults.
1984 in Los Angeles
Joan Benoit wins the first women's Olympic marathon. She later said that when she got into the Coliseum and saw the crowd she was on such a runner's high that she just couldn't stop and ended up doing a victory lap with the American flag.
1988 in Seoul
Janet Evans was going up against the hated and juiced East Germans in multiple swimming events. She was the 17-year old favorite as the world record holder going into final of the 400 free. It was widely believed she'd have to top her own world record to win the race. She was only 5-5 and swam with an unorthodox style. Still, she set a time that stood for 18 years. She also won gold in the 1,500 free and 800 IM. Don Criqui and John Naber were on the call for NBC.
1988 in Seoul
"Something rotten in Korea." The infamous line uttered by Ferdie Pacheco at the end of the Roy Jones vs. Park Si-hun gold medal fight. By all accounts, a fixed fight that turned into the one of the biggest scandals in Olympic history. And that's saying something. Jones literally beat up Park for 3 rounds, outpunching him 86-32 and forced Park into 2 standing 8 counts. Still, he lost a 3-2 decision. Marv Albert and the "fight doctor" Ferdie Pacheco on the call for NBC.
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