Buzz
"Great is the victory, but the friendship is all the greater", said Emil Zatopek when asked about the Olympic Games. The Olympics have come to symbolize all that is noble in the human spirit. Here, we reflect on ten moments in the history of the Games where the actions of athletes have transcended race, color, or nationality to touch the heart…
10 The Koreas unite under one flag
Divided at the 38th parallel, but unified in Sydney. It may have been symbolic—perhaps even idealistic—but when two nations, officially in conflict, marched together under the same flag, it demonstrated the power of the Olympic movement. Park Jung Chon, a North Korean judo coach, and Chun Un Soon, a South Korean basketball player, carried a flag depicting the undivided Korea, set against a white background. As an emotional folk song played, the two athletes wore the same uniform, held the same flag, and for a brief moment in time, the past was forgotten as the two countries embraced a hopeful future.
9 A Remarkable African Moment in Barcelona
The two athletes could not have been more different. One, a white South African; the other, an Ethiopian. Derartu Tulu and Elena Meyer had just finished first and second in the 10,000 meters. What followed was possibly the most emotional victory lap in Olympic history. Hand in hand, the two African athletes celebrated their success together. For many, this moment symbolized South Africa's return to the international sporting community after years of apartheid. But beyond that, it was the profound beauty of two African athletes, in their moment of triumph, acknowledging one another's accomplishments, that seemed to offer hope for the entire continent.
8 Pyambu Tuul takes on the race
Pyambu Tuul represented Mongolia in the marathon at Barcelona in 1992. He finished last. When asked why he was so slow, he responded, 'No, my time wasn't slow. You could call my run a Mongolian Olympic marathon record.' Unsatisfied, another reporter pressed him, asking if it was the greatest day of his life. Tuul's response was unexpected. 'As for it being the greatest day of my life, no, it isn’t,' he replied. 'Up until six months ago, I was completely blind. I was entirely without sight. I trained with the help of friends who ran alongside me. Then a group of doctors came to Mongolia to provide humanitarian medical assistance. One doctor looked at my eyes and asked about my condition. I told him I had been blind since childhood. He said, 'I can restore your sight with a simple surgery.' So he did the surgery, and after 20 years, I could see again. So today wasn't the greatest day of my life. The best day was when I regained my sight and saw my wife and two daughters for the first time. And they are beautiful.' Simple, isn’t it? The real races we run are within ourselves.
7 Dan Jansen's Redemption
It felt like déjà vu. The same sense of disappointment lingered. Dan Jansen, the speed skater who had once been full of promise but had fallen short, was competing in the 1000 meters finals at Lillehammer. This was surely his last chance for redemption. Four years earlier, at the Calgary games, Jansen had skated in the 500 meters event just hours after hearing the devastating news of his sister Jane’s death. He had failed to perform well. The curse continued in Albertville. But call it destiny, divine intervention, or whatever you wish—this time, he skated as he never had before, setting a world record and claiming gold. And if there's any true poignancy in sport, it was captured when Dan Jansen, holding his daughter, looked up to the heavens and said, 'This is for you, Jane.'
6 Miracle on Ice
In 1980, Lake Placid, New York, was the setting for an unforgettable moment in American sports history. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had triggered a boycott of the Moscow Summer Olympics by President Carter, and tensions were high. Amidst this political backdrop, a group of mostly amateur American hockey players faced off against the powerful Soviet team. As the game neared its end, the Americans clung to a narrow lead. In the final seconds, ABC’s Al Michaels famously asked, 'Do you believe in miracles?'—a question that resonated as the underdog Americans held onto their victory, marking a defining moment of national pride. Decades later, this victory is still used to teach the spirit of what it means to be American.
In the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Momo Walde triumphed in the marathon, conquering the high-altitude conditions. Not long afterward, another runner, John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania, staggered into the Olympic stadium. He was the last to finish the race, but his story was one of true courage. After falling and injuring his knee, Akhwari pressed on, hobbling to the finish line to receive thunderous applause from the few spectators who remained. His remarkable perseverance was later described as a powerful example of human dignity, one that lifted sports beyond just games. Akhwari’s simple yet profound response to why he didn’t quit was, 'My country did not send me 5000 miles to start the race. They sent me 5000 miles to finish the race.'
John Stephen Akhwari’s story from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics is one of perseverance and resilience. After Momo Walde had claimed the marathon gold, Akhwari, severely injured with a dislocated knee, was the last to cross the finish line. Despite the pain from a fall, he made his way to the track for one final push to the finish line. The small crowd that remained gave him a standing ovation, honoring his unyielding spirit. Later, it was written that his performance was a true representation of the finest in human spirit and elevated sports beyond mere competition. When asked why he didn’t quit, Akhwari humbly replied, 'My country did not send me 5000 miles to start the race. They sent me 5000 miles to finish the race.'
The intersection of Black power and global solidarity was highlighted by an unforgettable moment at the 1968 Olympics. Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists, each wearing a black glove, while Peter Norman, the Australian sprinter, stood with a badge of the Olympic Project for Human Rights. This image became one of the most powerful symbols of protest in Olympic history. Despite facing intense backlash and being ostracized at the time, their act was later recognized as a bold demonstration for dignity and human rights. It serves as a reminder that sport can transcend its boundaries, becoming a force for change and progress.
The photograph of Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists, gloved in black, alongside Peter Norman wearing the Olympic Project for Human Rights badge, is etched into history. No matter how many times one sees it, the profound significance of the image remains undiminished, embodying the spirit of its time. This moment would go on to be remembered as one of the most iconic protests in Olympic history, though the athletes faced ostracism for their actions. Over time, however, their courageous stand has come to be seen as a powerful statement for human dignity. In that instant, sport became something far greater: a vehicle for social change and progress.
3. Ali ignites the Olympic flame
At long last, Muhammad Ali emerged from the shadows. Though his body had been ravaged by Parkinson’s disease, his mind remained as sharp as ever. With trembling hands, he lit the Olympic flame. No athlete in the history of sport had ever meant so much to so many. Ali’s dignity was unmatched—he never compromised his principles for money or fame. He was the people's champion, the underdog in both sport and life. 'They didn’t tell me who would light the flame, but when I saw it was you, I cried,' said Bill Clinton, and he wasn’t alone in his tears.
2. Luz Long and Jesse Owens share an unforgettable moment in Berlin
In front of the Fuhrer himself, Luz Long, a nineteen-year-old German athlete, gave Jesse Owens some sage advice: 'Play it safe, mark your jump a few inches before the takeoff board and jump from there.' Owens, the grandson of a slave and the son of a sharecropper, followed this guidance, qualified for the finals, and went on to win four gold medals. The first person to congratulate him was Luz Long. Owens later reflected, 'It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler… You can melt down all the medals and cups I have, and they wouldn’t be a plating on the twenty-four-carat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment.' Despite his heroics, Owens had to take the freight elevator at the Waldorf Astoria to attend his own reception.
1. Derek Redmond becomes the true embodiment of courage
Derek Redmond's career was marred by injuries, but he still came to Barcelona with hopes of claiming a gold medal. Unfortunately, that dream was dashed when he tore his hamstring with just 175 meters left in his 400-meter semifinal race. It seemed like the end of his journey. But Redmond wasn't done yet. With tears in his eyes, he rose to his feet, determined to finish the race on one leg. His father, watching from the sidelines, rushed to his side with words of comfort: 'We’ll finish together.' The International Olympic Committee famously used the phrase, 'Strength is measured in pounds. Speed is measured in seconds. Courage? You can't measure courage,' to honor his act of perseverance. For Derek Redmond, however, it was simply the only thing he could do.
