20 inspiring moments in Olympic history

We look back at 20 of the most memorable and inspiring moments from past Olympic Games.

Olympic broad jump medalists salute during the medals ceremony Aug. 11, 1936 at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. From left on podium are: bronze medalist Jajima of Japan, gold medalist Jesse Owens of the United States and silver medalist Lutz Long of Germany. Long and German Olympic officials give the Nazi salute, while Owens gives a traditional salute. (AP Photo)
Jesse Owens
Olympic broad jump medalists salute during the medals ceremony Aug. 11, 1936 at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. From left on podium are: bronze medalist Jajima of Japan, gold medalist Jesse Owens of the United States and silver medalist Lutz Long of Germany. Long and German Olympic officials give the Nazi salute, while Owens gives a traditional salute. (AP Photo)
USA's Kerri Strug is carried by her coach, Bela Karolyi, as she waves to the crowd on her way to receiving her gold medal for the women's team gymnastics competition, at the Centennial Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 23, 1996. Strug has two torn ligaments and a sprained ankle from the vault competition. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan)
STRUG
USA's Kerri Strug is carried by her coach, Bela Karolyi, as she waves to the crowd on her way to receiving her gold medal for the women's team gymnastics competition, at the Centennial Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 23, 1996. Strug has two torn ligaments and a sprained ankle from the vault competition. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan)
Michael Johnson of the United States celebrates after winning gold in the men's 200 meters in a new world record time of 19.32 at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Thursday August 1, 1996. (AP Photo/Denis Paquin)
JOHNSON
Michael Johnson of the United States celebrates after winning gold in the men's 200 meters in a new world record time of 19.32 at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Thursday August 1, 1996. (AP Photo/Denis Paquin)
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Aug 1992: Derek Redmond of Great Britain is helped towards the finish line by his father Jim Redmond after suffering an injury in the 400m semi-final at the Barcelona Olympic Games in Spain. \ Mandatory Credit: Gray Mortimore /Allsport
Derek Redmond
Aug 1992: Derek Redmond of Great Britain is helped towards the finish line by his father Jim Redmond after suffering an injury in the 400m semi-final at the Barcelona Olympic Games in Spain. \ Mandatory Credit: Gray Mortimore /Allsport
BARCELONA, SPAIN- AUGUST 8: Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan of the United States celebrate against Croatia during the Gold Medal Basketball game at the 1992 Olympics on August 8 1992 at the Palau Municipal d'Esports de badalona in Barcelona, Spain. The United States defeated Croatia 117-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1992 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
1992 Olympics - Gold Medal Game: Croatia v United States
BARCELONA, SPAIN- AUGUST 8: Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan of the United States celebrate against Croatia during the Gold Medal Basketball game at the 1992 Olympics on August 8 1992 at the Palau Municipal d'Esports de badalona in Barcelona, Spain. The United States defeated Croatia 117-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1992 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Aug 1984: Carl Lewis of the USA accelerates down the runway of the long jump during the 1984 Summer Olympics at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/Allsport
1984 Summer Olympics Lewis
Aug 1984: Carl Lewis of the USA accelerates down the runway of the long jump during the 1984 Summer Olympics at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/Allsport
BEIJING - AUGUST 22: (EDITORS NOTE: A special effects camera filter was used for this image.) Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates after running the final leg in the Men's 4 x 100m Relay Final at the National Stadium on Day 14 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 22, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Olympics Day 14 - Athletics
BEIJING - AUGUST 22: (EDITORS NOTE: A special effects camera filter was used for this image.) Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates after running the final leg in the Men's 4 x 100m Relay Final at the National Stadium on Day 14 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 22, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Sep 1988: Florence Griffith-Joyner of the USA celebrates after winning the 100m meter final at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Griffith-Joyner won the race with an Olympic record time of 10.54. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/Allsp
1988 Seoul Olympics Griffith-Joyner
Sep 1988: Florence Griffith-Joyner of the USA celebrates after winning the 100m meter final at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Griffith-Joyner won the race with an Olympic record time of 10.54. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/Allsp
5 AUG 1984: MARY LOU RETTON OF THE UNITED STATES PERFORMS HER ROUTINE DURING THE FLOOR EXERCISES EVENT AT THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS. RETTON FINISHED IN THIRD PLACE WITH A SCORE OF 19.775 POINTS.
RETTON USA GYMNASTICS FLOOR
5 AUG 1984: MARY LOU RETTON OF THE UNITED STATES PERFORMS HER ROUTINE DURING THE FLOOR EXERCISES EVENT AT THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS. RETTON FINISHED IN THIRD PLACE WITH A SCORE OF 19.775 POINTS.
Jul 1976: Bruce Jenner of the USA celebrates during his record setting performance in the decathlon in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Mandatory Credit: Tony Duffy /Allsport
1976 Olympics Jenner
Jul 1976: Bruce Jenner of the USA celebrates during his record setting performance in the decathlon in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Mandatory Credit: Tony Duffy /Allsport
Drummers perform during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Opening
Drummers perform during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz, of Carmichael, Cal., emerges from the pool on September 3, 1972 after winning again for the United States in the 100 m freestyle Summer Olympic Games swimming event in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo)
Mark Spitz
U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz, of Carmichael, Cal., emerges from the pool on September 3, 1972 after winning again for the United States in the 100 m freestyle Summer Olympic Games swimming event in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo)
SEOUL - SEPTEMBER 19: Greg Louganis of the USA diving team exits out of the pool after hitting his head on the board during competition at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics on September 19. (Photo by Pascal Rondeau/Getty Images)
1988 Seoul Olympics
SEOUL - SEPTEMBER 19: Greg Louganis of the USA diving team exits out of the pool after hitting his head on the board during competition at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics on September 19. (Photo by Pascal Rondeau/Getty Images)
15 Sep 2000: The two Korean Olympic teams walk round together under the same flag in a gesture of reconciliation during the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
Korea
15 Sep 2000: The two Korean Olympic teams walk round together under the same flag in a gesture of reconciliation during the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
27 Sep 2000: Rulon Gardner of USA (left) celebrates winning the gold medal by defeating Alexandre Kareline of Russia (right) in the 130 kilogram event during the Greco Roman wrestling held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Billy Stickland/ALLSPORT
Oly Wrestling Greco
27 Sep 2000: Rulon Gardner of USA (left) celebrates winning the gold medal by defeating Alexandre Kareline of Russia (right) in the 130 kilogram event during the Greco Roman wrestling held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Billy Stickland/ALLSPORT

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