It takes sweat, blood, and tears to become the world’s greatest.
Britain's Derek Redmond was a gold medal hopeful for the 400 meters during the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona. But when he was rounding the 175th meter — tragedy struck. Redmond's hamstring popped under the pressure, and with it went his dreams of becoming an Olympic champion.
But Derek Redmond wasn't about to give up that easy. After refusing a stretcher from the medical staff, Redmond picked himself up and hobbled toward the finish line, determined to complete the race he had trained for. In an emotional act of defiance, Redmond's father pushed past Olympic security, yelling, "That's my son out there and I'm going to help him!" In disbelief and awe, the crowds roared as they watch the father and son push past the finish line to complete the race.
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Amid a generation of conflict and racial divide, two American Olympians took to the winners podium after the 200-meter run and declared their protest for freedom and racial equality in the United States.
Extending their gloved hands skyward, athletes Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos stared downward as "The Star-Spangled Banner" played, just after Smith received the gold and Carlos the bronze at the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City. Smith later explained, "They called it Black Power. I called it human power or cry for freedom."
AP
With the eyes of the world upon him, Hungarian weightlifter Janos Baranyai pushed himself to lift 148 kilograms (326.3 pounds) during the men's 77kg weightlifting competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Unexpectedly, his right arm gave, ripping apart ligaments and muscle under the weight.
As horrifying as the entire ordeal was, doctors were able to reset Baranyai's elbow for a full recovery without surgery.
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At the turn of the 19th century, women were not allowed to participate in the 100-meter race. That all changed when the rules were amended at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, allowing American athlete Betty Robinson (center) to be the first woman in history to take gold in the event. Canadians Bobbie Rosenfeld (left) and Ethel Smith (right) took silver and bronze, respectively.
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