Most unexpected moments in the history of Olympic sport

Greg Louganis' unexpected head injury during a dive and his subsequent comeback to win gold was a moment of immense drama. His resilience in the face of adversity was truly inspiring.

The 'Miracle on Ice' saw an amateur U.S. team defeat the dominant Soviet Union, a team that had won the previous four Olympic gold medals. This victory is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

Rulon Gardner's victory over Aleksandr Karelin was a monumental upset in individual Olympic sport. Karelin was an undefeated legend, making Gardner's single-point win truly shocking.

Nadia Comăneci's perfect 10 was an unprecedented achievement in Olympic gymnastics. The scoreboard wasn't even equipped to display her flawless score, making it a truly unexpected and iconic moment.

Derek Redmond's finish, aided by his father, was an unexpected display of the Olympic spirit beyond winning. His refusal to quit despite a severe injury created an unforgettable moment of human perseverance.

Ester Ledecká's double gold in two different sports was an incredibly rare and unexpected achievement. Her victory in Alpine skiing, a sport where she was not a favorite, was particularly surprising.

Shaunae Miller's dive across the finish line to win gold was a dramatic and highly unexpected moment. It sparked widespread debate and became an iconic image of the Rio Olympics.

The decision by Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Essa Barshim to share the gold medal was an unexpected display of sportsmanship. It was a rare moment of camaraderie over competition.

Kerri Strug's vault on an injured ankle was an unexpected act of courage and determination. Her heroic effort secured a historic team gold medal for the USA.

Bob Beamon's 'Leap of the Century' was an astonishing and unexpected world record. His jump shattered previous records by an incredible margin, shocking everyone, including himself.

The inclusion of live pigeon shooting was an unexpected and controversial event in early Olympic history. It stands out as the only time animals were intentionally killed in an Olympic competition.

The 'Dream Team's' failure to win gold was a major and unexpected upset. It marked a significant shift in international basketball, proving the USA's dominance was no longer guaranteed.

Eric Moussambani's incredibly slow swim was an unexpected and heartwarming moment. His perseverance despite limited training embodied the Olympic spirit of participation over victory.

Mo Farah's ability to recover from a fall and still win the 10,000m gold was an unexpected display of mental and physical fortitude. It added immense drama to an already highly anticipated race.

Jordan Chiles' unexpected bronze medal after a score inquiry highlighted the dramatic impact of judging reviews. It added a surprising twist to the medal ceremony and the final results.

Mondo Duplantis' repeated attempts to break his own world record created an unexpected spectacle of tension and drama. The collective anticipation of over 70,000 fans made it an unforgettable moment.

Hansle Parchment's late surge to win the 110m hurdles was an unexpected upset. He overtook the favorite in the final meters, proving that a race is never truly won until the finish line.

The unexpected act of sportsmanship by fellow competitors lifting Misugu Okamoto was a heartwarming moment. It highlighted camaraderie and support over rivalry in the newly introduced sport.

Victor Axelsen's gold medal was an unexpected victory that broke a long-standing pattern of dominance. It marked the first European gold in men's singles badminton in over two decades.