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HEROIC
At Seoul 1988, Lawrence Lemieux
abandoned his own race to come to the rescue when he saw that a competitor's boat had capsized
For his actions, he was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal for sportsmanship
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
At Seoul 1988, Lawrence Lemieux
abandoned his own race to come to the rescue when he saw that a competitor's boat had capsizedFor his actions, he was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal for sportsmanship
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
VALIANT
At Atlanta 1996, the pressure was on an injured @kerristrug96 to land her final vault in order to clinch the first-ever team gold for USA Gymnastics. She stuck the landing, then fell to her knees in pain. But she had secured the gold medal in this iconic Olympic moment
At Atlanta 1996, the pressure was on an injured @kerristrug96 to land her final vault in order to clinch the first-ever team gold for USA Gymnastics. She stuck the landing, then fell to her knees in pain. But she had secured the gold medal in this iconic Olympic moment
DETERMINED
A medal favourite at Barcelona 1992,
sprinter @Derek_Redmond pulled a hamstring 100m into his 400m race
Despite the pain, he wasn't going to give up
His father Jim leapt the barrier and helped his son finish the race
Truly inspiring
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
A medal favourite at Barcelona 1992,
sprinter @Derek_Redmond pulled a hamstring 100m into his 400m raceDespite the pain, he wasn't going to give up
His father Jim leapt the barrier and helped his son finish the race
Truly inspiring
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
GRIT
Ethiopian distance runner Abebe Bikila shocked the world when he ran the entire Rome 1960 marathon barefoot
And he won!
He became the first East-African to win a gold medal
Four years later at Tokyo 1964 he won again...this time with shoes on
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
Ethiopian distance runner Abebe Bikila shocked the world when he ran the entire Rome 1960 marathon barefoot
And he won!
He became the first East-African to win a gold medal
Four years later at Tokyo 1964 he won again...this time with shoes on
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
SPORTSMANSHIP
After coming 4th at Rio 2016, @EvanDunfee was upgraded to bronze in the 50km race walk with disqualification of
's @Hiro50kmWalk; who'd appeared to bump him
When Japan appealed, Arai was reinstated
Dunfee let the issue drop and result stand
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
After coming 4th at Rio 2016, @EvanDunfee was upgraded to bronze in the 50km race walk with disqualification of
's @Hiro50kmWalk; who'd appeared to bump himWhen Japan appealed, Arai was reinstated
Dunfee let the issue drop and result stand
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
RESILIENCE
Etenesh Diro was brought down in her steeplechase semifinal heat at Rio 2016, she was forced to tear off her compromised shoe and continue the last 800m of the race
She finished 20s off her PB, but after appeal was reinstated to the final
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
Etenesh Diro was brought down in her steeplechase semifinal heat at Rio 2016, she was forced to tear off her compromised shoe and continue the last 800m of the raceShe finished 20s off her PB, but after appeal was reinstated to the final
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
MIND OVER MATTER
She was physically done, but sheer mental will pushed Swiss
runner Gabriela Andersen-Schiess over the finish line at the inaugural women's Olympic marathon at Los Angeles 1984
The entire crowd was behind her as she crossed the line
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
She was physically done, but sheer mental will pushed Swiss
runner Gabriela Andersen-Schiess over the finish line at the inaugural women's Olympic marathon at Los Angeles 1984The entire crowd was behind her as she crossed the line
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
FAIR PLAY
At Rio 2016, when
@NikkiHamblin fell and took 
@abbey_dags down, they both showed great care & selflessness as they made sure the other was fine before completing own race
Due to their sportsmanship they both received a spot in the final
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
At Rio 2016, when
@NikkiHamblin fell and took @abbey_dags down, they both showed great care & selflessness as they made sure the other was fine before completing own raceDue to their sportsmanship they both received a spot in the final
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
KINDNESS
Larger-than-life superstar @usainbolt was adored by fans worldwide
He was known for treating his block volunteers with care & respect; often joking with them, sometimes even giving them a memento
Like here at London 2012 when he made this fans' day
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
Larger-than-life superstar @usainbolt was adored by fans worldwide
He was known for treating his block volunteers with care & respect; often joking with them, sometimes even giving them a memento
Like here at London 2012 when he made this fans' day
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
DEDICATED
Mexico City 1968 marathon: John Stephen Akhwari
fell at the 19km mark, badly injuring his knee
But he kept running
After finishing last, when asked why, he said, "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race
Mexico City 1968 marathon: John Stephen Akhwari
fell at the 19km mark, badly injuring his kneeBut he kept running
After finishing last, when asked why, he said, "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race
The Comeback
At Seoul 1988, after @greglouganis struck his head on the springboard during the prelims, he decided to continue competing
He would go on to win the
in the 10m final
His comeback earned him the title of Wide World of Sports "Athlete of the Year" for 1988
At Seoul 1988, after @greglouganis struck his head on the springboard during the prelims, he decided to continue competing
He would go on to win the
in the 10m finalHis comeback earned him the title of Wide World of Sports "Athlete of the Year" for 1988
ICONIC
Mexico City 1968: Tommie Smith & John Carlos raised gloved fists to the sky atop the podium protesting the treatment of black people in America
The powerful salute made headlines around the world
It stands today as one of the most iconic Olympic moments in history
Mexico City 1968: Tommie Smith & John Carlos raised gloved fists to the sky atop the podium protesting the treatment of black people in America
The powerful salute made headlines around the world
It stands today as one of the most iconic Olympic moments in history
EMOTION
A year before Beijing 2008, German weightlifter Matthias Steiner lost his wife. Before she died he promised he would win gold
He fulfilled his promise
At the medal ceremony, Steiner held up a picture of his late wife, dedicating the victory to her
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
A year before Beijing 2008, German weightlifter Matthias Steiner lost his wife. Before she died he promised he would win gold
He fulfilled his promise
At the medal ceremony, Steiner held up a picture of his late wife, dedicating the victory to her
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
UNDEFEATED
Despite falling on the first hurdle of his 110m hurdle race at Rio 2016, @JeffJulmisOLY of Haiti got back up and finished the race
He proved you'll never be defeated if you finish what you start
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
Despite falling on the first hurdle of his 110m hurdle race at Rio 2016, @JeffJulmisOLY of Haiti got back up and finished the race
He proved you'll never be defeated if you finish what you start
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
UNBROKEN
Imagine having an Olympic record that still stands over 50 years later
American long jumper, Bob Beamon doesn't have to imagine
His leap of 8.90M from Mexico City 1968 is the oldest-standing Olympic record
Will it ever be broken?
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
Imagine having an Olympic record that still stands over 50 years later
American long jumper, Bob Beamon doesn't have to imagine
His leap of 8.90M from Mexico City 1968 is the oldest-standing Olympic record
Will it ever be broken?
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
COURAGE
At Rio 2016, an unfortunate slip ended dutch gymnast @epkez chance to defend his gold medal on the horizontal bar
Instead of quitting after falling, he rose to the occasion and completed his routine
It takes courage to rise after you fall
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
At Rio 2016, an unfortunate slip ended dutch gymnast @epkez chance to defend his gold medal on the horizontal bar
Instead of quitting after falling, he rose to the occasion and completed his routine
It takes courage to rise after you fall
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
INSPIRING
In 1992, at the age of 17, she competed at her very first Olympic Games
Fast-forward to Rio 2016, where, at the age of 41, she competed in her seventh consecutive Olympiad
Oksana Chusovitina is the definition of "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number"
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
In 1992, at the age of 17, she competed at her very first Olympic Games
Fast-forward to Rio 2016, where, at the age of 41, she competed in her seventh consecutive Olympiad
Oksana Chusovitina is the definition of "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number"
#WhyWeLoveOlympics
