source: http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/a-chat-with-an-olympic-icon-eric-heiden/

Because of the US Olympic hockey team victory over the Russians at Lake Placid in 1980 Eric Heiden’s 5 gold medals at the same olympics may be one of the most underrated sports achievements of all time.  Heiden won speed skating gold in the 500, 1000, 1500, and 5000 meters.  In the 10,000 meter distance he not only won gold but set a new world record.

source: http://advancement.sdsu.edu/marcomm/features/2007/primetime.html

Recognized as perhaps the greatest upset in the history of team sports, a collection of amateur hockey players from the United States defeated the best national hockey team in the world.  Less than 2 weeks prior the Russians defeated the US olympic hockey team 10-3 in an exhibition game.  What made this game larger than life was the cultural significance of the United States struggle with Russia during the cold war and the now famous call by Al Michaels in the final seconds of the game…”Do you believe in miracles…YES!”

source: http://www.time.com/time/olympics2002/moments/moment6.html

US Men’s figure skater Dick Button wins the gold medal at the 1952 winter games in Oslo, Norway.  He completed a triple loop which had never been done in competition before.  Four years earlier at the 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland Button also won gold as a revolutionary skater becoming the first to land a double axel.

source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8474/index.htm

In his first fight following the Thrilla in Manilla, Ali defeats Coopman in 5 rounds.

source: http://www.corbisimages.com/Enlargement/Enlargement.aspx?id=BE023479&ext=1

Phil Mahre took the gold while his twin brother Steve won silver in the slalom at the Olympics in Sarajevo.

source: http://www.nascar.com/2003/kyn/history/daytona/01/23/daytona_1979/

With one lap to go Donnie Allison leads Cale Yarborough but the two crash which clears the way for Richard Petty to take the lead and win the race.  The two drivers emerge from their cars and a fight ensues on the infield.  The win for Petty was his 6th at Daytona.

source: http://www.slowtwitch.com/Features/Original_Ironman_Henry_Forrest_484.html

In Honolulu, HI the first ever Ironman triathlon is held.  It consisted of a 2.4 mile ocean swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 running marathon.  Only 15 men entered the race and 12 finished, won by Gordon Haller with a total time of 11:46:58.  Henry Forest, interviewed in the video, finished 7th with a time of 15:30:14.

source: http://www.apimages.com/Search.aspx?st=shwc&xslt=scssr&id=269300

At the Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, hometown skiing hero Jean-Claude Killy wins the gold medal in slalom.  It was his third gold medal of the ‘68 Olympics having already won the downhill and giant slalom competitions.

source: http://www.examiner.com/history-in-baltimore/celebrity-soldiers-real-and-imagined

Ted Williams who served in WWII as a fighter pilot returns to military service in the Korean war.  On a mission the F-9 Marine Panther that Williams was flying is hit and catches fire.  He manages to land and exits the plane before it explodes.  Williams would return to the Red Sox for just 37 games in the 1953 season amassing 37 hits in 91 at bats for a .407 average.

source: http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2008/05/17/an_autistic_students_moment_of_glory_spurs_an_inspiring_story/

What’s so special about this upstate New York high school basketball game?  Senior Jason McElwain steals the show…